VITALS: 6-7, 209, senior, Louisiana State OVERVIEW: Dupree was a second team Southeastern Conference selection for the third straight time last season at Louisiana State after averaging 15.8 points and 7.8 rebounds. Dupree's scoring average actually dipped the last two seasons after he averaged a career-high 17.3 points as a sophomore in the 2000-01 campaign. Dupree is one of just four players at LSU to finish in the top 10 in scoring and rebounding, joining Shaquille O'Neal, Bob Pettit and Durand Macklin. Dupree started all but one game over his last three years. LIKELY DRAFT POSITION: Second round. Atlanta (21, 37), Denver (46), Memphis (27) and New Orleans (48) have shown interest. A poor Chicago camp in which he hit only 4-of-17 shots over three contests hurt Dupree's stock. COMPARATIVE UPSIDE: Ricky Davis, Stacey Augmon COMPARATIVE DOWNSIDE: Martin Lewis ROLE PROJECTION: Reserve POSITIVES: Dupree owns a 40-inch vertical leap. He is an excellent finisher and rebounder in traffic at 209 pounds. Dupree thrives in the up-tempo game and has a nose for the basket. He has tremendous potential to be a defensive stopper, as he has many of the same physical attributes that match-up problems such as Vince Carter, Kobe Bryant and Tracy McGrady also have. SHORTCOMINGS: At Chicago, Dupree clearly resembled a man without a position. Dupree is a tough player but still lacks the bulkiness required for the NBA forward position. At the off guard spot, he has trouble hitting perimeter shots. While Dupree can hit the long-range jumper in stand-still situations, he cannot do so off the dribble. There is a strong likelihood Dupree could end up in the NBDL next season. WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: "Ronald Dupree is maybe one of the best athletes in the draft. He's got good size, great athleticism. He needs to get with a team that lets him develop his basketball skills. He's definitely an NBA caliber athlete; he just needs to get in a situation where he is going to make the team." Toronto Raptors general manager Glen Grunwald
