VITALS: 6-5, 215, Charlotte OVERVIEW: The Conference USA Player of the Year this season and two-time Defensive Player of the Year, Basden finished fifth in the NCAA and set team single-season record with 93 steals. He averaged 15.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists and shot 49 percent. A three-year starter, Basden averaged 9.0 points in his career, finished sixth in school history with 765 rebounds and 18th in scoring with 1,066. The guard is the conference's all-time leader in steals with 264. LIKELY DRAFT POSITION: 31 to 40 in the second round. COMPARATIVE UPSIDE: Morris Peterson COMPARATIVE DOWNSIDE: Toby Bailey ROLE PROJECTION: Backup shooting guard. POSITIVES: Basden is a mentally and physically tough player who loves being in the thick of plays. He will get his uniform torn and rumpled with his no-holds-barred style. He is more likely to score by slashing to the basket, but his perimeter game improved markedly his senior year. He has some point guard attributes as well, but his chance to stick in the NBA is with tough, chest-to-chest defense. SHORTCOMINGS: Basden is not one of the better shooting guard prospects in the draft. Some teams want their 2-guards to do little more than shoot a perfect jump shot coming off a screen. Basden can do just about everything in basketball better than he can shoot.
He doesn't have the range to be like Mo Pete, but he's a very good player, and a possible sleeper pick, he rebounds very well, has good intangibles, he's strong, he's quick, and he has good fundamental guard skills with solid ball control and passing.
I could see this guy becoming a defensive specialist like Bruce Bowen, just without the corner three shot.
