Name: Vander Blue
Age: 20
Height: 6-foot-4
Position: Shooting Guard
School/Country: Marquette
Latest Stats: 14.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.8 apg. 1.0 spg
After two seasons as a role player at Marquette, junior guard Vander Blue got the opportunity to branch out during the 2012-13 season and there was no doubt that he took advantage of that chance. Blue averaged a career-high 14.8 points per game and he quickly became the go-to-guy and leader for a Golden Eagles squad that advanced to the Elite 8 this past March. Well, Blue is taking advantage of his recent success, having now made himself eligible for the 2013 NBA Draft.
Blue is still a budding prospect, but we have seen the type of production that he can put up when given an expanded role. Blue could have opted to return for his senior season, but a loaded draft class in 2014 would have made things somewhat difficult in terms of stock improvement. Blue can still move up in this year’s projections, but at this point he is looking like a late second round pick.
Strengths: Blue is an on-the-rise prospect, considering a season ago he may not of even had much of an NBA future. Now however, he has molded himself into a prospect that has a refined offensive game and an improving skill set. Blue loves to get out and run in transition and he can attack the rim while doing so. His great athleticism allows him to excel in that portion of the game and on the defensive end as a whole.
Weaknesses: Blue has seemingly gone from role player to team star to NBA prospect — all in a matter of about a year or so. Blue has a solid upside at the age of 20, but he will need to prove himself in pre-draft workouts and then again after the fact if he hopes to make an NBA roster. Blue needs to become a better facilitator on offense and improve on his outside shot. The 6-foot-4 shooting guard only shot 30.3% from beyond the arc this past season, a number that also marked a career high.
Draft Projection: Late Second Round
Follow Paul Seaver on Twitter: @PaulSeaverRS
