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NFL Mock Draft 2009 Draft of 2009 Lacks Star Power NFL Draft 2009: Getting Started Super Bowl Well Worth Tuning In For
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Prospects On Center Stage NBA Preview 2008/09: Final Call
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For The Last Time... By Ron Jumper Ronnie Brewer, of the Arkansas Razorbacks, has been analyzed and criticized in every way imaginable. I'm going to explain this one last time so everyone understands. His stock has risen and fallen all over the draft board. There really is no idea where he will end up. Some people feel his unorthodox shooting form will drop him out of the lottery and others, like yours truly, feels he is as talented as Rudy Gay. I just want to lay everything out there and let you decide for yourself. Brewer finished the regular season the SEC scoring champ, during which he just barely ousted Glen "Big Baby" Davis for the scoring title. Being able to lead your conference in scoring for the entire season means you bring it every night. It doesn't mean he has "NBA potential" or has "a lot of upside." His skills are developed and ready to go. Whoever ends up taking Brewer has a player capable of starting from day one. He played three years at Arkansas so he isn't a project and he won't need two or three years to be able to contribute. Since the draft has so much emphasis on athleticism, why is Brewer not getting recognized for posting a 41 inch vertical leap? Isn't a 6'7" SG/SF with that kind of athleticism what scouts drool over? If Brewer's scouting report said Oak Hill Academy instead of Arkansas would he be a top 3 pick then? His combination of speed, quickness, and jumping ability make him a perfect athletic specimen. He is polished player but, if the opportunity presents itself, he will make sportscenter-worthy highlights. He can give you three positions on the floor. Asking him to play point guard, shooting guard, or small forward is no problem for him. His floor vision, ball handling skills, and overall ability to create for himself and his teammates are remarkable. His defense is exceptional as well, he doesn't just play offense at three positions but is capable of guarding all three. He was always in the top 5 in steals from his freshman year all the way through his junior season. Rudy Gay is apparently a lock as a top 5 pick, so why is Brewer not a lock for the top 10? The two faced off in the Maui Invitational this last year and it was exciting to watch. Brewer had 25 points and 6 steals, while Gay had 28 points on 11-19 shooting. Gay is regarded as having a good perimeter shot but, looking at the numbers, Brewer has a clear advantage. Brewer made 51 threes on 34% shooting while Gay made only 28 on 31%. Going into more detail on his shot, there are only certain scenarios where non-textbook form is truly a problem. If you can't get your shot off in time because of a hitch, slow release, or lack of jumping ability then you need to change your shot. If your form prohibits you from being able to transition from a basketball-related move( stepback, fadeaway, off the dribble, etc.) into your shot at a quick speed because you shoot with the release point too low or too far to the right or left then a change may be necessary. Brewer has a quick release from the center of his body, leaving him capable of developing any moves necessary. The problem with his form is a childhood injury caused his elbow to not funtion properly, so there really is no chance of fixing his shot. Teams like Boston, Minnesota, Houston, Golden State, and Philadelphia need to win now so passing on Brewer is a tough call. I can't fathom him falling all the way to 17th, where nbadraft.net currently projects him. Why add a player you have to develop with hopes of being good when Brewer can help you now? If somehow he does fall on the draft board, it wouldn't be the worst scenario for him in the long term necessarily. He would be great for teams like Phoenix and New Jersey, with their uptempo style. Cleveland could take him at 25, with the possibilty of him becoming Lebron's version of Scottie Pippen. Well now you have all the information necessary to decide what you think about Brewer. I just hope you make the right choice... June 22, 2006 |
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Be Careful What You Wish For
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| NCAA Basketball | |
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Jumpology: My Bracket Jumpology: Scouting The Heavyweights Jumpology: Reviewing The Bracket
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