THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 21, 1995 TAG: 9504190158
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 11 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, CURRENTS SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines
THE CURRENTS SCOUTING report of the 1995 Portsmouth Invitational Tournament has been completed.
And we're ready for our own mock draft of players for the NBA.
The two-round pro draft isn't scheduled until June 28 in Toronto. Consequently, the performance of players at Phoenix and in the Chicago camp could produce a significant rise or fall for many.
Prediction: The PIT will have 19 players drafted, the most since the NBA dropped to a two-round draft six years ago.
Last year 13 were drafted - three in the first round, 10 in the second. In 1993, 12 were selected, all in the second round. In 1992, 16 were claimed, one in the first round. In 1991, 14 were drafted, three in the first.
Based upon the 11 PIT game charts, the observations of the PIT player-selection committee, eavesdropping on visiting NBA scouts' notes and elimination of those who shot themselves in the foot at the 43rd annual tournament, here's the way Currents sizes up the draft of PIT players:
FIRST-ROUND PICKS
Terrance Rencher, Texas, 6-3 guard - Golden State
Jimmy King, Michigan, 6-5 guard - Vancouver
Anthony Pelle, Fresno State, 7-0 center - Toronto
Jason Caffey, Alabama, 6-8 forward - Atlanta
Mark Davis, Texas Tech, 6-7 forward - Houston
SECOND ROUND PICKS
Petey Sessoms, Old Dominion, 6-7 forward - Charlotte
Eric Meek, Duke, 6-10 forward - New York
George Banks, Texas-El Paso, 6-8 forward - Dallas
Nate Driggers, Montavello, 6-5 guard - Minnesota
Roderick Anderson, Texas, 5-10 guard - LA Clippers
Frankie King, Western Carolina, 6-1 guard - Cleveland
Antoine Gillespie, Texas-El Paso, 6-3 guard - Atlanta
Erwin Claggett, St. Louis, 6-1 guard - Portland
Theo Ratliff, Wyoming, 6-10 center - Vancouver
Julius Michalik, Iowa State, 6-10 center - Chicago
Michael McDonald, New Orleans, 6-10 center - Milwaukee
Kenny Sykes, Grambling, 6-4 guard - Philadelphia
Dan Cross, Florida, 6-3 guard - New Jersey
Rob Feaster, Holy Cross, 6-5 guard/ forward - L.A. Lakers
This should grade out the '95 PIT as possibly the most talented ever. According to the Currents guesstimate sheet, there will be seven underclassmen drafted by the NBA. These players were not eligible for the PIT, which is limited to college seniors.
Six drafted players will not participate in any postseason tournaments.
Three of the players drafted will come from Europe.
Of the other 42 players drafted, the PIT will provide 19.
Possibly others may be signed who are not drafted.
But don't save the Currents report until June and compare it with the actual draft. It might embarrass us. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
If our forecast is correct, Duke's Eric Meek will be banging with
current Bullet Chris Webber, as a second-round pick of the New York
Knicks.
by CNB