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| ESPN Network: ESPN.com | NBA.com | WNBA.com | ABCSports | FANTASY | INSIDER | ||||||||||
 | Staying paid off for these five By Andy Katz ESPN.com Staying in school doesn't always mean a player will improve his stock in the NBA draft.
Martin is the poster boy for staying in school. He would have been a late first-round pick last year. But Wednesday, he should be the No. 1 pick. Martin said a year ago the questions were what can he do. Now, the questions on him are what can't he do. He proved he's a leader, a dominant post player and one of the hardest workers in the nation. Martin spent the summer on the World University Games team. Playing for a few weeks with some of the best players in the world in his age group gave him confidence -- not just in his game but in how others viewed him. He was the focal point of the team and put him in position to be the player of the year in 1999. Martin's numbers jumped considerably from 10 points to 18.9 points per game. His rebounding and shot blocking improved, too. But, most importantly, he became a must for teams at the top of the draft. Quentin Richardson, 6-5, So., DePaul Richardson thought about bolting after his freshman season. He led the Blue Demons in scoring with 18.9 points per game. But he would have had a hard time beating out any of the top 10 picks from '99 in the draft. Team needs (four point guards chosen in the top 10) might have prevented the athletic swingman from being taken in the top 10. While Richardson averaged 17 points per game this season and was more inconsistent, he has been a pleasant surprise in workouts this spring. His work ethic and the powerful agents working for him (the SFX conglomerate led by David Falk, Arn Tellem and Jeff Wechsler) make him a potential top 10 pick this season. Richardson has been humbled after last year and that has made him work even harder to be a top 10 pick. Mike Miller, 6-8, So., Florida Miller might have cracked the first round last year, but he wouldn't have had much of a buzz about him. He wasn't as strong, didn't have the court sense and lacked the confidence to be a first-round pick. Miller averaged 12.2 points per game as a freshman and 14.2 as a sophomore. But, more than numbers, he proved he could be more assertive on the floor. His buzzer-beater to defeat Butler in the first round of the NCAA Tournament showed that he could create his own shot. Miller wouldn't have come out had he not been convinced that he was a top 10 choice. He might be in the top seven. Miller could certainly use another year of school to improve his ball skills and maturity, but he fits in well with the trend of younger players developing in the NBA rather than college. Mateen Cleaves, 6-2, Sr., Michigan State Cleaves hinted he might test the draft process a year ago. He had averaged 11.7 points and led the Big Ten in assists with 7.2. The Spartans went to the Final Four, and Cleaves had made himself a name. But he wouldn't have gotten into the first round, especially with five point guards taken in the first round in '99. Cleaves came back this season and got hurt, but he returned to lead the Spartans to the national title. His numbers improves slightly at 12.1 and 7.8 assists. But his leadership proved to be his best asset. Cleaves is still hard to figure for where in the first round he will fall. But one thing is certain: his stock is higher for coming back than had he bolted as a junior. Jamal Crawford, 6-6, Fr., Michigan Crawford's status is a no-brainer. He actually sent in a letter declaring for the NBA draft out of Seattle's Rainier Beach High School. But he sent it in too late and missed the cut. He came back and played in only 17 games because of an NCAA suspension. But he averaged 16.6 points and led the talent-laden Wolverines in scoring. But, most importantly, Crawford showed up in Chicago at the pre-draft camp at 6-foot-4 (without shoes). His size and ability to see over a defense make him one of the most tantalizing point guards. Crawford wouldn't have been drafted in the two rounds last year. This season, he's a lock for the first round and perhaps a lottery selection. His "upside" of being a taller, scoring point who could play either guard spot makes him a catch for any team in the first round. Andy Katz is a senior writer for ESPN.com.
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