<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">On Thursday night, Andrew Bynum did what most high school seniors do at graduation. He picked up his diploma from St. Joseph's High School during commencement ceremonies at St. Francis church in Metuchen, N.J., then went to dinner with his family. He had some chicken and rice at Delta's, the upscale soul food restaurant in nearby New Brunswick. As summer progresses, Bynum, a 7-foot, 280-pound McDonald's High School All-American, might start getting ready for college like so many other kids across this country, too. And ... he might not. It comes down to how the 17-year-old performs in a private workout before NBA representatives from at least 25 of the league's 30 teams Saturday at Baruch College in Manhattan. "It's a big jump, I know," Bynum said Friday. "But it's also an opportunity to see where I stand." Where Bynum stands today is as an early entrant in the June 28 draft. There are 108 of them, including 35 from other countries and 12 from high schools. Whether Bynum's name will be there draft night - he can withdraw his name as late as June 21 - pretty much hinges on this workout. If he gets the sense he'll be a lottery pick, among the first 14 selections, he'll stay in the draft. If not, UConn coach Jim Calhoun and his staff get a chance to develop him. Bynum is getting mixed feedback on his draft prospects. On the major website mock drafts, he's generally listed from No.22 to No.30.</div> Source
I just can't see Bynum getting picked in the top 14 like he is hoping. Does this kid not understand that he's the #1 center prospect according to Rivals and can go to college and dominate. That would then raise his stock even more for the 2006 draft. Coach Calhoun knows how to develop big men and get them ready for the NBA(Okafor and Voskuhl).
Taft and the assorted imports listed on some top 15's need as much molding and developing as Bynum or Blatche,and Bynum has legit C size. The others are PF/C tweeners,and so it only takes one team to have a different perspective. I'd say it's a little less than even odds he's lottery,but he's fairly close.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting UKOwnstheSEC:</div><div class="quote_post">I just can't see Bynum getting picked in the top 14 like he is hoping. Does this kid not understand that he's the #1 center prospect according to Rivals and can go to college and dominate. That would then raise his stock even more for the 2006 draft. Coach Calhoun knows how to develop big men and get them ready for the NBA(Okafor and Voskuhl).</div> I agree that he could benefit from time in college, but I can see things from his perspective. You have to remember that Bynum's birthday is 10-27-87, which means that if a 20-year-old age limit is passed, then Bynum would have to go to college for three years rather than just two like other players in his class. Also, his expectations for his draft position may be high, but he'd be making good money anywhere in the first round. Let's say that he is drafted by the Phoenix Suns, as suggested in JBB's v5 mock draft. Over the course of three years, he'd make $2,853,900.00 (plus signing bonus). That sure beats the hell out of three years at Connecticut.
