Top 25: 23 Years Old and Younger Part 1

[Spurs GM]

This is Part 1 of 2. I'll post 1-12 tomorrow. I based these rankings on Age, Potential, Stats, Ratings, and my opinion. Hope you enjoy.

25.
Kevin Martin
Age: 22
Shooting Guard
Houston Rockets
Ratings: C+ A- C B- C A
Stats: 19.4ppg 5.6rpg 97% FT
Outlook: In just his 2nd season Martin has established himself as one of the better young offensive players in the league. He leads the league in free throw percentage, making 202 out of 208 possible free throw attempts. Martin needs to work on his defense but his future is very bright in Houston.

Projected Prime Ratings: B- A C+ B+ C C

24.
Andris Biedrins
Age: 20
Center
Utah Jazz
Ratings: C+ D+ D+ B+ B A
Stats: 6.4ppg 8.4rpg 1.4bpg
Outlook: Biedrins is very raw but has shown flashes of his potential this season. Adding him to this list could be a reach but I feel he has a higher ceiling then most of the guys I left off(Deng, Iggy, etc.) Biedrins needs to work on his post moves in order to move up this list next season but for now he’s a very solid contributor for the playoff bound Utah Jazz.

Projected Prime Ratings: B C- D+ A A- C

23.
Eddy Curry
Age: 22
Center
Phoenix Suns
Ratings: A- C- D- B+ B B
Stats: 16.4ppg 8.4rpg
Outlook: Curry has taken a backseat this season as the Suns decided to go with a more outside oriented offense. Curry still produces solid numbers and at his age he will only get better. Curry would be much higher on this list if the Suns played him more then 30 minutes a game and made him an option.

Projected Prime Ratings: A C- D- A- B C

22.
Nene Hilario
Age: 22
Center
Portland Trailblazers
Ratings: B- C C- A A- B
Stats: 10.8ppg 10.8rpg 2.6bpg
Outlook: Nene is a double double machine and is one of the only bright spots for the struggling Portland Trailblazers. Nene is one of the better post defenders in the league and alters plenty of shots in the lane. Nene needs to work on his post moves and improve his shot selection.

Projected Prime Ratings: B C C- A+ A C

21.
Carlos Boozer
Age: 23
Center
Boston Celtics
Ratings: B+ C C+ B+ A- C
Stats: 17.5ppg 11rpg 2.9apg
Outlook: After a few years of being a disappointment, Carlos Boozer has finally established himself as a force to be dealt with in UOSLR. Boozer had a breakout training camp after receiving a pretty large contract from the Boston Celtics. Boozer gives the dysfunctional Celtics franchise hope for the future.

Projected Prime Ratings: B+ C C+ A- A- C

20.
Tyson Chandler
Age: 22
Center
Golden State Warriors
Ratings: B- C- C A B+ B
Stats: 7.2ppg 11.4rpg 3.7bpg.
Outlook: Chandler has been the defensive stopper the Warriors envisioned when trading back for him 3 seasons ago. He has become one of the best defensive players in the league and is a candidate for defensive player of the year.

Projected Prime Ratings: B C C A+ A- C

19.
Eddie Griffin
Age: 22
Power Forward
Milwaukee Bucks
Ratings: C+ C+ C A- B+ B
Stats: 10.5ppg 11.5rpg 3.8bpg
Outlook: Griffin has been a fixture in the Bucks rotation since they traded for him on draft day. He is a very solid all round player and is one of the elite defensive big men in the league. Griffin is one of the youngest players ever to be named to the UOSLR All Defensive first team.

Projected Prime Ratings: B- C+ C A B+ C

18.
Darko Milicic
Age : 20
Center
Indiana Pacers
Ratings: B C- C- A B- A
Stats: 10.1ppg 8.2rpg 2.1bpg
Outlook: This will be probably be one of my most controversial selections. But Milicic is only 20 years old and has a lot of room to improve. His ceiling is apparently very high and Darko has a chance to become of the best bigs in the league

Projected Prime Ratings: B+ C C A+ B C

17.
Devin Harris
Age:22
Point Guard
San Antonio Spurs
Ratings: B- B B+ B+ C- A
Stats: 15.6ppg 4.3rpg 6.9apg 91% FT
Outlook: Harris has the potential to be an elite player but a few scouts question his desire to achieve that type of success. Harris is more of a combo guard then a natural point guard, so its going to take him time to develop into a great floor general. With another good TC Harris could shoot up this Chart for next season.

Projected Prime Ratings: B A- A- A- C- C

16.
Paul Millsap
Age: 20
Power Forward
San Antonio Spurs
Ratings: B C- C- B A- A
Stats: 20.7ppg 11.3rpg
Outlook: A few GM’s bashed the Spurs GM for selecting Millsap so high. Millsap may not have the size of a legit Power Forward but he has a bigger heart then most. After a disappointing rookie season, Millsap has made the biggest strides of anyone in his rookie class. If Millsap keeps the development up he could be a perennial all star down the line.

Projected Prime Ratings: B+ C C B+ A+ C

15.
Deron Williams
Age: 21
Point Guard
Philadelphia 76ers
Ratings: B B B B- C- A
Stats: 15.9ppg 3.9rpg 7.2apg 48% FG
Outlook: Williams has taken on the responsibility of being the Sixers leader out of the gate. The #1 overall pick in last summer UOSL draft has lived up to the hype so far. Williams is the face of the Sixer’s franchise and should get them back to being a contender in no time.

Projected Prime Ratings: B+ B+ A- B+ C C



14.
Dorell Wright
Age: 19
Small Forward
Dallas Mavericks
Ratings: B- B+ C B+ C+ A
Stats: 17.6ppg 6.6rpg 3.3apg 1.7spg
Outlook: Wright is one of the most promising young players in the league. He will go down as one of the biggest steals in league history. Selected at pick #26 in last seasons draft, he has shown flashes of greatness. Wright will put Dallas back on the map in no time.

Projected Prime Ratings: B+ A- C+ A B- C

13.
Jameer Nelson
Age: 23
Point Guard/Shooting Guard
Utah Jazz
Ratings: B- A C+ B C B
Stats: 26.8ppg 5.2rpg 3.6apg 1.8spg 50% FG 91% FT 45% 3PT
Outlook: Nelson has helped Utah get out of the Western Conference cellar. Nelson is a darkhorse MVP candidate and has dominated any opponent this season. Looking at his stats, I should probably have Nelson higher on this list but I’m too lazy to fix it now lol.

Projected Prime Ratings: B A+ B- B+ C C

[Contract Year]

This has really brought some of these young guys to light for me. I had no idea guys like Millsap and Wright are playing as well as they are damn. Devin Harris is probably going to be amazing, Ducky should have kept him. Nice to see Nene playing well. Good read, waiting on the next one

[DB]

nice work

[Spurs GM]

vote

[Before I'm Gone]

I guess this means no Mo.

[csdude07]

nice read, hope to see Wade high up on part 2

[Kruwaukee]

Not really sure how Darko is above Chandler and Griffin. I think you just forgot about Darko and did't feel like editing everyone's shit so you just threw him in there....lol.

[Andrew]

Jan 27, 2010 19:47:38 GMT -5 Kruwaukee said:

Not really sure how Darko is above Chandler and Griffin. I think you just forgot about Darko and did't feel like editing everyone's shit so you just threw him in there....lol.

While he may be ranked a bit high, I really think darko is going to become an elite center in the next year or two. He is having a slump this year but I've seen other guys who have come out at 18 have a year where they play mediocre and bloom stat wise the following year.

Wagner did it I'm pretty sure.

[Kruwaukee]

Jan 27, 2010 20:01:45 GMT -5 Andrew said:

Jan 27, 2010 19:47:38 GMT -5 Kruwaukee said:

Not really sure how Darko is above Chandler and Griffin. I think you just forgot about Darko and did't feel like editing everyone's shit so you just threw him in there....lol.

While he may be ranked a bit high, I really think darko is going to become an elite center in the next year or two. He is having a slump this year but I've seen other guys who have come out at 18 have a year where they play mediocre and bloom stat wise the following year.

Wagner did it I'm pretty sure.

It really doesn't have to do much with Darko more with the fact that Griffin and Chandler are better and have just as much potential to be even better.

[Andrew]

Jan 27, 2010 19:27:20 GMT -5 csdude07 said:

nice read, hope to see melo high up on part 2

[cliff "woo" harris]

Kmart! nice to see him make this list, fantastic work, I'll read it all later.

[Clifford "Poop" Harris]

Rudy Gay will be on it next year

[kobe24]

Nice to see Wright on the list. I really need him to be something special.

[cliff "woo" harris]

Jan 27, 2010 20:34:54 GMT -5 Clifford "Poop" Harris said:

Rudy Gay will be on it next year

That's what he said.

[mtg]

nelson should be top 5 if not top 3