It's never too early for the Answer Man to focus on the future. Andy Katz answers a few questions he receives from ESPN.com users each week.

For the last two years I have had the pleasure of working with J.R. Bremer. He was the fourth-leading scorer in the nation this year and seems to be slipping out of the second round. While I know size plays a big part in the NBA, J.R. has great shooting range, defense, and drives to the hoop and finishes with both hands very well. He played point guard his junior year so he can handle the ball. J.R. also outplayed Smush Parker and Lynn Greer, and I personally feel is better then Tito Maddox. Why is he so low on your board and not in position to make it in the second round?
Frank Hart
Seattle

I'd be surprised if Bremer doesn't get drafted in the second round, at the very least. He's one of the better scorers in the draft, although he didn't show it as much in Portsmouth. Workouts over the next three weeks will be critical for him. Unfortunately, scouts don't list him ahead of Maddox, Parker and/or Greer. It doesn't mean that someone won't like him higher.

How good will Georgia be next year? They did not lose any major contributers, and through recruiting they added needed size. Where will Damien Wilkins fit in? Do you think he and his family will cause more harm than good?
Will Linthicum
Taneytown, Md.

Georgia will be the team to beat with Florida and Kentucky in the SEC East -- one of the best divisions in college basketball. Jarvis Hayes' decision to stay with the Bulldogs gives them a legitimate player of the year candidate. The staff raves about Wilkins in practice and said he and his family have been no problem during his redshirt season. Georgia will have more size and depth than it had this past season and if Julien Lamptey gets eligible then they'll have a shotblocker, too.

Answer Man,
I have submitted this question three times now, where's the love? What do you think about Texas Pan-Am's Mire Chatman. He is undersized at 6-2, but can do everything. Great both offensively and defensivly. He isn't even listed on ESPN's draft site.
Tony Ripplinger
Pullman, Wash.

You're right, Tony, we don't list Mire. He was a stud during the season, averaging 25 points a game -- but he's got absolutely no buzz about him in the draft. That doesn't mean he won't get picked, but it doesn't bode well, either.

How good really is LeBron James?
Franklin Tejero
Taisay City, Negros Occidental, Phillipines

Franklin,
He's good, really good. Not sure I'd start comparing him to Magic or Michael or any of the greats. That's too much to put on a high school player who won't give himself the chance to win an NCAA championship like those two did before the NBA. He's a superb athlete who can handle the ball with ease, has a sense of when to make the right pass and can score from essentially all over the court. His leadership and maturity will be a question for the foreseeable future. But he's got all the raw talent to be drafted No. 1 overall in 2003.

Regarding your Daily Word about the Mid-Major Bracket Buster tourney proposal: Have you heard anything about the staging of an ACC-Big Ten Challenge type arrangement? Maybe have the projected teams from one conference (say the Mo Valley or West Coast Conf) take on the top four from the MAC (Horizon, Big West, etc.). The logistics would be easier with a planned scheduled for the schools. Any thoughts?
Bob
Tampa, Fla.

There has been no talk about that kind of format, but there should be for all conferences involved. It wouldn't get the same type of television exposure or ratings, but there is the possibility that a regional network could be interested, or at the very least, they could make a push for the best game to be on national television. But these conferences have to be more outgoing in trying to schedule and this would be one way to make it work to their advantage. They need to improve their power ratings.

I have a question about the new rule allowing NBA teams to retain the rights to high school players who declare for the draft, don't hire an agent and go to college. Particularly Brandon Roy, who committed to Washington. I would think it would be a lock for a team to take him in the second round and NOT offer him a contract. A team in this situation could only lose by signing him now, and instead have the rights to a potential player who will likely improve tremendously as he gets older an more mature. This new rule almost prevents a high school player from getting any pro money unless he is a first round pick, and a team will have his rights indefinately for the cost of a second round pick.
Mike Lees
San Diego, Calif.

Why should they draft Brandon Roy? Don't you need to have potential to be an NBA player? Not sold on whether or not Brandon has that yet. High school players who have the goods like Evan Burns, Jason Fraser or Carmelo Anthony would have made more sense in the second round if they had made themselves available in the draft. Roy got some bad advice if he thinks he's a lock to be a second-round pick. You're right on why it makes sense for an NBA team, but the player has to have potential or else the team is wasting the pick.

Andy, why all the concerns about Juan Dixon? The guy has proven himself on every level and yet still scouts don't feel he's enough of a ball-handler to play in the NBA. Is it his size? Kerry Kittles starts for the Nets and Juan Dixon is a much better basketball player than Kerry Kittles. He can shoot, he can score, he's a slasher, he can play defense, and he's got heart.
Jeff
Atlanta

Wow, slow down Jeff. Did you see Kittles in the Nets-Celtics series? Not sure I would put Dixon on the same line with Kittles just yet. He might end up being a better player, but he's not right now. Dixon gets knocked for his size and his position with some scouts wondering if he can play the point. But he's one of the best defenders in this draft and everyone loves his heart after meeting and watching him workout.

Andy, please answer my question. Will Clarence Gilbert go in the second round? I see he has hired an agency (same as fellow Tiger Kareem Rush), so someone must be telling him he's going to get drafted. What are your thoughts?
Scott Burns
Chicago

The answer is maybe in the second round. He's no lock. He didn't play well in Portsmouth and will have to wow some scouts over the next three weeks. Getting an agent doesn't lock up a draft pick. He'll likely have to earn his money in the summer league by latching on with a team that needs a scoring point.

Is there a feeling in and around Duke that they have lost some of their golden boy image? They've had problems with Shelden Williams, Casey Sanders, Reggie Love, Matt Christiansen and now Dunleavy is testing the NBA when he said he wouldn't? Is Coach K concerned?
Jeff Seeker
Arcadia, Calif.

Jeff,
No one in or around Duke seems to be upset. The Blue Devils staff is publicly and privately encouraging Dunleavy to test the draft process. The off-court issues with these players (and the Christiansen incident was a simple case of losing his cool at the end of the Indiana loss in the NCAAs) has yet to translate into any trouble for the program. Don't expect it to, either. The Sanders case is the only one that is still pending that could have an impact on the roster.

Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com. He answers questions on college basketball weekly.