March 12, 2011; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Washington Huskies guard Isaiah Thomas (2) celebrates after making the game winning shot in the 2011 PAC-10 basketball tournament championship game against the Arizona Wildcats at the Staples Center. The Washington Huskies won 77-75. Mandatory Credit: Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-US PRESSWIRE

With the 2012 Olympics well underway and the “Redeem” team talking far too much smack about whether or not they could beat the 1992 Dream Team (the Redeem Team would get stomped, no question), I thought it would be prudent to construct our very own Husky Dream Team composed of 10-12 of UW’s best players ever. Keep in mind that this is my own personal list, feel free to add and debate in the comments below.

Without a doubt, Isaiah Thomas is the first man on my Husky Dream Team roster. I.T. is above and beyond the greatest player to don the Husky purple and gold (with the possible exception of Brandon Roy or Bob Houbregs). Thomas finished a mere 352 points from Chris Welp’s career scoring record of 2073 points. If I.T. had not declared for the draft a year early, Thomas would have demolished the old scoring record by a few hundred points (I used his average of 574 points per season to extrapolate his career total of nearly 2300 points).

On top of scoring, I.T. would have likely set the career record for number of assists as Will Conroy’s record of 515 is just 100 assists ahead of Thomas. With a career average of 138 assists per year, I.T. could have easily battled for the top spot. Thomas may have also finished number 4 in career steals. Perhaps more valuable than the ridiculous statistics I.T brings to the table is his will to win.

Anyone who doubts I.T.’s character and ability to push not only himself, but also his teammates, beyond their limits should simply watch the 2010-2011 Pac-10 tournament one more time. I.T. played an absurd 123 out of 125 minutes and nailed a perfect swish to take home the title and automatic berth to the NCAA tournament. Following the season, I.T. went on to become “Mr. Irrelevant” as the 60th pick in the NBA draft. Unwilling to accept being labeled irrelevant, Thomas fought and battled his way to winning the starting point guard position with the Sacramento Kings; outplay the number one pick, Kyrie Irving; and push his name into contention for NBA Rookie of the Year. On attitude alone, Thomas deserves a spot on this roster.

So who backs up “Mr. Irrelevant?” My vote goes to the a fore mentioned Will Conroy. Conroy was a master distributor and made B-Roy that much better. With amazing court vision, a strong pass, and the basketball IQ to see the smart and safe play, Conroy made a stellar point guard. Conroy was not a prolific shooter during his tenure, but a more than 9 point per game average is nothing to turn a nose up to.

Along side his 25 steal per season average and a career 3-point field goal percentage just over 33%, Conroy did enough to get himself into the NBA D-league where has he earned a few short contracts on NBA teams. I’ll admit I didn’t see many of Conroy’s early games, but his statistics yell consistency and consistency is key to any successful team. Just look at this past season and team to see why consistency is so important to winning. With I.T. likely playing 30 to 35 minutes per game, Conroy would be left with only 10 to 15 minutes a night to make his impact felt, but I have no doubt the duo of Seattle native point guards would tear apart the competition’s defense.

A pair of stars at the point guard demands equally impressive shooting guards. The greatest shooting guard to light up Hec-Ed is Brandon Roy. A Husky dream roster without Brandon Roy is a fallacy and an insult to the sporting world. B-Roy was absolutely destructive his senior season.

Jan 22, 2009; Seattle, WA, USA; Former Washington Huskies player Brandon Roy look at the rafters to see the retirement of his jersey number 3. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-US PRESSWIRE

Roy averaged over 20 points per game on his way to become the 6th overall pick in the NBA draft. A quick side note, the Husky record book incorrectly labels his season scoring average for that year under the Season Scoring section. It read 14.3 ppg (his career average), but should read 20.2 ppg. B-Roy was not only a scoring machine, he was a play making machine. With nearly 1.5 steals, over 4 assists, and just over 5.5 rebounds per night, Roy was a demolition crew that stuffed the stat sheet day in and day out.

Where Roy further distances himself from his competition comes from his various shooting percentages during that final year. Roy averaged over 50% from the field, 40% from range, and a very solid 81% at the charity stripe where games are won and lost. Much like I.T., B-Roy was a winner with a ferocious attitude that demanded respect and commanded fear from his opponents. The 2005-2006 Huskies came out of nowhere and stormed the basketball world with scrappy basketball, in-your-face defense, and a never-give-up attitude that carried them into the sweet 16 where UConn stole the win from us thanks to the zebras officiating the game.

Backing up Brandon Roy is no short order. In my mind, the only choice for the #2 in the 2-slot is Terrence Ross. While Ross was not always the big star predicted coming in to his sophomore/final season, his crazy NIT performances and excellent workouts led to the Toronto Raptors selecting Ross with the 8th overall pick in the NBA draft. Ross is a freak athlete with unlimited range and the ability to finish the most absurd shots next to the basket. Embodying everything that B-Roy excelled at, Ross also developed a mean cross-over move that froze the defense to open up the floor for his beautiful mid-range game.

In only 3 games as a sophomore was Ross held to single digit scoring. What is interesting is that Ross’ highest and lowest scoring totals in the regular season came against WSU, 30 and 2 respectively. As I discussed earlier, consistency is key in developing a dominant team and Ross was a consistent scoring threat who only began to show his superstar potential before departing for the bright lights of the big stage. Averaging 25 points per game during the NIT is no small task. A shooting guard who can score in droves is no unique snowflake. What helps separate Roy and Ross from the competition is their ability to rebound the ball on top of their scoring prowess. While Roy averaged 5.6 boards a night, Ross was able to average nearly 6.5 a night in his final year. I would argue that Ross had a higher rebounding average due to the fact that he took less shots than B-Roy and therefore had more opportunities to crash the glass.

The number 3 slot is a bit tougher to consider given the recent history of solid shooting guards who have often slide between playing the 2 and 3. My first pick would have to go to the real 2009 Pac-10 MVP, Quincy Pondexter. Pondexter had a B-Roy type explosion his senior year in terms of productivity. Pondexter had averaged around 10 points per game his first 3 years as a Husky. When Pondexter’s final year came around, Pondexter put the team on his back and averaged just under 20 points per game leading to a record five Pac-10 Player of the Week awards (more than Gary Payton, Jason Kidd, or any other of the Pac-10 greats).

Pondexter did it all for the Dawgs; scoring at will; rebounding with attitude and tenacity, finishing the season with an average just under 7.5 boards a night; playing the tough, scrappy defense the Huskies are known for with a 1.3 steal per night average; dishing out close to 2 assists a night; and finished the year with amazing shooting percentages at 53%, 35%, and 83% from the field, 3-point line, and foul line respectively.

Washington Huskies forward Quincy Pondexter. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-US PRESSWIRE

Pondexter started every game in his last two seasons as a Dawg because he knew how to win and put in the work to ensure that the Huskies would come out victorious. What I love most about Pondexter was his ability to become an absurdly clutch foul shooter. Pondexter put up four perfect foul shot nights of at least 8 attempts, including two games where he went an amazing 11 for 11. While Pondexter might not be “cold-blooded,” he did nail his own game winner in a back-and-forth battle against Marquette in the NCAA tournament.

Personally, I struggled to come up with a real solid back-up at the 3. Tre Simmons is a decent choice in my mind. Ryan Appleby could certainly be in the mix, but he is a bit undersized. While it is still early, C.J. Wilcox could be another undersized choice for the 3 slot or perhaps move Ross to the 3 and have Wilcox or Appleby slide in at the 2. Justin Holiday is another guy I might look at for the 3 due to his defensive abilities. Unfortunately, my Husky knowledge only goes back about 10 years so my picks aren’t always the most educated and I’ve likely missed a solid wing in the years preceding my attention to the Dawgs. I’m hoping one of you readers can come up with someone to either assist or take over at the 3.

Back in his day, Bob Houbregs was considered the big man on the court and certainly played with the level of domination expected of such a large individual. Though he was a 5 during the ’50s, Houbregs is too small to be a center in today’s basketball arena and would be pushed out to the 4 slot; whether or not Houbregs would have the same level of success at the 4 is up for debate. What isn’t up for debate is how great Houbregs was and what type of impact he had on the Husky squad. Averaging nearly 35 points per game in the post season of his NCAA Player of the Year season where he led the Dawgs to their first and only Final Four, Houbregs was unstoppable.

Houbregs still holds the Husky records for most points in a single game, 49, and most points in a season, 846. Houbregs actually holds the top 3 single game scoring records with 49, 45, and 42 points. Houbregs remains number 4 on the all time scoring list and second in career point average with 19.3 points per game. Houbregs is head and shoulders above fellow Huskies in career 30+ point games with 13. Next highest is Todd MacCulloch with 8. Houbregs remains the highest selected Husky in the NBA draft where he went number 2 overall to the Milwaukee Hawks.

Another 4 who played a lot of 5 in his day is Jon Brockman. The difference is that Brockman did his dirty work in the modern era where he was certainly undersized for a deep post player. What allowed Brockman to not only achieve, but dominate in the middle was his work ethic and I-will-be-better-than-you attitude. Brockman would run through a brick wall to get to a loose ball if it was in his way. Brockman suffered a small fracture in his hip following a hard rebound in the NCAA tournament where he landed on his side and literally bounced off the floor. Did he sit around and mope about it? Nope, he got right back up and ran down the court. Beast mode.

Brockman is the most dominate rebounder to grace the Huskies. Brockman led the Pac-10 in rebounding 3 straight years and went on to set the Husky record for career rebounds with 1283, 232 more than the number 2 career rebounder. Brockman is another player whose attitude alone is worth putting him on the roster. Brockman was and remains the type of player who does whatever is asked of him to make the team better. After averaging 18 points and 12 rebounds per game his junior season, Brockman was primed to explode for 25 a night his senior year. Brockman realized his team would have a higher success rate if he stepped back his scoring and helped clear space for freshman Isaiah Thomas to work the rim.

The Brockness Monster still averaged a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds a game his final year and proved why he should be an idol and model for any up and coming player.

The Huskies have a very solid pair of centers for the Dream Team. Chris Welp and Todd MacCulloch. Who to start is a tougher task than in the previous selections, but my personal preference would be MacCulloch. While Welp holds the scoring record for the Dawgs, this Dream Team already possesses scoring, what it needs is another dominate rebounder and force in the middle. MacCulloch is a massive man standing at 7-0 and 280lbs. He sucks up space on defense and scores with ease on offense. MacCulluch holds the top two slots for single game rebounds (since 1977) with 21 in each on top of 6 other games of 17+ rebounds.

As a senior, MacCulloch averaged an unbelievable stat line of 19 points, 12 rebounds, and a 66% field goal percentage. MacCulloch led the NCAA Division-1 league in field goal percentage his final three years, becoming only the second player to ever achieve such a feat. MacCulloch is fifth all time in scoring with 1743 points, averaging around 15 points a night. His season averages of 67.6%, 67.5%, 66.2%, and 65.0% fill the top four slots for season field goal percentage and his career average of 66.4%  is more than 7% better than second place. MacCulloch also holds the top two slots for best field goal percentage in a single game with a 10-10 night and a 14-15 outing. He is tied for third with a 13-14 game against California.

Christian Welp is the final player on my Husky Dream Team roster. The all time career scoring leader for the Huskies stands at 7-0 245lbs and was a huge success as an offensive player for the Dawgs during the mid 1980s when the Huskies shared a pair of Pac-10 titles. Welp was also a member of the 1984 team that went on to the Sweet 16 for the first time in 30 years. With a career field goal shooting average of 56.2%, third all time, and the second highest single season scoring record, Welp is certainly another weapon that this Dream Team could utilize. Welp is also the leader in career blocks with 186 and a season high of 67 and was the team leader in blocks all four seasons with the Dawgs. He also leads the Huskies in most fouls in a single season and career, something that also helps MacCulloch get the starting nod. Welp finished 5 rebounds shy of 1000 for his career and is 4th all time for the Dawgs. Welp won the Pac-10 Freshman of the Year award in 1984 and is the only other Husky outside B-Roy to win Pac-10 Player of the Year (1986).

So that’s my list. What do you think? Would this team find success? Am I missing key players? Let me know in the comments below.

Go Dawgs!

July 17, 2012; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Memphis Grizzlies player Tony Wroten (8) during the first half of the game against Washington Wizards the at Cox Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-US PRESSWIRE

Terrence Ross and Tony Wroten into their summer league games and each have played five and four games, respectively. This gives a small sample size of what to expect from them the rest of the summer league.

Obviously, this can’t give us much of a glimpse of what their first season will look like in the NBA. Especially because Summer League rosters are vastly different than the actual NBA rosters. Make the level of competition a lot higher in the NBA season. At the end of the Summer League and part-way through the NBA season we will have to catch up with them again.

Here is a look at their stats thus far in the 2012 NBA Summer League:

Highlights for Wroten’s first game:

Wroten had a good debut for the Memphis Grizzlies and it was his best game against the New York Knicks where he scored 19 points, had 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals.

Ross on the other hand, had a very impressive debut on July 13 against the Houston Rockets. Ross scored 21 points, had 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals. His most recent game against the New York Knicks Ross only had 5 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist.

He showed off a highlight reel dunk in this video against the Sacramento Kings (45 second mark):

He seems to be impressing a lot of people in Toronto with his athleticism and shooting ability. TheStar.com a Toronto Paper posted these comments from Raptors Coach Dwane Casey:

“Now he’s come out here in the Summer League with a high motor,” Casey said this week. “That’s the thing we were looking at. I was told I had to stay on him, but I haven’t seen that yet. So far, so good. He’s been listening, and he’s been our hardest-working guy in the Summer League.”

So far, so good for both Wroten and Ross. They both wanted to be in the NBA as soon as they were ready and now they are doing their best to take advantage of that opportunity.

Scott Suggs Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-US PRESSWIRE

The Washington Huskies team is certainly different this year. There is a lot that is unseen and unheard of for the coming season. Not only for fans but for the national media and the nation’s attention.

Once again, UCLA and Arizona are flying high on the national radar. Both had huge recruiting classes and are returning some important players from last season. USC is actually gaining some ground in the spotlight. Many are talking about a completely different Trojan squad with Jio Fontan back in the mix.

The Huskies, however, look to be an enigma. The national media isn’t sure what to do with them. Are they good? Are they bad? Who is their best player? Do they have a deep bench? Do they not? And with all these questions they don’t know how to answer, they still can’t regulate Washington out of the race. Or maybe they don’t want to.

Take for example, the article that I read last night by Eammon Brennan on ESPN.com. He is breaking down the Pac-12 in “best/worst case scenarios” and he also lists the top player for each team on the side. At the top he has 5 stories lines to follow during the summer.

However, his comments are really straight forward for every team in the Pac-12 but for Washington he seems befuddled. Take a look at his best/worst case scenario for UW.

Best-case scenario: For as much as Tony Wroten impressed NBA scouts with attacking athleticism last season, let’s not forget that Wroten posted a 95.5 offensive rating on the 13th-highest usage rate (32.2 percent) of any player in the country. Maybe losing Wroten to the NBA draft isn’t that bad, after all. If Abdul Gaddy and C.J. Wilcox form a more efficient backcourt, and Aziz N’Diaye can add to his low-post repertoire, this team might be a better — or at least more cohesive — offensive unit.

Worst-case scenario: The Wroten departure may not hurt, at least compared to last season, but the loss of versatile swingman Terrence Ross is a definite downer. Ross wasn’t just productive, he was efficient. Even with him, the Huskies couldn’t manage to make the NCAA tournament. Without him, and without Lorenzo Romar’s typical recruiting haul, the Huskies could struggle to get close.

On first read through you think, how is that even a “best or worst” case scenario. In fact, both the worst and the best sound like the same. On second read through, you can better understand his reasoning: the best case scenario is that UW is more cohesive and the worst is that they struggle to get close to the NCAA tournament.

However, it isn’t clear. And that is not Brennan’s writing style. The rest of the Pac-12 is answered in a pretty straight forward fashion.

Now, let’s look at his ‘most important player’ for the Husky team:

Washington: Scott Suggs
C.J. Wilcox and Abdul Gaddy are the most recognizable names on the roster. But don’t forget about Suggs, a sharpshooter who averaged 7.4 points and shot 45 percent from 3-point range as a junior two years ago. The 6-foot-6 Suggs, who redshirted last season because of a foot injury, could be one of the X factors for the Huskies.

Sure, he declares Suggs as the guy but does it in a way that leaves you guessing if it is really Gaddy or Wilcox. Especially, when his last line is “could be one of the X-factors”. Brennan doesn’t seem convinced it is actually Suggs. When in every other Pac-12 school he is definite on his choice with no other current players listed (except Arizona but that is only to state that it will elevate his pick for most important player).

What is going on?

Honestly, the answer is that the media, fans, both nationally and locally are unsure what to do with this team. Two of the most talented players may be guys that have yet to hit the court, Andrew Andrews and Mark McLaughlin. Then there is a guy named Suggs, who was red-shirted all last season due to injury. Gaddy has been an enigma from the beginning so he just adds to that puzzle. Aziz N’Diaye has been working on his offensive game, but fans have heard that before. Shawn Kemp is supposed to be in better shape and knows the system. We could go on and on about why there are more questions than answers right now but I won’t.

Instead, I will leave you with my best/worst case scenario for this enigma in the media’s eyes. They will either (best case), fly under the radar or (worst case) leave us in mystery for all of next season.

5. Will a star emerge?

Last year Terrence Ross stepped his game up and became a first round talent who led the Huskies through some tough times. He had some phenomenal games, like the comeback against UCLA, which kept the Huskies in the Pac-12 title hunt. With his exit, who will step up to become the go-to player?

The obvious choice is C.J. Wilcox who is entering his red shirt junior year after scoring 14.2 point per game. He doesn’t just get hot, he gets surface-of-the-sun hot. He does struggle to create his own shot off of the dribble which, hopefully, he will be and has been working on.

Can the forgotten Scott Suggs step up his game as a senior? People forget that he led the Huskies in three point shooting at 45% in 2010/11 and scored 7.4 ppg while only playing 18.3 minutes per game. I won’t pretend to be unbiased here; I’ve been driving the Suggs bandwagon since his freshman year. He has been absolutely itching to get on the court since he was cleared to play late last December but Romar made the tough decision to keep him on the bench and save his final year of eligibility.

What about the much maligned Abdul Gaddy? I’ll have more on him later…

Keep your eye on the practice reports and player/coach interviews for hints on who is demanding the ball late and has taken the next step.

4. How legit is Andrew Andrews?

The legend of Andrew Andrews began in high school when he put up 50 points in a game and then quietly committed to the Huskies with little fanfare. It continued as he impressed in last year’s summer league and fans began to wonder if he was a hidden gem. With the depth at the point, Romar decided to red shirt Andrews and make Husky fans wait another year.

The time has come for Andrews to show what he’s got and impress the coaches (and fans) with a year of learning under his belt. Most are hoping that he can be a dynamic bench scorer that can be a combo guard and lead UW’s high speed attack whether Gaddy is on the bench or alongside him. He’s got speed, size, and aggressiveness that Romar love to see in his guards. With one tweet he showed that his shooting ability may be his most dangerous weapon. He beat C.J. Wilcox in a shooting contest by making 500 of 627 threes. Is he the complete package?

We’ll have to pay attention to what he does in the summer league and reports from practice to hear if it all adds up. We all know that Romar loves defense first, so keep your eyes/ears open if his defense in practice allows Romar to play him more.

3. Who emerges in the frontcourt?

It wasn’t pretty last year. I’ll leave it at that. Aziz N’diaye returns for his senior season at center but it will be tough to determine how much he has developed until the games begin. He put on weight last year while fixing his foul issues and that was a good step forward for the seven footer. After averaging 7.8 points and 7.3 rebounds in 23 minues, it would be great if he could step it up to average a double-double in 26+ minutes in 2012/13. Is that too much to ask from awkward Senegalese center? And free throws; has he improved AT ALL in that area? Maybe, but that type of output may be the key to the Huskies season.

With Darnell Gant graduating, it leaves a gigantic hole at the power forward position and more questions than answers in regards to his replacement. Shawn Kemp Jr. showed flashes of his potential last season but his inconsistency and flat feet leaves much to be desired. He has the right size and strength that make him the ideal fit. However, as I mentioned, there’s a lot that we have to see from him before we can pencil him in. He’ll be a guy that I will be watching very carefully during the summer league.

Martin Breunig wasn’t exactly perfect player either. He got dunked on more than he impressed last year which definitely isn’t a great sign. On a more positive note, he did show that he can score on the offensive end at a somewhat promising rate. In order to get on the court he will need to greatly improve his defense and add solid weight to his 6’8 frame. He’s an intriguing prospect who could be a dark horse but there’s a lot for him to learn before Romar will give him extended playing time. Unfortunately the summer league is not the place to see defensive improvements.

Desmond Simmons may be the leader in the clubhouse for extended playing time at the four even though he’s a more natural wing. Simmons wasn’t the “Romar Prototype” last year that we all wished he could be as his shooting touch from three point range and his defense left a lot to be desired. All reports before last season spoke highly of his shooting touch and defensive intensity. Were the reports and scouts wrong or did he just struggle adjusting as a freshman? Hopefully he regains his touch and feels more comfortable with his abilities.

2. What can Mark McLaughlin actually do?

We don’t know much about McLaughlin. The TCC transfer who averaged 27.5 ppg last season will step in to try and immediately fill the scoring shoes of Terrence Ross. He has drawn comparisons to Tre Simmons and Brandon Roy which should be a good sign. Early reports from summer league are that he has great shooting stroke and is incredibly fluid in the lane. He’s not the strongest, fastest, or most athletic but, like Roy, he puts it all together into a very dangerous package. I don’t care what league it is, AVERAGING 27.5 ppg is impressive and if he can average half of that this season the Huskies will be just fine.

He’s saying all of the right things when it comes to his dedication to defense which, as we know, is at the top of Romar’s wish list. His commitment to defense will probably be the number one thing in deciding how much early playing time he will get and ultimately what his role will become.

Personally, he’s the player that I’m most excited to see and read about. How will he adjust to the speed of the Pac-12? Will his scoring translate against bigger and better post defenders? Is  he a liability on defense? How dedicated is he to becoming a true star? Definitely stay tuned on this one.

1.  Which Abdul Gaddy shows up for his swan song?

Outside of the “Human Lightning Rod” known as Tony Wroten, Abdul Gaddy was the victim of most of Husky fans’ rage last year, including myself. I think that it’s fair to say that his knee injury in 2010/11 has left him a step (or two) slow which really hindered his game. He was forced to deviate from his slash-and-kick style to more of a passive offensive general. His shooting touch absolutely left him and his overall scoring output went from 8.5 ppg in 23.2 minutes per game to 8.1 ppg in 33.9 minutes per game. Not exactly the type of improvement that you hope for in a McDonald’s All-American’s junior season.

His struggles last year were one of the top reason why the Huskies found themselves in the NIT last year but he did show some very impressive performances in that tournament. His 11 point, 10 assist, 7 rebound game against Oregon showed that he does have the capability to be an elite point guard in 2012-13. With Tony Wroten gone he will certainly be able to better dictate the offensive pace and game plan. Don’t underestimate that factor. Gaddy MUST improve into an All Pac-12 First or Second Teamer if the

Husky squad wants to repeat as conference champs and make it into the Big Dance.

Watch for reports on his shooting stroke, quickness, and overall confidence. This is Gaddy’s team and it will only go as far as he can take them.

Terrence Ross (Washington) is introduced as the number eight overall pick to the Toronto Raptors. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-US PRESSWIRE

This is part I of a two part series looking at the next set of Husky basketball players who have a chance to join the long line of Husky greats taken in the NBA draft. Part I will focus on the incoming seniors, while Part II will look at the underclassmen possibilities…

On Thursday night, the Washington Huskies saw two players taken in the first round of the NBA draft. Terrence Ross was taken at #8 by the Toronto Raptors, while Tony Wroten was taken at the #25 spot by the Memphis Grizzlies. This is the first time in Husky history that two players on the team were taken in the 1st round. It is still amazing to me that a team with two first round caliber players missed out on the NCAA tournament. But, that’s a discussion for a different day. Lorenzo Romar has certainly been able to maintain a pretty good stream of players being taken in the NBA draft.

Since the 2004-05 season, Romar he has seen nine of his players selected in the NBA draft. And usually there is at least one every year. Let’s take a look at his track record.

In 2005, Nate Robinson was taken in the 1st round with the 21st pick.

In 2006, Brandon Roy was taken in the 1st round with the #6 pick, while Bobby Jones was taken in the 2nd round with the 47th pick. Will Conroy went undrafted, but has played on various 10-day contracts in the NBA while bouncing around the D-League and international leagues.

In 2007, Spencer Hawes was taken with the 10th pick of the 1st round.

In 2008, no one selected.

In 2009, Jon Brockman was taken in the 2nd round of the NBA draft with the 38th pick overall. In addition, while undrafted, Justin Dentmon was able to make his way up through a couple international leagues and the D-league into the NBA on a few short-term contracts.

In 2010, Quincy Pondexter was taken with the 26th pick of the 1st round.

In 2011, Isaiah Thomas was taken with the 60th and last pick of the NBA draft.

So, 9 players have been taken in the last 8 drafts and only in one of those years no players were selected. That is a pretty good track record for potential recruits to look at. Everyone talks about how John Calipari has a track record of getting players to the NBA. But, really, does anyone really believe that these 5-star one-and-done prima donas wouldn’t have gotten to the NBA without Calipari’s help? But, with Romar a number of his players were 4-year players who really did need the time to “develop”.

Thus, it leads us to the inevitable discussion of who will be the next Husky great to get the call from the NBA. There are essentially two questions to ask here. First, are there any players on  the current roster who look like definite NBA talent for the 2013 draft? And second, will Romar get any of the one-and-done players in the 2013 recruiting class that would enter the draft in 2014?

First, let’s examine the current roster. In this article, I am focusing on the three seniors on the roster who will definitely be hoping that the NBA comes calling next summer. In Part II, I will examine the underclassmen to see who else might be possibilities to be drafted in 2013 or 2014.

Washington Huskies guard Abdul Gaddy. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-US PRESSWIRE

When you look at the seniors on the roster, you have Abdul Gaddy, Scott Suggs, and Aziz N’Diaye. Since this is their final year of eligibility, each of them will hope to get the call to the NBA next year. It is their last chance to shine, to show improvement on the things they need to work on, and wow the scouts with their athleticism, potential, leadership. Last, but not least, they must demonstrate that they are winners. This is a season of unknowns in 2012-13. Will this team with arguably less talent be able to get to the NCAA tournament, while the team with two first round picks could not? Getting to the Big Dance will likely depend on whether these three seniors have the kind of season that will also get them into the NBA draft.

Let’s start with the team’s starting point guard Abdul Gaddy. Gaddy has been somewhat of an enigma for Husky fans since he arrived. Gaddy was a highly touted 5-star recruit, rated the #2 point guard in the nation out of high school. He originally committed to Arizona for Lute Olsen. But, once Olsen decided to retire, he decided to stay closer to home. Many figured he would be a one-and-done type player, except that that wasn’t an option since he was too young to enter the draft. In fact, he was the youngest player in all of Division I in the country that year.

But, after a pretty disappointing freshman season, many people chalked it up to age (he was only 17) and inexperience. Gaddy did show some improvement during his sophomore year until he suffered that torn ACL early in the year that knocked him out of the rest of the season. Gaddy came back last year as the starting PG and played more minutes than any other Husky player. He was reliable and durable and definitely started to grow into the position. With a roster full of high fliers, but with no obvious leaders, you could see him grow more and more into that role of elder statesman as the season wore on.

Gaddy seemed comfortable as a play-maker, but definitely lacked much of the necessary explosiveness to be an effective scorer. He improved his outside shooting, but seemed to struggle taking defenders off the dribble or defending quicker guards. It will be interesting to see if he can finally blossom into the 5-star recruit that he was hyped as 3 years ago. This is his last chance to show NBA scouts that he has a future in the league. Currently, he has gone from a sure-fire NBA prospect to missing from the Mock Boards of both DraftExpress.com and NBADraft.com. He will definitely need to show the same level of reliability, improved leadership, and improved scoring ability to get himself back on the board.

Cal State Northridge Matadors guard tries a hook shot over Washington Huskies center Aziz N'Diaye

Aziz N’Diaye is another senior with a shot at an NBA career. In fact, his chances of playing in the league may be even better than Gaddy’s. While Aziz clearly has his limitations on the offensive end, his size and athleticism is definitely something that NBA scouts are looking for. As the old saying goes “you can’t teach height”. But, it goes beyond that. He is so strong and muscular, that he is very difficult to move out of the post and his ability to run the floor will be very effective in breaking up fast breaks and getting down the floor for rebounds on the offensive side. He could still use some improvement on his footwork, but his athleticism gives him the ability to recover when out of position to disrupt opponent’s shots.

While shooting 38% from the free throw line is not very encouraging, his ability to take up space on the defensive end and intimidate guards who drive into the lane could prove quite useful at the next level. His solid minutes on a team without much front line depth last year helped relieve some of the injury concerns by NBA scouts, but his propensity to foul too much has to keep them concerned. Hopefully Aziz will be able to stay out of foul trouble this year, he will improve somewhat on his post play and offensive skills, and he will be able to continue to show his durability. Currently, NBADraft.com has him as the #56 player taken, which is late in the 2nd round. But, DraftExpress.com does not have him on the board. If undrafted, I do think Aziz might be able to carve out a niche in the NBA as an undrafted free agent.

Scott Suggs is someone who is not really being talked about right now in the NBA draft. After redshirting last season, it is difficult to really know what we are going to get from him. After the former Mr. Basketball from Missouri arrived at UW, he had a disappointing freshman season (which many people, including me, felt he should have redshirted), an improved sophomore year, and a promising junior year. While he is certainly a good shooter from outside and a solid defender, his ability to dribble and run the offense need work. He needs to take on more of a leadership role next year, and needs to be a threat to drive to the basket with his tall athletic frame and ability to pass out of traffic. A lot of people are excited to see what he will look like in this 5th year. He could potentially have a real breakout season with the absence of obvious scorers ahead of him like Ross and Wroten. He biggest competition for touches and shots will come from CJ Wilcox. But, being more featured on offense could give him a chance to shine. But, I don’t believe that even a big time season would get him into the NBA draft . I think he could have a chance to make it someday, but it would likely similar to the route taken by Dentmon and Conroy via the D-League. Or, more likely he’ll carve out a nice little career overseas.

So, of the current crop of seniors, I see Aziz N’Diaye as the most likely to be drafted. Tomorrow, I’ll look at who else might make it among the rest of the roster.

June 28, 2012; Newark, NJ, USA; Terrence Ross (Washington), right, is introduced as the number eight overall pick to the Toronto Raptors by NBA commissioner David Stern during the 2012 NBA Draft at the Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-US PRESSWIRE

Terrence Ross was drafted 8th overall by the Toronto Raptors in the 2012 NBA Draft. A day in which Lorenzo Romar was able to be with Ross in the draft room and watch not only Ross get drafted in the first round but Tony Wroten too (25th overall by the Memphis Grizzlies).

Let’s look at  instant reaction from around the internet on the selection of Ross.  We will look at Raptor Fans reaction,  Raptor Blogs, NBA Writer(s), Husky fans reaction, and more.

Random Raptor Fan Tweet

(this seems to be the general consensus for the Toronto fan base).

Honestly, looking at Terrence Ross clips and workouts, he’s not half bad. Just that we could’ve traded down and still got him. He’s wet doe

— Parmveer Lally (@PLtwosix) June 29, 2012

Raptor Site: National Post (Toronto)

This is what the media in Toronto is saying. Also, some good insights on Toronto’s pick of Ross.

Ross was the first option after Harrison Barnes, the North Carolina small forward, went to Golden State. Bitterly, the Raptors lost a coin flip with the Warriors after both teams won 23 games. Due to that, Golden State selected seventh and the Raptors chose eighth. The Raptors were also interested in Syracuse guard Dion Waiters (fourth to Cleveland) and Weber State point guard Damian Lillard (sixth to Portland).

Ross is not expected to blossom immediately. The Raptors will prioritize adding a veteran small forward either in free agency or via a trade. (Of course, they will also be looking to add Steve Nash in free agency. Of that, there is no doubt.) If Ross or incumbent starter James Johnson is starting to begin next season, it will be a disappointment.

NBA Writers Panel (Fansided)

There are four opinions of the pick on the panel. This is the one I felt worth sharing from Bryan Rosa. You can read the rest here.

A reach no doubt, Ross was a player Toronto could’ve and should’ve traded down for. That’s not to say Ross can’t play, but, he’s too high of a selection at #8. Now, Ross could certainly be worth his weight at #8 a few years down the road, so you can’t fault Toronto for taking the risk but I have to believe they could’ve moved down and acquired additional assets before drafting Ross a few picks down.

Husky Fan Reaction

A fairly typical reaction from Husky fans. This was probably the number one reaction with the second just being pure elation for Ross.

As a Washington Huskies fan, there is some justice in Terrence Ross being taken before Terrence Jones.

— Brandon Sparks (@SportLogoPundit) June 29, 2012

Husky Media Reaction

Gregg Bell of GoHuskies.com, you can read the full story here.

Romar said Ross was sitting at the draft believing he was going to be selected 14th by Milwaukee. Then Cleveland took Dion Waiters of Syracuse at fourth overall. That moved Ross up in the draft’s heirarchy of shooting guards.

Ross’ agent informed him of the boost into becoming a lottery pick at eighth overall seconds before NBA commissioner David Stern announced Toronto had selected him.

And a shout out from Arizona Coach Sean Miller

Congratulations to Terrence Ross and the UW Huskies on him being selected at #8 in the Lottery! Well deserved, team guy, winner! #pac12

— Sean Miller (@UACoachMiller) June 29, 2012

Terrence Ross. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-US PRESSWIRE

Terrence Ross and Tony Wroten should both find themselves drafted in the first round. Ross could even make it into the top 10 and Wroten into the top 20. It could be the highest pair of picks for the Huskies in recent years.

Griffin Bennett and Mark Knight will be tracking the NBA draft and updating this post to keep you informed on what is happening with Ross and Wroten. Rumors, trades, speculation, and where they are selected. Have this open while you watch the draft or keep up with us while you are at work.

• 7:30 – First round over. We are signing off. Check back tomorrow for thoughts on the Draft. (MK)
• 7:10 – Wroten will join Quincy Pondexter in Memphis. And remember Memphis was  team that sold but is now maybe in limbo. VERY VERY small chance but possible that team could come to Seattle. (MK)
• 7:06 – Don’t downplay the impact that having two players selected in the first round will have in recruiting. The number one thing that top players want to see is how the program will get them paid. (GB)
• 6:51 – The NBA Draft selection committee slotted Wroten to go anywhere from the 5th to the 25th. He ended up 25th. (MK)
• 6:49 – Memphis Grizzlies select Tony Wroten Jr. with the 25th overall pick. (MK)
• 6:45 – Atlanta passes on Tony. Just goes to show that off season promises don’t mean much. Now I hope the Heat grab him up. (GB)
• 6:36 – We heard all year that Atlanta “loves Wroten”. Let’s see how much. (GB)
• 6:29 – Draft fatigue setting in. That or this drinking game is kicking in. (GB)
• 5:51 – Rumors that Raptors are after Steve Nash to join Ross. (MK)
• 5:48 – Starting to get into a realistic Wroten range as he is the best PG on the table. (MK)
• 5:28 – From Dave “Softy” Mahler – “If the #Raptors pick up the option on Terrence Ross 3rd year, he’ll be guaranteed $6.7 Million” (MK)
• 5:23 – From the ESPN Stats Twitter – “Terrence Ross is 4th UW player to be drafted in top 10 in common draft era Roy/Hawes/Schrempf” (MK)
• 5:20 – Now does Wroten shoot up the draft boards, drop down the draft boards, or go where projected (bottom of first round)? (MK)
• 5:18 – “First off I want to thank God, without him I wouldn’t be here. It’s a blessing.” He then credits his defensive ability and shooting as why the Raptors liked him. (MK)
• 5:17 – Jay Bilas loves Ross’ shooting ability, says he and John Jenkins are the best shooters in the draft. He also lists rebounding and transition.
• 5:16 – Toronto Raptors Select Terrence Ross. (MK)
• 5:13 - Philadelphia 76er fans on Twitter are hoping for Terrence Ross. (MK)
• 5:08 – We’re officially in Ross territory here. He could pop at any time now. (GB)
• 4:44 – MJ and the Kittens take MKG with the second pick. The winner takes the winner. Great pick, in my opinion. (GB)
• 4:38 – Davis to New Orleans. No shocker there. I love the snapback hats they’re giving out, though. Very stylish. – (GB)
• 4:30 – Anyone in for a little drinking game? Drink if you hear “wingspan”, “upside”, “reach”, “ceiling”, or “potential”. More to come later, I’m sure. (GB)
• 4:19 – The draft committee nailed the Wroten projection with 5-25. Huge range but he could fall to the bottom of the first round or could be a “crazy” pick early in the draft. NBA GMs slobber over potential. Wroten oozes potential. (MK)
• 4:10 – My personal preferences for both of our guys: Ross goes New Orleans to create a great nucleus of Gordon/Davis/Ross and Wroten goes to a top contender like Boston/Miami/Atlanta/and maybe Memphis. (GB)
• 3:50 – Terrence Ross sporting a green bow tie. Looking pretty fly! https://twitter.com/MikePradaSBN/status/218475742026141697/photo/1 - (GB)
•  3:48 – Draft Express updated his mock draft with Terrence Ross to the Bucks at 14. Wroten at 30 to Golden State. (MK)

Also in the category of “good news”, Terrence Ross has been invited to the NBA Draft green room which usually means that the player has a good chance of being selected in the lottery. This will be even more exposure for the Washington program, especially with a pivotal 2013 recruiting class watching on TV.

With the draft a day away, it’s a great time to check out the mock drafts from all around the interwebz. Nothing is more exciting and pointless than NBA mock drafts BUT that doesn’t mean we can’t join in the speculation.

Chad Ford – ESPN

Ross: 12 – Milwaukee. Ross worked out for the Bucks on Tuesday. I don’t think it was a game-changer, but if Tyler Zeller is off the board, I think they might opt for Ross over Meyers Leonard. Yes, they need a big man more, but they also need a big wing who can shoot the basketball and there is a lot of pressure in Milwaukee to win now. Leonard is a project. Ross can play right now.

Wroten: 23 – Atlanta. The Hawks don’t have any depth behind point guard Jeff Teague. Sources say that, in the past few weeks, they’ve become enamored with Wroten. His shot is broken and he can be wild, but he has enormous upside as a big point guard who can see the floor and get to the rim.

ESPN “Experts” – ESPN

Ross: 18 – Houston. I initially had Ross here when I thought the Timberwolves would be drafting at No. 18, but Ross is a good fit for Houston as well (that is, if the Rockets end up keeping the pick). He is a good value at this point in the draft, and the team could use another wing following the trade of Chase Budinger. – David Thorpe

Wroten: 24 – Cleveland. Wroten isn’t really a need here, so much as I believe he’s the best player still left on the board. But I do think he can fit in Cleveland. He has the size to play the 2 and is a terrific slasher and defender. His shot is broken, but when playing alongside Kyrie Irving‘s shooting skills, I don’t think that’s as big of an issue. – Chad Ford.

Aran Smith – NBADraft.net

Ross: 7 – Golden State. Unlike last year when everyone knew exactly who the Warriors were targeting, Klay Thompson, this year GM Bob Myers has shrewdly kept it a mystery. It’s no secret this team needs a 3 and would love to see either MKG or Harrison Barnes slide to them. Ross is a talent with a legitimate chance to be the top wing prospect from this year’s draft class. He’s had tremendous workouts, so if the team really likes him it could be a risk to trade down 4-5 spots in the hopes of getting him. Ross is dangerous from outside, where he sports a clean release and sweet rhythm in catch and shoot opportunities. A smooth wing with NBA athleticism, Ross does an excellent job at stretching the floor by recognizing and occupying open space. He also shows a nice ability to pull up for mid-range shots. Ross’ strong finish to the season only helps his cause. NBA Comparison: Eddie Jones

Wroten: Not in first round.

Jeff Goodman – CBSSports.com

Ross: 18 – Houston. The Rockets dealt Chase Budinger for this pick and may package it — or one of their other first-round selections. If not, Ross may be too talented to pass up as an athletic wing who can shoot it.

Wroten: 31 – Washington DC. He’s got the size and athleticism and is worth the risk early in the second round.

Bill Simmons and Chad Ford – Grantland.com

Ross: 11 – Portland. With the 11th pick, I’m grabbing Terrence Ross for Portland and, more important, for the nitpicking lunatics on the Blazers Edge message board. In a league that’s moving in the direction of athletic swing guys who can shoot 3s and play multiple positions, it seems logical to spend a lottery pick on an athletic swing guy who can shoot 3s and play multiple positions, right? – Bill Simmons

Wroten: Not chosen in mock (only 22 picks).

Sam Amick – Sports Illustrated

Ross: 17 – Dallas. This seems to be the floor for Ross, whom I’m told could go as high as No. 10 to New Orleans. The Mavs would be tempted to grab Marshall to help fill a potential hole at point guard (depending on what happens in free agency), but Ross — who was among the NBA’s 14 invitees to the green room on draft night — is too talented to pass up. He has phenomenal range, size and top-tier athleticism (37½-inch vertical jump). He averaged 16.4 points and shot 45.7 percent from the field and 37.1 percent from three-point range as a sophomore.

Wroten: 30 – Golden State. The talent is easily worth taking here, even with the red flags about Wroten’s decision making and lack of shooting range. He puts serious pressure on defenses and could be a potent option for coach Mark Jackson coming in behind Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.

Scott Howard-Cooper – NBA.com

Ross: 17 – Dallas. The emerging sophomore has signs of a big-time scorer, with range on his shot and athleticism, with the versatility to play either swing spot.

Wroten: 30 – Golden State. The pick probably changes — to Miles Plumlee, Draymond Green or maybe Evan Fournier — if the Warriors go guard at No. 7.

David Aldridge – NBA.com

Ross: 13 – Phoenix. Last year, the Suns almost took Iman Shumpert in the first round before opting for forward Markieff Morris. They’ll get the guard they want this time with Ross, who has impressed a lot of teams during the interview process and who has caught Phoenix’s eye.

Wroten: Not listed in first round.

What can we learn from all of this? First off, the general sentiment is that Ross probably won’t sneak past Dallas at 17 and that in no way is Wroten guaranteed a first round selection. If Wroten falls out of the top 30, would you consider his decision to leave early a smart one? What teams are most ideal for Ross and Wroten?

The bottom line is that there isn’t one. Thursday’s draft will be a fun one for Dawg fans and it will certainly be filled with drama and intrigue.

Terrence Ross gets 14th Green Room invite w/Davis, T-Rob, Beal, MKG, Barnes, Lillard, Waiters, Rivers, Drummond, Lamb, Henson Zeller Leonard

— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) June 25, 2012

Mar 27, 2012; New York, NY, USA; Washington Huskies guard Terrence Ross (31) drives to the basket during the first half of the semifinal round against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at the NIT held at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-US PRESSWIRE

This is a big invitation for Ross as he has been projected all over the place but has recently impressed many people; fans, general managers, media members, etc. He has been able to really show of his shot, his athleticism, and ability to play defense.

I have seen Ross mentioned as high as 7 because Jerry West seems to be really intrigued by Ross. Draft Express has him at 13 to the Suns, some have him in the top 10 and most have him around 15. However, there have been others that have put him in the 20 range.

In my opinion, both Ross and Tony Wroten could be one of those guys that make a leap up the draft board. In the NBA, general managers draft based on potential almost as much as any sport (baseball beats it out). And both Ross and Wroten show extreme potential and athleticism.

This invite  is big for Ross, it means a few things:

• The NBA views him as one of the top 14 players in the Draft.
• He will most likely get selected in the top 15. There was only one player that slipped out of the top 15 last year that sat in the green room, Chris Singleton who went 18 to the Washington Wizards.
• Ross’ hype has increased ten-fold since his workouts with teams.

Thursday night is the draft. Stay tuned to see where Ross and Wroten goes. TheHuskyHaul.com will be covering it throughly; pre, during, and post draft.

June 4, 2012; Westwego, LA, USA; Washington Huskies guard Terrence Ross talks to the media following a pre-draft workout with the New Orleans Hornets at the Alario Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE

Terrence Ross and Tony Wroten were the only Huskies invited to the NBA combine as they are the two that will be drafted. Ross and Wroten have been showing off their skills to NBA executives and all the buzz out of the combine is that both are drastically improving their draft stock.

Ross coming out of UW was projected as a potential lottery pick while Wroten heard that he could go anywhere between 5th and 25th. Wroten was projected with such a disparity because of how much fans, coaches, and NBA executives disagree about him. He is an enigma because he doesn’t really project like anyone currently in the NBA. There are a few that he shares similar traits with, but none where he looks to line up exactly like or even close.

Wroten has been compared to Tyreke Evans, Rajon Rondo, John Wall, Iman Shupert, Deron Williams, and even Gary Payton. However, it never quite fits. This is why when the NBA committee looked at him and the NBA they gave him such a wide range.

At the NBA combine both Ross and Wroten are impressing people.

Jeff Goodman of CBS put Ross in his 12 winners:

Terrence Ross – I pegged Washington’s wing as a lottery pick prior to the start of the season — and he’s got a chance to move into the top 14. Ross has the length, athleticism and also the perimeter shot. He made more shots than most — and he also did a nice job on the defensive end.

And Wroten has brought a lot of praise too.

Who helped their stock the most in Chicago, according to sources? Damian Lillard, Meyers Leonard, Austin Rivers, Tony Wroten…

— The Hoops Report (@TheHoopsReport) June 9, 2012

They both also came in a little bit taller in terms of measurements.

• Wroten measured at 6’4 3/4 with no shoes on and 6’6 with shoes. That is taller than many expected him to be because basketball players are usually referenced with shoes on. He weighed 203, with a 6’9″ wingspan, and 8’5″ reach.
• Ross measured at 6’6″ without shoes and 6’7″ with shoes on. This is about an inch higher than expected though as the season went on last year, people were noticing that he was just barely shorter than Darnell Gant. He weighed 196.6, with a 6’7 1/2″ wingspan, and a 8’5″ reach.
• Wroten also was the fastest in the sprint. This is great for his stock as he not only was the fastest at his position but the fastest at the combine.

Ross has shown that he can really shoot the ball from all over the court, can play defense, and has tons of athleticism to get to the rim. The one thing scouts are still wanting to see from him is his dribbling.

Wroten on the other hand is showing the opposite in terms of shooting; he is struggling with his shot. But he has an explosive ability to get to the basket, showing impressive passes, athleticism, and improved defensive ability.

Many are now speculating that Ross will break into the top 15 and Wroten still has a shot to be a high draft pick on potential alone. The NBA loves potential.

Jan 15, 2012; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies guard Terrence Ross. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-US PRESSWIRE

Of late there has been plenty of draft talk on Terrence Ross. According to many analysts he’s creeping up the draft boards as workouts increase and circulate about the internet. What are some of the national draft experts saying?

Mike Schmitz (@mike_schmitz) has an interesting video breakdown of Ross’ strengths and weaknesses, with the help of some audio from Coach Romar. Schmitz’s analysis, while largely favorable, does include the most oft-repeated critique of Ross’ game I’ve heard – that he needs to improve (or prove) that he can get to the rim and not simply shoot jumpers and that he has average, at best, handles.

David Daniels (@therealddaniels) who writes for Bleacher Report, has Ross slightly under the radar. But according to one NBA scout, Ross is deserving of the hype – “I’m not sure he’s not the best 2 guard on the board”.

Kurt Helin at Pro Basketball Talk has a nice profile of Ross. Helin (@probasketballtalk) lists Ross’ jumper and athleticism on the break as a couple of his strengths, which will, Helin believes, allow him to make a virtual instant impact. In addressing the common critique of Ross’ sub-NBA level handles, Helin says “he’s not got NBA handles yet but he’s the guy filling a lane in transition”.

Chad Ford, ESPN Draft Insider (@chadfordinsider), has a nice interview in which Ross discusses his own strengths and the overall draft process. When asked what kind of player he is, Ross replied an athletic scorer who plays defense. Indeed.

Of the several teams with reported interest in Ross, Brian McDonald of SB Nation Houston indicates that Ross could fill a void at the 2 and pair nicely with Chandler Parsons at the 3, particularly on the defensive end.

NBADraft.net, as of June 1st, has Ross going 10 to the New Orleans Hornets ahead of Duke’s Austin Rivers and Syracuse’s Dion Waiters. In fact, it looks like the Hornets will have Ross work out for the team soon.

My Take
I’m a huge fan of Terrence Ross as I’ve written before. In fact, it kills me to watch his highlights because I want him back with the Huskies. But, I’m working through my “issues” and articles like this are good, cheap therapy.

First and foremost, if I were an NBA GM, I’d want a 2 guard to be able to shoot the rock, which Ross does with aplomb. I’d also want him to defend the perimeter, since the NBA is replete with athletic, savvy 2 guards. Interestingly enough, in researching for this article, I only found one national writer who commented on Ross’ killer crossover, which served him so well in generating his own shot while at UW. Second, Ross has the potential to be a lock-down type defender and has already shown the ability to clog passing lanes and rebound well at his position. If I could say one thing, offer one suggestion to Ross, contrary to the critiques nationally, it would be to foster that killer instinct; that Kobe-like, give me the ball, I’m going to take this thing o-v-e-r kind of mentality. I’ve seen it before and I can’t wait to see it from Ross at the next level.

All in all, it’s nice to see some of the national media catch on to the special player that Ross is and begin to dream about what the future can hold for a player of his skill and athleticism. With the draft a few weeks away, and the combines this weekend, could we be talking about Terrence Ross the NBA lottery pick? Quite possibly.

Mar 2, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Washington Huskies guard Terrence Ross (31) dunks the ball against the Southern California Trojans at the Galen Center. Washington defeated USC 80-58. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

I don’t know about you, but in his two short seasons with the Huskies, Terrence Ross made me all but forget about that other Terrence; at least until that other Terrence won a national championship…but I digress.

After sitting out his senior season at Jefferson High School in Northeast Portland, Ross showed flashes of brilliance as a freshman as he adjusted his game to D-1 level. His sophomore year revealed the depth of his talent, as he often carried the young Huskies offensively. There were points in the season where coach Romar called upon Ross to check the opponent’s best scorer. He did so, and in that fashion, helped his team to victory.

On Thursday, June 28, 2012, Ross will be chosen in the first round of the NBA draft by a team who will no doubt not only need and covet his services and skill set, but drool at the possibilities his athleticism brings to the NBA style of play. How does Ross project as a pro?

I, like a majority of Husky fans, wish Ross and Wroten could have stuck around for another year. Oh, what could have been?! But, when you size up Ross’ skill set, can you blame him for declaring early? No. At 6’6”-6’7” he’s a big 2 guard, and his uncanny athleticism allows him to slide down to the 3, if the situation calls for it.

Many players who declare early for the NBA draft are picked on the basis of their upside; how they project as they improve their game and adapt it to the rigors of the NBA style of play. Some haven’t developed an outside shot, for instance. Some big men may not be polished in the block offensively. Sure there are improvements Ross can make, but he’s not a project; he’s pro-ready. He has a wet jumper, as they say, and when committed, can be stellar defensively.

Recently SLAMOnline had a nice write up and a corresponding video on Ross’ workout with Impact Basketball’s LA branch. Workouts included long-time NBA vets and the audience included half a dozen NBA executives. Needless to say, Ross was impressive with his range on his jumper and skill around the basket.

So what, besides athleticism, does Ross bring to the NBA?

First, the ability to create and find his own shot. This is crucial as a 2 guard when every night you face big, long, versatile defenders. Second, the moment Ross walks onto the floor, the other team is forced to consider matchups, particularly if Ross is drafted by a team with an offensive-minded point guard. Third, I believe Ross has the ability to be a great defender, even a lock-down defender. But this is the NBA, where defense is an afterthought, right? Yes, if you’re the Golden State Warriors! But if you look down the line at the teams that will make deep playoff runs, they play defense. They have to if they want to win.

A few of the online draft boards have Ross going 17 to the Dallas Mavericks, who could be a good fit, given their style of play and the possible departure of certain key free agents, like Jason Terry (15 ppg). On the 28th of June we’ll find out where Terrence Ross lands, and the team that drafts him will find out first hand what we’ve known for some time – Ross is boss.

The 2011-2012 season has been over for some time now. Our two stars have declared early for the NBA draft and Lorenzo Romar seems to be done recruiting for next season. The Dawgs have added two new names to the roster, though one will likely red shirt this season as per NCAA regulations regarding transfers.

So what can Husky fans expect out of next year’s team? It’s a bit hard to tell at the moment, especially in light of last season’s less than stellar outcome. While the 2011-2012 team was young, but talented, the lack of depth may have ultimately led to the early season losses and the late season collapses. 2012-2013 looks to be loaded with much more experience and, hopefully, a much deeper bench that will allow Romar and staff to execute the type of high octane defense that has been such a staple of this program.

With seven freshman on last season’s roster it is easy to see why the team may have struggled early on. Next season the roster will feature two redshirt freshmen, five sophomores (four if Austin Sefarian-Jenkins does not return), one redshirt sophomore, two juniors, and four seniors (though Perry Blackwell will be redshirting). Now I must state that experience does not always equal talent, but it certainly is not a deterrent.

Only two incoming players will have had zero experience with Romar’s program and both players are experienced college ball athletes. Along with the preseason trip to Europe and Africa, this team should be a much more prepared unit than the 15 guys that took the court against Seattle Pacific University in early November, 2011.

The biggest question is most certainly “Who will replace Terrence Ross and Tony Wroten?”. With Scott Suggs returning from his medical redshirt season, it is easy to imagine Suggs slipping right into Ross’ starting possession and immediately make a positive impact. Suggs was our most consistent 3-point threat in the 2010-2011 season and he appeared confident in his shot throughout the exercises in the pregame warm-ups. Suggs has a chance to be one of the leagues leading scorers if he can not only knock down his jumper, but also drive the line with regularity to keep the defenses from cheating out to cover him.

C.J. Wilcox also has the potential to jump into the starting 5 with his excellent outside shooting. At times, Wilcox was a streaking shooter hitting either all of his shots or none at all. There is no stopping Wilcox once he gets hot, just take a look at the 2009-2010 game against UCLA for proof.

I should also throw the new Husky’s name in here, Mark McLaughlin. While I have seen very little of his game outside of the occasional highlight video, McLaughlin is another tall wing with excellent scoring abilities. McLaughlin could provide excellent 6th man support, much like Wilcox this past year. Who knows, McLaughlin may turn out to be a better scoring threat than either Suggs or Wilcox, though my money is on the later players.

As for point guard production, the majority of the burden will fall upon Abdul Gaddy who is still struggling to live up to the hype set before his freshman year. Gaddy showed much more aggressiveness in the final stretch, but it proved to be too little too late. Gaddy is a well controlled guard with great court vision who, unlike Wroten, can see his teammates on the perimeter while attacking the lanes and is very comfortable kicking it out for an open J. Gaddy needs to be willing to move inside the paint and drop in the teardrop over the opposition frontcourt or simply bank his shot off the glass into the rim. When Gaddy executes inside, it looks all too easy and often leaves me wondering why in the world he doesn’t attempt such things more often.

With next year’s starting five likely featuring two outside threats versus two point guards. We may see more driving shots from whoever is at the 1 position as the defense spreads to covers the 3-point threat. I also believe that Andrew Andrews is in a position to provide stellar relief for Abdul Gaddy.

Andrews has shown to be a fairly solid outside shooter and is also known for having great speed and passing abilities. I’ve been told that Andrews has come out of practices looking like the best point guard on the court. We can only hope that these rumors are true. Hikeem Stewart can also improve his impact on the game by spending the summer with a shooting coach. As it stands Stewart is a 1-dimensional player without much of a shooting game, making it far too easy for opponents to simply sit back and let Stewart jack up shots that will never fall.

The second question the Huskies will have to address is “How will the frontcourt perform?”. In many ways, this is a more important question than replacing Ross and Wroten. Players almost always step up their offensive production when called upon to do so and considering the holes our team needs to fill is in our deepest position, well we as fans shouldn’t stress ourselves too much in that regard.

The Huskies lose Darnell Gant to graduation, leaving Aziz N’Diaye as the only major minute grabbing big man. Desmond Simmons will pick up most of Gant’s minutes as Simmons proved himself to be an amazing rebounder and hustler whenever he got into the game. Simmons did hit the proverbial freshman wall late in the season, but the fact that it took so long to occur is a testament to the work ethic Simmons possesses. I believe that Simmons and N’Diaye will be responsible for most of the dirty work off the glass, but expect some support for our outside guards.

The Husky frontcourt will also add in 6’10 redshirt freshman, Jernard Jerreau. While Jerreau is still built like a beanpole, he has put on weight since arriving to the UW campus. Another summer of working out will hopefully see an additional 10 or 15lbs of muscles added to his physique. The frontcourt should also see reasonable production from Shawn Kemp Jr and Martin Breunig, both of whom showed potential on the offensive side of the ball. Their defensive lapses is what likely kept both players from receiving more minutes throughout the year. I am a big fan of Breunig. During his limited playtime, he really impressed me on the offensive end and I like the way he executes. I also enjoy Kemp Jr. dunking the ball next to the rim, rather than trying to lay it in as N’Diaye so often does.

So can the frontcourt establish itself as a respectable threat such that our backcourt benefits? I would say…yes. The Husky frontcourt will not be one of the top in the nation, heck it likely won’t be one of the top in the conference (see: UCLA for frontcourt depth). What the Husky frontcourt will be is a reminder for teams that the pick-and-roll still exists, that cheating out to the perimeter leads to easy dunks and lay-ins, and that dropping the ball inside to our big men is not any less effective than hitting a 15 foot jumper.

Last season our frontcourt averaged only 28% of our points, I’d like to see that number jump to 35%. Our team relied far too much on backcourt production last season and that wears down players quicker than one might imagine. Sure, we managed to score nearly 80 points per game, but our defense suffered from the effort required on the offensive end. If the post can establish themselves as a scoring threat, the perimeter players will not be asked to run off of so many screens or cut across the baseline as often. I’m not saying those things should stop by any means, but if we can get a nice pass to the block for a 1-on-1 situation, our frontcourt should be talented enough to score a majority of the time. N’Diaye has really begun to put together some solid post moves that are near impossible to stop at 7 feet tall.

Overall, I would say this team may be slightly more consistent than 2011-2012, but I fear a similar post season outcome. UCLA and Arizona look very dangerous with some very talented freshmen joining their respective teams. Stanford also looks to be a threat, losing very little from last year’s NIT championship team. What this means for the Huskies is with a successful non-conference season of their own, the Pac-12 could finally start making a return to dominance in the NCAA tournament.

At this point, I would predict the Huskies to finish in 3rd, maybe 4th place, with a 12-6 or 11-7 record. As the season draws nearer and more information begins to come out from the various camps and practices, I’ll speculate more on how each individual Pac-12 team should fair in the coming season.

Go Dawgs!

Two days after his teammate Terrence Ross decided to leave for the NBA, Tony Wroten joined him in leaving Montlake and will hire an agent to prepare for his future as a pro. His time at UW was brief and not without controversy. He may have been the most polarizing Husky in recent memory but his skills are undeniable.

Is he ready to make the jump? Most will say he’s not. He has not jumper to speak of and never seemed to completely master the team concept in college. He could definitely have used another year to develop at UW.

On the other hand, there are reports that teams like the Atlanta Hawks have told him that they love him and will take him in the first round. It’s hard for any man to turn down guaranteed money and your dream in the NBA. It’s hard to hate a kid for chasing his dream.

I think what rubs Husky fans the wrong way about this is that he preached his loyalty to Seattle and UW all throughout his recruitment and into the season. He even went as far to say that he was going to stay all four years at UW and lead us to a Final Four (no one believed him). After failing to get the Huskies even to the NCAA tournament, he decided to leave the team ‘high and dry’ without even a guarantee to be a lottery pick.

Either way, it’s time to move on. I trust that Tony and his family made the right decision and I think he will eventually thrive in the NBA.

On to next year.

Speaking of that… Poll time!