VITALS: 6-2, 183, St. Joseph's OVERVIEW: West averaged 17.3 points in his junior season at St. Joseph's, teaming with point guard Jameer Nelson to form one of the nation's top backcourts. West did not demonstrate much at Chicago and was a curious choice to remain in the draft. The slender guard shot 41 percent from the arc this past season. LIKELY DRAFT POSITION: West has a chance to sneak into the late first round with Indiana (30). More likely, however, he slips into the early second round. Had West returned to school, he could have improved his chances of landing a guaranteed contract. Then again, he could have killed his stock altogether. COMPARATIVE UPSIDE: Derek Harper COMPARATIVE DOWNSIDE: Rex Walters ROLE PROJECTION: Key reserve POSITIVES: West is a pure shooter, and in the NBA, there is always room for more of those. Unlike most who fit that description, however, West is a good enough athlete to create spacing for mid-range looks. He is a crafty scorer, has excellent mechanics, makes smart decisions, plays with toughness and is a sound defender. SHORTCOMINGS: While West showed excellent passing ability from shooting guard as a junior at St. Joseph's, he clearly has not proven he can play point in the NBA. Given that he measured just 6-2 1/2 at Chicago, West is too undersized to play off the ball in the NBA, as he would give up several inches. WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: "I think he helped himself (in Chicago) from the standpoint of creating the impression he's possibly able to play the point on this level. But as of now, he is still without a first-round commitment - as far as I know - so he's in the same spot Jameer Nelson was in a year ago. - Portland Trail Blazers general manager John Nash in the Philadelphia Inquirer
Indiana Pacers are really taking hard looks at selecting West at the end of the 1st round. Hmmm, preparing for a Reggie retirement or just bench scoring?
