VITALS: 6-7, 200, Oklahoma State OVERVIEW: A transfer from Central Florida, Graham scored 1,019 points in his two seasons with Oklahoma State. This past season, the bruising forward shared the team scoring lead with fellow senior John Lucas, averaging 17.7 points per game. Graham led the Big 12 Conference in free throw shooting this season at 88.7 percent and set a league record with 39 consecutive attempts made. He was named MVP of the 2005 Big 12 tournament, averaging 21.7 points as the Cowboys captured their second straight title. The Big 12 Newcomer of the Year in 2004, Graham scored 36 points against Nebraska as a junior. It was the second-most points by a Cowboy in Gallagher-Iba Arena history, ranking behind only Bob Kurland's school-record 58 in 1946. Graham played his entire collegiate career with his twin brother, Stephen. LIKELY DRAFT POSITION: Graham could go as high as No. 7 to Toronto or still be around at No. 12 for the Clippers. It would hard to imagine the Knicks passing up Graham, since Isiah Thomas is known to value outstanding athletic ability more highly than knowledge of the game. However, New York may be set to take a bigger player, meaning Graham could be around for the Lakers (10th) or Orlando (11th). The upset would be that Graham lasts until the Clippers and becomes a big star there, with the Lakers having passed on him. COMPARATIVE UPSIDE: Vince Carter COMPARATIVE DOWNSIDE: Ricky Davis ROLE PROJECTION: Sixth man as a rookie, starter thereafter POSITIVES: Among 75 players who went through the athletic testing at the NBA Pre-Draft Camp in Chicago, Graham finished first. 'Nuff said. He is an explosive, quick, agile athlete who can score from anywhere on the floor. He has always been a high-percentage shooter, and even though he takes very few 3-point shots, he tends to make the ones he takes. He shot 89 percent from the free-throw line as a senior, so his acrobatic forays to the basket are rewarded when he gets fouled. SHORTCOMINGS: Graham has never been a so-called go-to guy anywhere he has played. He averaged only 11 shots per game playing for a loaded Oklahoma State team, and that is the most he took as a college player over four years. With Graham's athleticism, he will eventually be expected to take a leading role in scoring for a team, and he may have a greater mental adjustment to that role than a physical one.
