VITALS: 6-7, 210, Seattle Prep. OVERVIEW: Averaged 27.7 points, 10.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists as a senior at Seattle Prep. Posted season-high 46 points against Eastside Catholic and 40 points (17-of-20 free throws) and 11 rebounds in an 80-70 victory over Rainier Beach that earned Seattle Prep its first Metro League title. The 18-year-old, who is the cousin of Mavericks point guard Jason Terry, played in the McDonald's All-America game and finished third in the slam dunk contest. He was named to the 2005 USA Men's Junior National Select Team and was named one of 10 finalists for the 2005 national Naismith Trophy. LIKELY DRAFT POSITION: Webster could go to the Knicks at No. 8 or could last a while, perhaps all the way down to the Clippers at 12. Golden State (9) is looking for a big player, and the Lakers (10) would like a player with more versatility. Orlando is interested at 11 and so are the Clippers at 12. COMPARATIVE UPSIDE: Glen Rice COMPARATIVE DOWNSIDE: Lamond Murray ROLE PROJECTION: Designated shooter. POSITIVES: Webster is a terrific shooter with a strong body, which helps him shoot it long without his shot flattening out. Unlike so many of the high school players trying to make the jump to the NBA, Webster has a muscular body and already is the height and weight of prototype small forwards in the NBA. He is able to fake the long-range shot, get people up in the air, then take a dribble or two and hit a mid-range pull-up, the staple of any NBA shooter's game.
Webster is unlike the other high schoolers that declared for the draft and will be able to make an impact now with his NBA-ready body and his great jumper. He will go as high as number five to the Bobcats and as late as number eleven to the Magic. I don't believe Webster will get by Orlando no matter who is on the board. In my book, Martell Webster will be a future all-star in the up-coming years.
