Name: Erick Green
Age: 21 (will be 22 by draft)
Height: 6-foot-4
Position: Point Guard
School/Country: Virginia Tech
Latest Stats: 25.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 3.8 apg, 1.3 spg
Lehigh point guard C.J. McCollum is the best pure scorer in the 2013 NBA Draft, but Virginia Tech prospect Erick Green is not too far behind. Green has improved on his offensive and shooting ability throughout his four year career for the Hokies, but the 2012-13 season certainly served as his coming out party. Green burst onto the scene by averaging a nation’s best 25.0 points per game this season — and that’s for a Virginia Tech squad that struggled mightily within the ACC portion of the schedule.
Green has worked his way onto the radar of many NBA organizations and now he has the potential to be taken in the latter portion of the first round. It’s obvious that Green can score the basketball and shoot the lights out, so there’s no doubt that he could be a valuable weapon for one NBA championship contender — that of course, would be considering he is indeed selected in the first round.
Strengths: We know Green’s greatest strength — it’s his scoring ability. Green can score in bunches, he can get to the bucket and he has never found a shot that he doesn’t like. This past season, the 6-foot-4 guard jacked an average of 17 shots per game, so you know what is mentality is. That could articulate well to the NBA level.
Weaknesses: Green is listed as more of a combo guard, but will likely see some time at the point guard position, simply because of his size. Green will need to adjust to running an offense if this is the case. Green also needs to be a more efficient shooter because you know he will not be able to launch 17 shots per game at the next level. With that being said, it remains to be seen just how well his game will translate to the NBA level.
Draft Projection: Late First, Early Second Round
Follow Paul Seaver on Twitter: @PaulSeaverRS
