VITALS: 6-5, 215, UCLA OVERVIEW: The Pac-10 Player of the Year, Afflalo finished third in the conference in scoring (16.9). He scored at least 20 points 12 times, with a career high of 27 against conference rival Washington and West Virginia. Averaged 19.3 points in three games to lead the Bruins to the Maui Invitational tournament title. Afflalo scored 24 points to lead UCLA over Kansas in the regional final of the NCAA Tournament and had 17 points in his final college game as the Bruins fell to eventual champion Florida in the Final Four. He finished No. 2 on the school's career list for 3-pointers made with 209. LIKELY DRAFT POSITION: 25-40 COMPARATIVE UPSIDE: Dell Curry COMPARATIVE DOWNSIDE: Lucious Harris ROLE PROJECTION: Shooting guard off the bench. POSITIVES: Afflalo has shouldered a heavy burden as UCLA's top shooting threat the past two seasons, both of which resulted in NCAA Final Four appearances. He is the type of technically sound shooter who gets in a good shooting rhythm and can make five or six shots in a row from 20 feet. He is an excellent free-throw shooter, and when his perimeter shot isn't clicking, he knows how to get himself to the line. Afflalo is an unflappable sort who is always intense and into the game, yet plays the game with his mind as well as his body.
I went to school with Arron since freshman year so Ive seen a lot of him and he's not that great. I think calling him a streaky shooter is right on the money. For some odd reason though "he makes them when they count."
<div class="quote_poster">bruin007 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I went to school with Arron since freshman year so Ive seen a lot of him and he's not that great. I think calling him a streaky shooter is right on the money. For some odd reason though "he makes them when they count."</div> Except when Corey Brewer is guarding him Finally someone agrees with me, and aren't fooled by the hype. I've hated his game for awhile now but people don't believe me that he isn't that great.
Who's saying he's going to be great? Afflalo was the number one option in college, but I don't even think he believes that it'll stay the same at the next level. I do think that he's fundamentally sound, has a very well-rounded game, and that he could be a great player coming off the bench (maybe even starting down the road). Obviously he's got to work on his consistency, but if I'm in the mid-late 1st round range and need some depth at the guard position, I'd definitely grab him. He'll be a solid pro.
Corey Brewer has and will continue to make a lot of decent offensive players look ordinary. I agree Afflalo will not become a star but I can see him contributing in the league.
<div class="quote_poster">Chutney Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Who's saying he's going to be great? Afflalo was the number one option in college, but I don't even think he believes that it'll stay the same at the next level. I do think that he's fundamentally sound, has a very well-rounded game, and that he could be a great player coming off the bench (maybe even starting down the road). Obviously he's got to work on his consistency, but if I'm in the mid-late 1st round range and need some depth at the guard position, I'd definitely grab him. He'll be a solid pro.</div> Exactly how many times did you see Afflalo play during his career? I've watched him since he was a freshman, and he hasn't been all that impressive to me. He's always used his strength to do what he does. In the NBA, all the players will be as strong as him, if not stronger. The fact that he's only 6'4" doesn't help him either. His defense is really overrated due to the fact that UCLA was a defensive team. Ben Howland is a good coach, don't get me wrong, but he just doesn't prepare his players for the NBA. How many of his former players from Pitt do you see in the NBA doing anything?
