The most under rated player in this years draft in my opinion would have to be Darius Rice nephew of Jerry Rice. He is 6'10 222 lbs. from Miami University. He averaged 16.9 ppg., and 6.4 rpg. He has tremendous upside and could be a better shooting Tayshaun Prince. http://www.nba.com/draft2004/profiles/DariusRice.html
Yeah I feel he should have been drafted. He had a good career for Miami in the NCAA and he could have been a good player for any team I think. And the thing about tremendous upside, a whole lot of players in this draft have tremendous upside. I mean nothing to take away from Rice, but so many players from this draft, if not all of them have tremendous upside.
Just like Herve Lamizana, Darius Rice had a lot of people questioning his work ethic. If I had to guess, I'd say he'll wind up on some team's summer league and preseason rosters but not make the final cut for the regular season. The one undrafted player who I fully expect to sign a contract for the regular season would be Arthur Johnson. If he were three inches taller, he would have been a first round lock. Right now he's on the Bobcat's summer league roster, which is even better for him seeing how the Bobcats have more open roster spots than any other team in the league.
What he didnt get drafted? I met Darius once or twice when I lived in Jackson, MS Lanier was our High School Basketball rival, hes a good player and a nice cat in person.
Keep in mind that just because a guy isn't drafted, doesn't mean he won't get into the league, even as early as this season. If his work ethic is what's being questioned (only going by what someone else brought up, don't personally know) then he could get on a summer league roster and make a team or play a season in the NBDL and come up next year. If he can play, then he'll have opportunities, he just has to take advantage of them.
Darius Rice is very long & athletic. And he gets up & downthe court extremely fast for someone with his lenght, so that alone probably will give hima legitmate shot to make an NBA roster. Thething I think that scares alot of people about Rice is that he hangs out on the perimeter way to much for some with his lenght. They probably rather see im around the basket using that size more to his advantage against smaller defenders. He should develope a post game from about 10 feet away from the basket to give him an inside game to match his perimeter shot, to create & inside- outside game alot of forwards would have a hard time trying to guard. Also Darius Rice doesnt put the ball on the floor that well for a guy who plays so much on the perimeter, he is more of a catch & shoot type player. He got to work more at creating his own shot. But I still think he will land somewhere before the start of the regular season, the Knicks could use his youtfulness & athletism as one of their forwards off the bench. And my Nets, now that Rodney Rogers is gone could use a player like Rice. He could stretch the defense with his range. And I can also see him gettin up & down the court in Kidd's open court style.
This guy should have been drafted if he is picked up by a powerhouse team he will make everyone regret they never drafted him sort of like Marquis Daniels. I hope he gets picked up by the bobcats.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting The Ghost:</div><div class="quote_post">This guy should have been drafted if he is picked up by a powerhouse team he will make everyone regret they never drafted him sort of like Marquis Daniels. I hope he gets picked up by the bobcats.</div> I agree. I believe he is on the Miami Heats Summer League Roster... He might get picked up by them or any other team for that matter... being undrafted isn't all that bad if you're talented... look at Marquis Daniels and the nice contract he just got going in to his second year :two_thumb
Darius has more weaknesses than he has strengths, but he's long and can shoot the rock. He'll wind up on a training camp roster somewhere.
OH I hope he's on Miami's summer team. Because he is alot like Lamar Odom and he could learn alot from him.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting DeeBum07:</div><div class="quote_post">the main person who got screwed is tony bobbit i woulda took him in the first round</div> I'll give you the fact that he is one of the most deadly shooters that was available in the draft, But he is kind of thin for an NBA two-guard,kind of Kerry Kittles-ish except not as long in the wingspan & he isnt as good a defender as KK when he was coming out of Villinova. He going have a hard time making an impact on the league other than a gunner off the bench, so there is no way a team was going to use a 1st round pick on T-bob, but I did think he may go late 2nd round to a good team wih nothing to lose but still needed some shooting help like the Spurs or Pacers especially with Reggie Miller on the decline & no other consistant outside threat.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting MavsJ33:</div><div class="quote_post">OH I hope he's on Miami's summer team. Because he is alot like Lamar Odom and he could learn alot from him.</div> Rice and Odom are nothing alike, except they are tall ..... Odom can handle the ball, and his game is heavily reliant on dribbling....Rice is an off-the-ball player who scores most of his baskets on jumpers...
