JJ Hickson Projected 32nd, 2nd Round in Draft by NBADraft.net

07-08 Basketball67

NBADraft.net does a good job projecting who will leave early and where they will go in the NBA Draft. The site is pretty good on not putting underclassmen on the board until they have heard some kind of news. We aren’t posting this to say it is “official”; we are posting because this is the first credible late-season projection we have seen related to Hickson and the draft since ESPN called Hickson a “first round lock” a little less than two months ago.

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07-08 Basketball

67 Responses to JJ Hickson Projected 32nd, 2nd Round in Draft by NBADraft.net

  1. john of sparta 03/09/2008 at 7:01 PM #

    thereby answering:
    “what was your first clue?”

  2. HungryLikeTheWolf 03/09/2008 at 7:08 PM #

    He can do a lot better if he sticks around another year and works hard. Of course, I’m also one of those people who believe the Pack will be better next year, too. So what do I know?

  3. Noah 03/09/2008 at 7:21 PM #

    It sure would be nice to get another year out of him.

  4. Andy 03/09/2008 at 7:23 PM #

    FWIW, Chad Ford has him at 20th on espn.com

  5. turfpack 03/09/2008 at 7:38 PM #

    Yes another year would be good,but enjoy watching him in the AACT-cause I think he’s gone-it didn’t stop Josh Powell(hope I am wrong).

  6. Wulfpack 03/09/2008 at 7:43 PM #

    What makes you think his stock will rise with another year? What if we are even worse than we were this year, which is highly possible with Grant leaving?

  7. packpowerfan 03/09/2008 at 7:43 PM #

    I honestly think it may hurt to have him another year. JJ has major talent, but seems to be lackadaisical in his game. When he gets rebounds, they are usually incidental and/or rebounds the opposing team has given up on. I hate to say it, but I think he’s got the LEAST amount of heart on this team…and this being a team with ZERO heart to begin with!

  8. ushum 03/09/2008 at 7:45 PM #

    i’m starting to think he’s not all that great…

  9. Wulfpack 03/09/2008 at 7:53 PM #

    My point is basically what we have seen in the second half of the ACC season is that teams are focusing so much on Hickson in the post b/c we don’t have anyone, save Fergie of late, that can hit an open jump shot. With our most capable offensive player leaving, teams are going to sag even more on JJ. His defense has been so so at best. The one thing I can point to that may be whooing NBA scouts is his apparent ability to hit the 15 footer squaring up.

    I thought he’d be a whole lot more than he was at the beginning of the season. But nobody on this team has helped him, so I can see how he may just take the money and run.

  10. wufpup76 03/09/2008 at 7:54 PM #

    I believe if he is a first round lock he should go … Wulfpack makes a fairly good point about his potential draft status not rising (perhaps falling) if he stays and we suck b*lls again next season …

    And there is every reason to believe that we will indeed suck b*lls again next season WITH or w/out Hickson 🙁

  11. howlie 03/09/2008 at 7:56 PM #

    No comment on his staying or leaving.

    The last time our program was in a position to bring in top talent with Coach V, I always wanted a collection of those Top 75 guys who were gym rats who hustled their butts off, rather than the Top 15 who came with their own ego baggage.

    Early conjecture at the beginning of this year was that our ‘Top 100’ returnees were really peeved about being supplanted by a Top 15 frosh… which Sid strongly denied. At the end of the season, it still seems to have been the case–as only Fowler was willing to confirm.
    When you don’t name a problem it controls you. When you name it, it loses its power.

  12. Ismael 03/09/2008 at 7:59 PM #

    you should have to pass some kind of screening before you can post on this site AS A STATE FAN. At least the tarhole fans have names like “mrheel” or “carolinablew” or something asanine like that.

    Actually i think JJ works hard…at the MickeyD game, he was supposedly the hardest worker there, everyone loved his work ethic. I think it could wane for sure with the way the season has gone. Alot of these 4 and 5 star kids have played their 4 years in high school, been the stud of studs and lose once or twice a year…an 8game losing streak i am sure could zap the life out of someone.

    Its interesting though when you think back about this season, but the only players who progressed were Javi, Tracy Smith, and Fergie…they actually got better as the season wore on. I would put JJ there too because he did get better at some things…his 31 pt outburst his first game made living up to that hard every game, he led the league in FG% (even with the likes of Hopsbrough in the league) and i think he led our team in rebounding. I think he’ll stay another year. Alot of it is going to depend on who’s coming out etc. that just too dificult of a calculus right now.

    But McCauley, Costner, Horner, Fells, they all regressed big time. I think McCauley picked it up at times, but some games where he played 20 minutes and had more turnovers than points are baffling.

  13. wufpup76 03/09/2008 at 8:02 PM #

    Off-topic, but Maryland better not lose this game against UVa if they want better than a 10% chance of making the NCAA tournament …

    I say 10%, b/c if they do in fact lose they will probably need to win 3 in a row in Charlotte … not that you can’t do that if you open play on Thursday 😉

    The VCU loss in the CAA semis really damages Maryland b/c VCU owns a victory over Maryland early in the season and the Rams won the CAA by 3 games in the regular season …

    I think the ACC looks pretty good to get 5 even w/ Miami losing to FSU yesterday … Of course, if Miami plays us in the 5-12 matchup and loses to us it would make for a long 72 hrs. of waiting for the ‘Canes, not to mention other conference tourny surprise winners taking away at large slots

    LOVE this time of year 🙂

  14. Anthony Grundy 03/09/2008 at 8:05 PM #

    We’ll be alright next year if hickson doesn’t come back as long as the correct lineup is played. Tracy Smith, McCauley, Harris, Fells, Fergie, johnny thomas, javi, degand….these guys are good enough to get us to the tourney. costner has killed us all year. An inexperienced pg has killed us all year. Also i don’t think Hickson has meshed will with the team. I know for certain that he’s a terrible passer and panics when he is doubled. Additionally, MJ should play JV or on the womens practice team.

    Regarding non-nc state draftees, i was suprised to see Sean Singletary so low. He’s on a terrible team, but from what I’ve seen that guy can play. I was also suprised to see DeMarcus Nelson even on the board. I just don’t think he’s a good enough shooter or skilled enough to be in the NBA. I guess Nelson has improved his game every year, and seems to be pretty damn strong.

  15. Dogbreath 03/09/2008 at 8:14 PM #

    JJ Hickson will never have to worry about a double team in the NBA, as it is outlawed.

    He is a goner.

  16. For85 03/09/2008 at 8:31 PM #

    Even if Hickson goes, does mcauley and costner retain their previous form?

    Seriously, with Smith and Ferguson coming on and the incoming freshman, won’t we have the same chemistry/attitude problems with regard to those “veterans?”

    Or are we expecting mcauley and costner to instantly regain their prior spots and the other folks playing 6th and 7th man?

  17. wufpup76 03/09/2008 at 8:35 PM #

    It’s official, Miami is our Thursday opponent …

    You guys can lampoon me, and probably should, but if we can beat Miami – a team we actually beat this seaon (anyone remember what victories are?) – our Friday opponent would be Virginia Tech … another team that we beat and match up well with … hmmmmmmm

    There is always hope in my heart, wonder if the team has any heart to display …

    I realize that the odds are we will be one and out and a lot of you will dutifully remind me, but I was taught long ago to never give up and always do your best … Childish and corny for sure, but still things I live my life by 😉

    Either way, I hope something positive happens – even if that positive is the end of the season to get a nightmare over with … but until then, I will hope and cheer

    Go State 🙂

  18. kyjelly 03/09/2008 at 8:35 PM #

    Dogbreath: no double team on the end of the bench you mean

  19. RBCRowdy 03/09/2008 at 8:48 PM #

    If he goes pro, what does this do to our scholarship situation?

  20. RBCRowdy 03/09/2008 at 8:53 PM #

    Notice the lack of any UNC players on that list…..yay……

  21. ruffles31 03/09/2008 at 9:12 PM #

    Google ads always suprise me. The ad here says:

    Tyler Hansbrough | NCAA
    Talk NCAA bball w/ Hansbrough fans Write articles, win prizes…fee!

    The funniest thing is that his name, walk, or travel are nowhere mentioned in the webpage.

    By the way, I hope that Hickson stays another year.

  22. Rochester 03/09/2008 at 9:34 PM #

    We finished last with him, we can finish last without him.

  23. Ed89 03/09/2008 at 9:51 PM #

    ^^^Nice Rochester…and true.

  24. Ed89 03/09/2008 at 9:55 PM #

    As for the scholly question, I think it will give us an additional 2008 scholly (which I don’t think we would use) or a third 2009 slot. Unless we lose someone besides Ben and Courtney (& JJ) between now and next year (i.e. someone transferring). We’ve used one scholly on Wood for 2009, so that would give us two more – Wall and a PF/C. If we lose someone else, we may add Brown or Kelly. Just my thoughts.

  25. Astral Rain 03/09/2008 at 9:59 PM #

    I don’t think we have to worry about qualifying for the tourney- all 12 teams get in.

    Oh wait, you didn’t mean ACC tourney? Just be glad we’re not in the Big East or the season would be over now.

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