VITALS: 7-0, 245, Utah OVERVIEW: The Australian sophomore was the consensus college player of the year in 2004-05, averaging 20.4 points per game and 12.2 rebounds - second in the NCAA. Bogut also ranked eighth nationally with a field goal percentage of 62 percent and led the nation with 26 double-doubles. He led the Utes to a 29-6 record and the Mountain West Conference regular season title. Bogut averaged 14.8 points and 8.8 rebounds last summer in Athens for the Austrailan Olympic Team. LIKELY DRAFT POSITION: Either the first or second overall pick. Bogut came right out and said the Atlanta Hawks, picking second, have told him they would take him if he isn't the No. 1 overall pick by Milwaukee. COMPARATIVE UPSIDE: Brad Miller, Raef LaFrentz COMPARATIVE DOWNSIDE: Chris Kaman ROLE PROJECTION: Immediate starter. POSITIVES: Bogut embraces the center position. Unlike so many 7-footers these days, Bogut relishes playing with his back to the basket. H e has an excellent variety of post moves and already is adept at hitting open teammates when the double-team comes his way. Bogut is extremely aggressive and decisive when he gets the ball down low. He is a better athlete than many believe and he is physically ready to play in the NBA. SHORTCOMINGS: Bogut is not much of a shot-blocker for a 7-footer. The ones he does block are usually shots taken by the man he is guarding, not against drivers that he switched off and confronted. He improved his free-throw shooting to 69 percent his sophomore year, but if he is going to be a go-to guy for his new team, he needs to bring that up a few more percentage points to be really effective.
