VITALS: 6-6, 230, Alabama OVERVIEW: Kennedy earned first team All-Southeastern Conference honors after averaging a league-best 17.9 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. He finished third in 3-point shooting at 43 percent and fourth in free throw accuracy at 77.5 percent. A former Mr. Basketball from Mobile, Winston averaged nearly 19 points in four NCAA Tournament games, leading the Tide to the round of eight in 2004. LIKELY DRAFT POSITION: Late first round or early second round. COMPARATIVE UPSIDE: Allan Houston COMPARATIVE DOWNSIDE: Anthony Parker ROLE PROJECTION: Designated shooter off the bench. POSITIVES: Winston can get smoking hot and start draining 20-footers all over the opposition. He has size and strength that makes him a handful for smaller opponents playing him far from the basket. He's got the kind of body strength that makes you believe he will eventually hit NBA-length 3-pointers with the same ease at which he swishes jumpers from the college line. SHORTCOMINGS: Winston doesn't drive to the basket enough to keep defenders honest. He is a capable free-throw shooter and has some off the dribble quickness, but he attempted only four free throws per game despite leading the SEC in scoring as a junior. He also is not as good a defender as he should be, given his athletic ability. In the NBA, a shooter like Winston will have to play at least passable defense, otherwise the coaches will tell him to keep his seat on the bench.
