VITALS: 6-1, 198, North Carolina OVERVIEW: Felton, who quarterbacked the Tar Heels to the national championship and received the Bob Cousy Award as the top point guard in the country, led the Atlantic Coast Conference in assists (6.9) and 3-point field goal percentage (.440) - improving upon a 34 percent mark in his first two years. Felton made a school-record 12 straight from the arc early in the season. He also chipped in 12.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and two steals per contest. A first-team All-ACC pick as a junior, Felton averaged 6.9 assists per game during his three-year career. LIKELY DRAFT POSITION: It's a strange year in the NBA draft when the third point guard taken could be as high as the sixth overall pick. But that's the scenario for Felton, who is rated as just a tad behind Deron Williams and Chris Paul. There is much speculation about point guard-deprived teams trying to entice New Orleans, Charlotte and Utah (picks 4-6) to trade with them so they can snatch one of the top point guards, but Felton is most likely to wind up in Charlotte or Utah, who both have point guard needs of their own. COMPARATIVE UPSIDE: Mike Bibby COMPARATIVE DOWNSIDE: Lindsey Hunter ROLE PROJECTION: Starting point guard. POSITIVES: Felton is a tremendous defensive player, ball-hawking the opposing point guard into turnovers with his quick hands and quicker feet. On offense, he has great quickness off the dribble and is constantly probing the defense, looking for ways to penetrate and earn his teammates open shots. His jump shot, once a glaring weakness, has improved dramatically and his arsenal is now well-balanced. Felton exudes confidence and leadership and tends to make big plays in big situations. SHORTCOMINGS: Like Chris Paul, Felton is vertically challenged. He's just 6 feet tall, although that frame holds a muscular 200 pounds. Felton will go through the usual rookie hazings of being a short point guard who gets posted up by taller opposing point guards. If his strength and leaping ability prove that to be inefficient, Felton won't have to worry about that being a staple used by other teams against him.
Wow, if this guy ends up in the east, he'll get posted up by Billups when they play the Pistons. Imagine if he was on the Suns though, nice back-up for Nash, but that's just a dream. Hope Utah picks him with the 6th pick.
^I know but Billups is good at posting people up, considering he's a point guard. Andre Miller can post a point guard up too, I'm just saying bigger guys will be difficult for him to cover.
Felton will have trouble guarding the bigger guards early in his career because of his size ,but with experience Felton will soon adjust and probably become one of the best defenders in the league. The best case for Felton early in his career is that he is drafted by Utah and plays along side Raja Bell who would take the bigger guard on the court until Felton gets experience like I said. Felton is one hell of a player and I hope his size doesn't make him drop in this draft.
