Continuing our NBA Draft coverage, Joe Loyd authored this piece on future NBA prospects on Big 12 North teams.
Yesterday we looked at the possible future NBA players of the Big 12 "North" teams, now it's time to look at the "South" division.
Texas Tech - In the same boat as Iowa State & Nebraska, no NBA prospects on this campus.
Oklahoma State - With James Anderson departure, OSU doesn't currently have any NBA prospects on their team but Travis Ford will have them competitive with Matt Pilgrim and 13 year old Keiton Page still in Stillwater.
Oklahoma - Who says having NBA players on your college roster makes you a good team, certainly not the Sooners last season. With Willie Warren and Tiny Gallon moving to greener pastures, OU's roster this season will most likely be void of any NBA talent. One name to keep an eye out for is #34 ranked Rivals recruit Cameron Clark from Sherman, Texas who definitely will be given playing time to help him develop.
Baylor - The Bears best NBA prospect is not their returning leading scorer LaceDarius Dunn but incoming freshman Perry Jones. The #9 Rivals recruit stands 6"11" and quite possibly could have tested the draft waters this year if not for the NBA draft rules. He most likely will put in his one year of duty in Waco and then move on to get paid. Dunn on the other hand was discussed as a possibly early entrant this year but he made a wise decision in coming back to Baylor for his senior season as he definitely would not have been a first round pick. Standing only 6'4" and not athletic enough to be a PG in the league combined with his set shooting, I am not convinced that Dunn has a future in the NBA. He definitely will get paid to play basketball somewhere but he may have to visit some international locales to do so.
Texas A&M - While Mark Turgeon is keeping the Aggies very competitive every year in the Big 12 he is doing it without NBA players on his roster. Once again this season he will go to battle with no prospects on his roster.
Texas - The Longhorns are another team last year who proved having multiple NBA prospects on your team doesn't guarantee success. The only returning player for the Longhorns who can expect to hear his name called on a draft night is Jordan Hamilton who had a up and down season last year. While he needs to step his play up this year, he has the raw talent to play in the NBA for many years, that is if Rick Barnes doesn't go berserk on him for his shot selection. As is the case with the Longhorns in basketball as well as football, more pros are on their way into Austin to wear the burnt orange. The #17 ranked Rivals recruit Tristan Thompson arrives after picking Texas over other college heavyweights like UConn & Duke. Scouts will definitely be watching Thompson this season as he should get premium playing time with Damion James and Dexter Pittman both out of the program.
<pre><b>Submitted by Joe Loyd, Special to Big 12 Hoops</b></pre>
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