5. Morris Peterson 6-6 210 SR Michigan State
Morris Peterson was perhaps the top sixth man in the country last
season, but he still led the Spartans in scoring. This season, he has
improved nearly every facet of his game. He is an effective offensive
player who can score both inside and outside and he led the Big Ten in
three-point percentage. Peterson is an unselfish player who moves well
without the ball and is also a good defender. He uses his athletic ability
well as a scorer and is effective around the basket. Peterson needs to
improve his passing and outside consistency, but is ready to blossom
as a senior starter. He is averaging 16.7 points (up 3.2) and 6.3
rebounds per game. Peterson is compared to Jalen Rose and Michael
Finley by some observers. He will play in the Desert Classic, the
biggest of the three pre-draft camps and is a likely late lottery pick.
6. Schea Cotton JR Alabama
Schea Cotton recently withdrew from Alabama and the speculation is
that he will enter the NBA draft. He was a highly touted high school
player whose career has been slowed by injuries and eligibility question
marks. He was featured in a story in Sports Illustrated after shining in
the Nike All-American camp as a high school sophomore. Cotton, who
was held back one year in an earlier grade, was a "man among boys"
at that time with a chiseled body, but players eventually caught up to
him in terms of development and Cotton never developed a complete
game. He missed his entire senior season with a shoulder injury and
was out part of his junior campaign with various injuries. Cotton
committed to Long Beach State, where his brother, James was a
standout player, but never played there after James left to turn pro and
he was released from his letter of intent. He attempted to attend UCLA
in 1997 and North Carolina State in 1998, but the NCAA invalidated his
SAT scores. He attend Thomas More prep school in 1998 and played at
Long Beach City College last season. He averaged 25.8 points and 5.8
rebounds per game, but missed the final ten games of the season with
an injury. He signed with Alabama and head coach Mark Gottfried.
Gottfried had been an assistant at UCLA and had recruited Cotton
there. He is an athletic player with excellent strength. He has worked
hard to improve his outside game, which had been the big knock on his
game. He averaged 15.5 points and 4.6 rebounds a game this season.
He shot 42.9% from the field and 71.7% from the line. He was just 14 of
55 from three-point range (25.5%) and was a second-team
All-Southeastern Conference selection by the Associated Press. His
father, James, who was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer, which
was a factor in his leaving school. His older brother James in on the
inactive reserve list for the CBA's Yakima Sun Kings. Cotton has
seemingly been around forever, but he does not turn 22 until May 20th.
He may have to play in the Chicago pre-draft camp, the only camp open
to underclassmen, to allow scouts to see him play again, but he has
first round potential.
7. Corey Hightower 6-8 200 SO Indian Hills (IA) CC
Corey Hightower signed with TCU in the early signing period, but there
has been speculation that he will likely enter his name into the NBA
Draft before the May 14th deadline for underclassmen to apply for the
June 28th Draft. He reportedly left school immediately after Indian Hills
was eliminated from the playoffs. Hightower averaged 13.3 points as a
freshman and he was named MVP of the NJCAA Tournament as the
Warriors defeated Barton County (KS) 100-86 in the championship
game in Hutchinson, Kansas. Hightower averaged 23.5 points, 5.7
rebounds and 4.3 assists per game this season for the 18-2 Warriors.
He shot 50% from the field, 43.2% from three-point range Hightower is
listed at 6-8, but may be closer to 6-7 and 200 pounds, which may also
be inflated. He has very thin legs and arms. Hightower is a very good
ballhandler and passer, although he sometimes tries to be too flashy.
Hightower has excellent shooting range and has the ability to make the
NBA three-pointer. He toyed with the idea of turning pro out of high
school to follow in the footsteps of former Mt. Zion Christian Academy
teammate Tracy McGrady. Hightower had said that he often beat
McGrady in one-on-one in practice. His academic shortcomings forced
him to go the junior college route. Some critics have questioned his
ability to be eligible next season, increasing the talk about him turning
pro even before reports of him bolting Indian Hills CC.
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