NBA Draft Insider

College: Connecticut

Birthday: 08/10/1993

NBA Position: C

Class: Freshman

Ht: 6-11

Wt: 251

Hometown: Hartford, CT

High School: St. Thomas More

Ceiling: Amare Stoudemire

Basement: Eddie Curry

NBA Comparison: 

Strengths:

• Athletic
• Long
• Strong, NBA Body
• Good Rebounder
• Good Shot-Blocker
• Quality Defender
• Good Shooter

Weaknesses:

• Low Motor
• Inconsistent
• “Lazy” at times in games
• Can be perimeter oriented

Analysis:

05/05/2012

Andre Drummond has declared for the NBA Draft and hired Rob Pelinka as his agent.

It was an overall disappointing season for Drummond coming in with a lot of pre-season hype from the media pundits. He was projected to be a dominate force in the paint on his way to being the next Amare Stoudemire. Those were unfair expectations placed on the freshman for reasons not often mentioned.

Coming into this past season Drummond was a re-classified high school junior, which means he should have still been playing in high school. Instead he opted for re-classification to become eligible to play for Connecticut this year and then declare for the NBA Draft. Most high school teams have 1-2 college level players and a lot of lesser talent. In college everyone belongs on this level and the teams have 1-2 NBA talents as well.

Drummond had an up-and-down year with a good performances followed by subpar, and even very bad performances.

As a defender and an athlete Drummond will make the transition to the NBA. He has elite size and athleticism for his position right now. Drummond has an NAB body, but will need to improve his strength against the elite post scorers in the NBA. That is where Drummond can be a special player. He has great length to contest shots as well make plays on the ball. He is an above average shot-blocker already with potential to get better.

Offensively Drummond is a project. He has shown the ability to step out and shoot the ball from the perimeter as a big man. His size can be imposing at the next level as well as a center, with his elite athleticism he can finish strong in the paint. There are a lot of tools Drummond possesses and a lot of untapped potential.

When Drummond enters his rookie year he will basically be a throwback to the former rule of going straight to the NBA out of high school. If his transition is successful it may create a new trend going forward for top junior prospects to re-classify. Entering next NBA season Drummond will be 0nly 19 years old.

Currently Drummond is the No. 1 ranked center, No. 4 Overall prospect on the Big Board, and the No. 4 pick in the Mock Draft.

03/24/2012

Without a doubt Drummond has the physical tools to be an elite center at the next level. He is as athletic and mobile as any big man in the country, including Anthony Davis. The difference between the two is Drummond has the strength and NBA body to bang in the paint consistently.

The knock on Drummond has always been regarding his passion and desire to be great. In spots this season he has shown he can be dominant – see the Holy Cross and West Virginia. Other than that he has been less than advertised and displayed a below average motor.

In the end a talent that can be as good as Drummond is going to go high in any draft – see DeAndre Jordan. The skills are there to be a great next level center, but passion cannot be created, it is internal. Drummond is a project that needs a veteran presence to teach him the ropes. Another year in college is not going to make him more passionate or a better player. The second year in college is more typical for a guard that needs to gain a feel for the game, have it slow down for them or add strength. Drummond does not need either.

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