<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">THE DAY of the student-athlete is gone. Like the ballad singer, the nickel candy bar and the preppy look, it is a concept from another time, when a college degree was held with higher esteem. And so it's inconceivable that Leon Powe will play four years of basketball for Cal. Even three years isn't a dead-bolt lock, because this marvelous talent is pondering leaving Berkeley for the NBA right now. But those who know Powe's difficult path in life ? a broken home, many different homes, no parental guidance left, a bunch of siblings to look after ? realize a college sheepskin isn't his first priority. He has more serious concerns, and the wealth that can be his as a professional will make Powe and his family eat better, sleep better and live better. He is carrying a heavier load than most NBA draftees. So if it's only going to be two special seasons at Cal, no one can advise him to stay longer. Not for financial reasons, they can't. However, is Powe ready physically for the next step in his basketball ascendancy? There is no doubt he can play in the NBA one day, yet he must be sure that he has enough game to hold his own. A premature move could backfire, because Powe strictly is one-dimensional, an inside post player. Developing his game further at Cal might be the wiser alternative. He is now debating his options and hasn't reached a conclusion, according to his inner circle. He must make a decision before April 29, the last day underclassmen can declare themselves eligible for the NBA Draft. Reportedly, Powe will decide this week. Ike Diogu left Arizona State before his senior year and became the Warriors' first draft pick in 2005. Diogu and Powe are similar in build ? Diogu is 6-8, 255; Powe 6-8, 240 ? and they both play near the basket. Powe is stronger, Diogu has quicker hops. Both are fearless, yet both are undersized in the post. Therefore, is this a disadvantage? "I don't see why," Diogu said. "The bottom line is that if he can play basketball, he can play at this level. Some people will say he's not tall enough or big enough. What it all boils down to is those who can't play don't last very long, and those who can play last the longest." The one distinct difference between Diogu and Powe is Diogu can hit the 15-foot jumper with regularity. Powe doesn't have as deft a touch, thus he's not as accurate as Diogu at the free-throw line. "It would definitely help him," Diogu said of an outside shot. "Why not? You want to develop and be the most complete player you can be." Coming out early also would mean the end of defenses designed specifically to stop Powe. Diogu remembers what that feeling was like. "Things worked out perfectly for me," he said. "I accomplished everything (at ASU). There would have been more triple and quadruple coverage if I came back, so it would have been a lot tougher to follow up my junior season." Diogu averaged 22.6 points and 9.8 rebounds as a junior. Powe averaged 20.5 and 10.1 this season as a sophomore after sitting out the previous year to rehabilitate a thrice-operated left knee. NBA scouts were dubious about Powe's knee before this season, but he played without the knee brace he wore as a Cal freshman following his first surgery while at Oakland Tech. NBA teams might want to see a second injury-free season before offering Powe millions of dollars. Powe should do the wise thing and declare himself eligible, but without hiring an agent, which will allow him the right to withdraw his name if his draft status isn't suitable. Diogu was the ninth overall pick; Powe is a late first-round pick, at best, because of the knee issue. Diogu also warned Powe about NBA rookies' right of passage. "He's not going to get the same calls that he got in the Pac-10," Diogu said. "You got to earn your stripes in this league. But, at the same time, he could come in and be an absolute animal, and have a phenomenal rookie season. He's a great player." </div> Source
As a Cal and Warriors fan I think Powe should probably stay another season if he can improve his FT shooting, mid-range shooting, and maybe shot blocking as well. I doubt Powe's going to get into the lottery whether he declares this year or next year. The differences between he and Diogu were that Diogu is 255 which is a good weight for holding position in the NBA, Diogu can block shots pretty well, Diogu can regularly hit college 3's, and he got to the free throw line an astonishing number of times and was an 80% FT shooter. Their post games are rather different as well, Diogu is noticably stronger but Powe has much better quickness, both can power it in or play with some finesse. Powe's comparison is probably more towards Shareef Abdur-Rahim, both are very agile, great scorers but defense and shot blocking isn't their strongsuite. Diogu compares more to Elton Brand or Zach Randolph, undersized but still outweighs many of their opponenets, possesses very good strength, on-ball defense is bad but a good weakside shot blocker. Powe would probably be better served to stay in college one more year and show the scouts that he can stay injury free, hit the mid-range jumper (which seems essential to all successful undersized 4's in the NBA), and winning a few games in the tourney would probably help. Of course, the draft will be much better next year, this year he could probably get into the late first round but he could just as easily slip to mid second round. Testing the waters is probably a good idea, if he can make some noise in workouts he can move up significantly (as did Diogu) but he should really keep his options open.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Run BJM:</div><div class="quote_post">Their post games are rather different as well, Diogu is noticably stronger but Powe has much better quickness, both can power it in or play with some finesse. Powe's comparison is probably more towards Shareef Abdur-Rahim, both are very agile, great scorers but defense and shot blocking isn't their strongsuite. Diogu compares more to Elton Brand or Zach Randolph, undersized but still outweighs many of their opponenets, possesses very good strength, on-ball defense is bad but a good weakside shot blocker. Powe would probably be better served to stay in college one more year and show the scouts that he can stay injury free, hit the mid-range jumper (which seems essential to all successful undersized 4's in the NBA), and winning a few games in the tourney would probably help. Of course, the draft will be much better next year, this year he could probably get into the late first round but he could just as easily slip to mid second round. Testing the waters is probably a good idea, if he can make some noise in workouts he can move up significantly (as did Diogu) but he should really keep his options open.</div> I like how you compare Diogu with Powe, but I think you didn't watch Powe enough. He's got the quickness that Diogu had in college, he can also dribble somewhat when he had to. I think Powe could play SF is he wants or he can become a Elton Brand type player. I think this is the year he should come out, or next year he could possibly slip even farther in the draft with another injury, then be a steal like a Carlos Boozer.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting J_Ray:</div><div class="quote_post">I like how you compare Diogu with Powe, but I think you didn't watch Powe enough. He's got the quickness that Diogu had in college, he can also dribble somewhat when he had to. I think Powe could play SF is he wants or he can become a Elton Brand type player. I think this is the year he should come out, or next year he could possibly slip even farther in the draft with another injury, then be a steal like a Carlos Boozer.</div> I was just continuing the comparison from the article. Powe is very quick for a PF but I'm not sure he could keep up with NBA SFs. Even if he can, he doesn't have much of a jumpshot and his handle, while above average for a big man, isn't as good as it would need to be for a 3. He could improve in these areas and maybe become similar to Ryan Gomes but I think he could handle the 4 in the NBA, hes a good enough rebounder and hes got the combination of speed and strength that will help him in the NBA.
