Who will the Knicks draft?
The New York Knicks will be the 17th team to pick from the pile of prospects at the NBA draft on June 23. So who will likely still be available when their turn rolls around, and what are the rumors swirling around the team's intentions?
The Knicks haven't officially expressed interest in any college player, but the team's needs suggest a few likely options.
Reggie Jackson
This junior from Boston College has a giant wingspan and gaudy numbers--18.2 points per game, 4.3 rebounds per game, and a .420 three-pointer percentage--and his performance as point guard last season surely caught the attention of Knicks staff. The Knicks need defense, and Jackson could provide some.
Charles Jenkins
The Hofstra senior could eventually run the point for the Knicks, and his numbers are nearly identical to Jackson's, with a bump up in points per game (22.6, with 3.4 rebounds per game and 42% shooting from behind the three-point line). But he was the all-time leading scorer at Hofstra in part because he was the star of the show, and at 6'3, his size could hurt him in the NBA.
Darius Morris
A point guard from the University of Michigan, Morris has improved his shooting but is primarily praised for his ability to run the offense. Critics point to some inconsistency in his performance, and while he seemed to bloom last season (progressing from 18% shooting from three-point land in 2009 to 25% in the last campaign, for example), Morris seems to be a work in progress.
Chandler Parsons
The 6'9 small forward from the University of Florida was the 2011 SEC Player of the Year. The senior would be a plus on defense, but he's a question mark as a shooter past the 3-point line.
Chris Singleton
This 6'9 junior forward from Florida State is above average in shooting and rebounding, but the Knicks may like him most because he is a fierce defender. He would need to be converted to guard to fit with the Knicks.
Willie Reed
The junior power forward from St. Louis University has talent but his numbers (12.4 points per game, 2.1 blocks per game, 7.9 rebounds) indicate raw physical skills. Also, those numbers are from 2009--he was ineligible to play in 2010 for academic reasons. Those who have seen him in action in the last month have given glowing reviews.
Kenneth Faried
A senior power forward from Morehead State, Faried is considered the best rebounder in the country by ESPN's scouts. He can shoot, too--Faried posted 17.3 points per game to go with his 14.5 rebounds. Faried will probably get picked before the Knicks can cash in their ping-pong ball with a 17 on it.
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