1.) Chicago – Derrick Rose PG Memphis

The Bulls will draft the hometown star. Chicago has many guards but known like Derrick Rose. He is a true point guard that has does not have a great outside shooting game but the rest of his game is amazing with his shooting to be improved. The Bulls could use a Michael Beasley because they have no true post player that can consistently be efficient down on the block. All of the best teams in the league have a quality point guard so Chicago needs Rose to make the next step. Rose is as focused and driven as anyone in the draft. This kind of passion would invigorate an under-performing ball club like the Bulls.

2.) Miami – Michael Beasley PF Kansas State

The Heat want Derrick Rose but settling for Michael Beasley is not too bad of a situation. Beasley surpassed the incredible numbers of super-frosh Kevin Durant. Beasley plays power forward but he can stretch his shooting range to the three-point arc. He has been characterized as not being serious because of his goofy style but this kid can play. He is often compared to a young Derrick Coleman – scouts hope he does not have the sub-par career of Coleman.

3.) Minnesota – O.J. Mayo G USC

Mayo is highly talented but appears very selfish. During his only year at USC, he showed the ability to play solid defense. Mayo can shoot with the best of this year's prospects but I just do not see him playing up to the expectations he has been given.

4.) Seattle – Jerryd Bayless G Arizona

He is possibly the best shooter in the draft; I love his form. He is quick and agile but is known as a below average defender. He will not be a star but if you give him the rock with some open space he will hit it and can open areas for other players to work the middle. With his speed he can reach the bucket and get points for a team there.

5.) Memphis – Kevin Love PF UCLA

His stock has risen tremendously over his year in college. Like Beasley he can shoot from three-point range. He possesses what has become a lost art: the long pass. He can create easy buckets for his team just by a simple pass. His basketball IQ is off the charts and he can be a beast down low. I see him being able to compete with the strongest big men in the league.

6.) New York – Russell Westbrook PG UCLA

Besides Derrick Rose, Westbrook has the most potential of any guard in this draft. He is by far the most athletic and diverse of this year's guards. He can be a shut-down defender with the ability to guard the oppositions best player. Westbrook has the ability to play the point. He can do just about everthing: shoot, dribble-drive, and out-muscle other guards.

7.) L.A. Clippers – Eric Gordon SG Indiana

His year at Indiana started off as a dream season but nose-dived when he injured his finger and coach Sampson resigned. But at the beginning of the season and of recent during individual workouts he has shown what he can do for a future ball club. He is great on the dribble-drive and can shoot very well from distance. He reminds me of Ben Gordon of the Bulls but with more size.

8.) Milwaukee – Joe Alexander SF West Virginia

No one benefited more from the NCAA tournament than Alexander. Once a second round pick, he has risen to the lottery and maybe even higher. He does not have a high basketball IQ and has made some simple mistakes. Alexander can shoot well for his size. Many scouts are judging him a lot on potential. If he can limit his miscues, he could make a huge impact for the team that drafts him.

9.) Charlotte – Brook Lopez C Stanford

Brook Lopez could go anywhere in the top ten; he has been rated as high as 3rd and as low as the 9th. Scouts love his size and he does have several solid post moves with good shot-blocking capabilities. Some scouts question his ability to become a star player. He has the potential but like many of the draftees he has a question mark.

10.) New Jersey – Danilo Gallinari SF Italy

Many international players are mysteries to NBA scouts because they have not been seen as much as U.S. college players. He has performed well in workouts and with the Nets somewhat rebuilding they need an athletic small forward to go along with newly acquired PG Devin Harris.

11.) Indiana – D.J. Augustin PG Texas

Augustin would be a top-five pick if he were only a few inches taller. Scouts love his basketball abilities but question his effectiveness against taller and more physical guards. D.J. passes the ball well and is underestimated as a defender. He can shoot it and is a true leader. I love Augustin's game. With Indiana rebuilding, picking him would be the perfect way to start over. I know Augustin will not allow his height to become a weakness.

12.) Sacramento – Anthony Randolph PF LSU

Often compared to Chris Bosh, Randolph has a lot of skills but did not show a lot in college. The N.B.A. Draft is based on potential and Randolph will be picked based on what scouts see in his growing abilities transferring to the highest level. He has not been great in workouts and lacks strength for the power forward position. He will take a few years (if at all) to contribute. He is raw but has the size and length to make an impact.

13.) Portland – Donte Greene SF Syracuse

He looks like a power forward but plays like a small forward. He is very long and tall for his position. He is a great shooter with a lot of upside that is not ready for the NBA. Greene could potentially slip out of the lottery and into the bottom proportion of the 1st round.

14.) Golden State – Kosta Koufos C Ohio State

Koufos is a perfect fit for the Golden State squad. The Warriors like their big men to have the athleticism to get up and down the court quickly. He is a solid shooter and a developing post game. Koufos might decide instead to play international which might scare off some NBA teams. He is very talented which makes him worth any risk.

15.) Phoenix – Brandon Rush SF Kansas

Rush is an excellent shooter and premier defender. He can be put on the opposition's best player and limit his effectiveness. Rush has performed exceptionally in workouts – with this being his third time declaring. Some scouts worry he may be too passive but his coach has encouraged him to shoot more because he can do just that: shoot with great precision. He can make an impact right away, whether for an up and coming team or a veteran team. He does need to improve his dribbling, which has caused a few turnovers for him.

16.) Philadelphia – Marreese Speights PF/C Florida

He is a talented big man who can rebound well. He is strong and has several effective post moves. The 76ers need some front court depth and Speights would provide that.

17.) Toronto – Robin Lopez C Stanford

Robin Lopez has the size that Brook has but not his offensive game. Robin makes his impact on the defensive end with blocked shots, rebounding, and taking charges. In a nut-shell, he is a taller version of the Cavaliers Anderson Varejeo. They both even have the same wild flailing hair.

18.) Washington – Darrell Arthur PF Kansas

With the possibility of Antwan Jamison leaving the Wizards, Arthur would be a good fit. He plays similarly to Jamison. He can rebound and shoot the ball very well from midrange. Arthur does have some very good post moves, which you do not see often enough in the NBA. Arthur can be inconsistent; one game he could be playing like and All-Star and the next he is bench-player material.

19.) Cleveland – JaVale McGee C Nevada

The Cavaliers need a large presence down low with Ilgauskas aging. JaVale McGee is a project player who will need time to develop. He is very long and a proven shot blocker. With some added strength and post moves he could become a productive starter or key reserve.

20.) Denver – Alexis Ajinca C France

He has a lot of potential with plenty of size and quality defense. He will need time to develop to become NBA ready. Ajinca, most likely, will spend a couple of years overseas before playing NBA ball. He is very mobile and has shown solid passing ability.

21.) New Jersey – DeAndre Jordan C Texas A&M

Jordan is a major project. He could be a lottery pick or even a late 1st round selection. He could be the draft's biggest bust. But he has great hands and size. Over the course of his season at A&M, he was not very productive. He has all the potential in the world by being such a freak athlete but has not done a whole lot up to this point.

22.) Orlando – Courtney Lee SG Western Kentucky

He will never become a star but he can step in from the beginning and be an important player off the bench. He is a good shooter and can score. He is very mature and can be the perfect role player.

23.) Utah – Roy Hibbert C Georgetown

He is not very athletic and is slow getting up and down the court. With Utah's style of play, Hibbert would be a perfect fit here. He can score with his back to the basket and has shot-blocking ability.

24.) Seattle – Serge Ibaka PF Spain

He has a lot of potential and will likely be shipped overseas to benefit a team down the road. His shooting can reach the three-point line. Ibaka is quick for his size and position. He has solid shot-blocking ability.

25.) Houston – Chris Douglas-Roberts G/F Memphis

He is one of the smoothest scorers in the draft. He has a very unorthodox style of play. He is a poor outside shooter but is most effective as a slasher with the ability to finish well around the rim. CDR has a lot of confidence from player on one of the best teams in the country.

26.) San Antonio – Mario Chalmers G Kansas

Mario is a combo guard but scouts see him needing to play the point guard position to be productive because of his lack in size for the shooting guard position. He is a tremendous shooter with a lot of confidence in his play. Chalmers will not be afraid to take the big shot (remember national championship game). Chalmers has long arms that help him get a lot of steals. He is very quick and can finish around the rim.

27.) New Orleans – Nicolas Batum SF France

Batum is a work in progress who will spend time overseas to improve before he plays in a NBA game. Good size for a wing player. He is an up-and-coming premier defender. Batum is great at cutting to the hole and finishing around the basket.

28.) Memphis – Jason Thompson PF Rider

He put up big numbers in college and played consistently. With a lot of prospects being based on potential he has produced and a team knows what they are getting when they draft him. Thompson runs the floor well and is a productive rebounder with a mid-range jumper

29.) Detroit – J.J. Hickson PF N.C. St.

J.J. Hickson is built like a tank and can be a tough scorer both inside and outside. He's got great upside. Hickson has good footwork and spin moves. He can rebound with the best of the big men in this draft because of his outstanding strength. He is a couple of years away from contributing. Hickson is not a proven defender.

30.) Boston – DeVon Hardin C California

He is extremely explosive and quick for a center. Even though he is a senior he still has not put everything together. He is a solid rebounder but is limited in effectiveness on the offensive side of the ball.

Comment on who you think will land where.

The Jayhawks met with President Bush at the Rose Garden. What an experience for the Jayhawks players, regardless of politics w/ President Bush.

Recruiting and signing the Michael Beasleys and O.J. Mayos of the world can be great for a program but this positive also has a negative.

The NCAA has recently revealed it's APR (Academic Progress Rates) sanctions. USC basketball has lost 2 scholarships and Kansas State basketball lost 1 scholarship. When these top athletes leave for the NBA (one and dones), they have only went to school for 1 semester and are busy doing workouts for pro teams. These workouts result in them mising class. Why would these players care anyways? They are getting selected in the draft and getting millions of dollars from it. The colleges on the other hand are paying for it dearly. Lacking a greater number of scholarships means losing out on a chance to maximize a coach's ability to get a top recruit. Michael Beasley and O.J. Mayo have left their marks on Kansas State and Southern Cal.

The one and done idea is a stupid idea and I hope David Stern does not increase the number of years. The NBA should copy the MLB in the way they handle the amateur draft. The MLB allows players to enter the draft after high school but if they go to college they have to stay in school till at least their junior year. This may not be the ideal that Stern is looking for but it is certainly better than what he has set up.

The NBA is using college basketball as a free minor league system but the colleges suffer from it. This is taking away the student aspect from the idea of the student-athlete. Players have different reasons for leaving for the draft. For some, it is financial and others are legitimate superstars (Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, etc.) who are ready for the NBA and do not need the college game to develop.

After just two seasons, Gary Walters has rebuilt the underachieving Vikings program. Hopefully we can see the type of production in the 70s when the Vikings were able to reach N.I.T. and March Madness. Cleveland State should expect a lot of good things in the future from Walters. He is hoping to build a mid-major program into national prominence like John Calipari has done for Memphis.

They do not lose a lot of players for next season. Four of their five starters were underclassmen. Now that Butler has graduated most of their team expect for frosh superstar Matt Howard, the Vikes will be the favorites to win the Horizon League and get their first March Madness berth in the last 20 plus years.

Junior leaders Cedric Jackson and J'Nathan Bullock are back and hungry for the respect that this team deserves. Walters has also signed a top 100 recruit for the 2008 class from the 2008 class.

Cleveland, come out to watch this team because they are going to bring good things and success to this city. I hope to be blogging more on this team come time for the season, but for now I am out.

The Tampa Bay Rays (formerly known as the Devil Rays) are shocking everyone by contending in a very deep quality American League. How have they done it and can they continue to contend towards the end of the season? This is definitely a topic to look at closely.

As of now the Rays are 16-14. They have a sea of good young players and have gotten rid of the bad apples like Delmon Young and Elijah Dukes. They are 4th in the AL in SB at 28, 6th best ERA at 4.04, 3rd in OPS at .687, and fourth in WHIP at 1.31.

The Rays are letting guys like B.J. Upton, Carl Crawford, Eric Hinske, and top-tier prospect Evan Longoria swing the bat and they have done well. But can they hold it up for the entire season? Probably not. They are young which means inexperience in a playoff hunt, plus they are in the American League, which is very deep and up to 9 teams have the ability to make the playoffs. I would be shocked to see them win more than 80 games. They have only had one 70 + win since 2002. But this is a team to watch over the years that should be seriously contending by 2010.

It is interesting how they have changed so drastically (even though saying this is a bit premature) once they shed the name of the DEVIL Rays.

Bill Self is building up the dynasty after just grabbing a 2010 commitment from Royce Woolridge. He is a SG at 6-1 and 170 lbs. This kid can really shoot. It seems like a while since Kansas has gotten a commitment this early, let's just hope it sticks. Check out some of the posts that give a lot of good insight about this mystery Jayhawk commit.

The 2008 recruiting class for Kansas goes very deep. I have to give Bill Self a lot of credit for getting such a good class after losing out on many McDonald's All-Americans.

Tyshawn, will bring a winning attitude to Kansas, even though Kansas already has it. He averaged 10 pts. and 5 ast. for the national champion St. Anthony of Jersey. According to Scout.com he is the #15 rated PG prospect. This gives plenty of depth at the PG position with Taylor likely backing up Sherron Collins at the point. Tyshawn Taylor chose Kansas over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

Let's look at how this will affect the scholarship offers for the 2009 recruiting class. Assuming Mario stays in the draft we still have one scholarship available. No scholarship players will graduate in 2008-2009 season which could limit the possibilities Bill Self can have in making a solid recruiting class. Sherron Collins could leave for the draft after his junior year since he will be the man for the Jayhawks next season. Besides Sherron no one else should be leaving which could give us a max of 2 scholarship offers. The must-get is Xavier Henry, who can fill up the stat sheet. The '09 class is so much better than the '08 one so it would advantageous to have as many scholarship offers for that year as possible.

The Cleveland Cavaliers- Washington Wizards series has been brutal thus far. Whenever Lebron James drives through the lane, a Wizard is there prepared to hack him and sometimes not even going for the ball. I do not know what Stu Jackson and the referees are thinking but they are not calling these fouls correctly. They are just slapping players on the wrist and letting them get away with it. If they do not call, the Wizards will continue to foul Lebron and I am afraid it could lead to him getting hurt.

All of this leads to Game 5. The Wizards are down 3-1 in the series and probably have no chance of winning this playoff series. So what is going to hold the Washington Wizards from committing more vicious fouls? Nothing. I hope all of the Cavaliers can get out of this series safely and that the referees and the league office have some guts to make the right call.

The Jayhawks are losing two outstanding players in Darrell Arthur and Brandon Rush. As a Jayhawk Nation we can not be upset since they did bring a national championship home. They will be dearly missed but will be representatives for Kansas and should represent well in the pros. We also can not forget the seniors that put in such hard over the last four years and have ended their college careers on a high note.

On the other hand, Kansas will bring back three players that contributed heavily to the success of Kansas' title: Cole Aldrich, Sherron Collins, and Mario Chalmers (assuming he withdraws his name from the NBA draft). The Jayhawks' also are bringing in a solid recruiting class for next year.

Marcus Morris, Markieff Morris, Travis Releford, Quintrell Thomas, Mario Little, and Tyrone Appleton wiil be arriving in Lawrence for the 2008-2009 season.

Marcus Morris is a 6-8 SF that can create a lot of problems for a defense. He can shoot threes and be dependable rebounder.

Markieff Morris is a 6-9 PF that rebounds well while having the ability to step out and shoot the three. The Morris twins will be difficult to guard because of the matchup problems that they create.

Travis Releford, a 6-4 SG, could be a player, while known as a top-tier prospect, that can become a reliable scoring threat when not many scouts would see an initial impact from his freshman year. He is a great shooter, good dribbler, and makes crisp passes. Releford looks capable of replacing Brandon Rush on the wing at the SF position.

Quintrell Thomas, a 6-7 PF, is undersized for his position but at the end of his career at Kansas he could be remembered as a Darnell Jackson-type impact player.

Mario Little is a 6-4 SF and Tyrone Appleton is a 6-3 SG. Both are junior college players and should give some leadership and experience to the ball club.

Predicted 2008-2009 Starting Lineup

PG- Sherron Collins

SG- Mario Chalmers

SF- Travis Releford

PF- Markieff Morris

C- Cole Aldrich

Key Reserves: SF Marcus Morris, PG Tyrel Reed, SG Tyrone Appleton, SG Mario Little, PF Quintrell Thomas

Chad Johnson says he will hold out and not participate in training camp until the Bengals trade him. Cincinnatti is falling apart and Carson Parlmer and Chad clearly do not like each other. So, it is time for the two to split and go their separate directions. Chad, preferably, would like to get traded before the draft, so how much would Chad go for? Any common-sensed general manager would trade away a first round pick for me. He will produce right away instead of a team waiting for a draft pick to produce plus a draft pick costs a ton of money. Cincinnatti's general manager is in a tough spot. He could trade away Chad Johnson and lose one of the best wide receivers in the league or stay put and risk getting no value from Chad Johnson.

It is decision time for some of the Kansas Jayhawks basketball players: Brandon Rush, Darrell Arthur, Sherron Collins, and Mario Chalmers. If all four come back next year, there is a good chance the Kansas Jayhawks could repeat for the first time since ... 2007 when the Florida Gators repeated. Mario, Darrell, and Brandon are all likely first round picks while Sherron would probably be a second round draft pick. Brandon Rush likely will leave for the draft but maybe the Jayhawks could be drawn by the same desire those Gators felt when they were guaranteed lottery picks.

- Mario Chalmers' draft stock is at an all-time after he made the greatest shot in Kansas history and one of the best shots ever in the tournament. Chalmers' draft positioning has been a low second round pick his entire career until the tournament began. Another season may help him plus next year looks to have a weaker draft class than this year. Chance of Leaving: 45%

- Sherron Collins has the most upside of any Kansas player. He can shoot the three, though inconsistent, and break the defense off the dribble. For the most part, Collins has been playing injured (never 100%) his first two years at Kansas. Another year could show the scouts what he can do at 100%. Of these four Jayhawks players, he is the most likely to stay. Chance of Leaving: 25%

- Darrell Arthur changed during that Final Four. He played as many people expected he would perform throughout the year. "Big Shady" is on the fringe of a lottery pick to a mid-first round choice. His offensive repertoire is outstanding at its best and his all-round game can be very poor and unworthy of a first round choice when he plays with no fire. Many scouts are judging him on potential. Chance of Leaving: 80%

- Brandon Rush has declared for the NBA draft twice before, which is a huge indicator he will do so again. If he declares again, he can not take himself out of the draft because the NBA allows players to test its waters only twice. Brandon Rush is viewed by many scouts as a high quality bench performer but could flame-out like his two brothers Jaron and Kareem. If he stayed to played his senior year for Kansas I would be shocked after he nearly went into the draft out of high school and never would have played a single college game. Chance of Leaving: 90%

What if Brandon Rush never got injured and went into the 2007 NBA Draft? A different champion would have been crowned instead of the Kansas Jayhawks. Kansas is an all-around great team but without Brandon Rush they can kiss the trophy good-bye. Even with Rush back, no one knew how healthy it could be or how fast it could heal. I bet the Jayhawks would have reached the Elite Eight maybe the Final Four but the Championship and win it ... no way.

On the flip side, what if Julian Wright stayed another year as he promised. I believe, even with that added talent and athleticism, Kansas would not have won the National Championship with Julian Wright playing with them. The key to the Jayhawks victories in the Final Four were that they made it a must to get the ball down to the big guys. The Jayhawks have great guards but the key to them being the best team in the country is the forwards and centers. Julian Wright can create a world of hurt for the opposition but he would have drawn the attention away from Kansas getting the ball down low. All things happen for a reason.

STEPHEN CURRY IS COMING BACK. I love him as a player and am glad to see him announcing that he will come back to play for Davidson next year. He knows he can develop his game further (mainly bulking up and adding a stronger inside game of dribble drive). This will without a doubt keep Coach McKillop in Davidson who probably would otherwise accept a higher conference coaching job. Davidson will lose PG Jason Richards to graduation which is a loss that will definitely affect the success Davidson can have next year due to his amazing sight of the court and to make the best pass available. Andrew Lovedale, Davidson's main inside threat, will be back next year. He can provide Curry with some assistance in scoring and provide solid rebounding numbers. Do not be surprised if Stephen Curry will play point guard because Davidson has no true point guard on their roster unless they chose to convert shooting guard, a bench player, to the point guard role.

The Magical number 2:12. That is how much time Memphis needed to burn through to become national champions. Big Problem: Kansas did not want to end their season with a 60-51 deficit. Sherron Collins' play was the turning point for the Jayhawks run when he stole the ball from Antonio Anderson and got the ball back froms several passes and nailed the three-point shot. Along with Kansas's outstanding play, Memphis missed 4 of their last 5 free throws in regulation. No one can take anything from Kansas. They finally win their 3rd National Championship since Danny and the Miracles in 1988. Mario Chalmers' clutch shot with 2.1 seconds remaining on the clock will be remembered as one of the greatest shots ever in tournament history and be a yearly highlight of great shots in March Madness' history. He will be praised as a god for many years to come.

Kansas should be considered in the upper echelon of teams. Many analysts say they have no future all-stars or All-Americans, but they were a TEAM, none better than them. I have enjoyed watching them play over the years but likely Rush, Arthur, Chalmers, and Collins will test the NBA waters and they lose five seniors. Russell Robinson, Sasha Kaun, Darnell Jackson, Jeremy Case, and Rodrick Stewart, who sadly injured his knee before the Final Four and could not play.

The Kansas fans deserve this one after several Final Four disappointments, in particular Kansas shooting an abysmal 12 for 30 in the 2003 National Championship game vs. Melo' and the Orangemen. ROCK CHALK JAYHAWK KU!!!!!

How about Roy Williams' Jayhawk sticker on his sweatshirt. I think that was stupid. His team just got owned by Kansas two days earlier and Jayhawks fans still have hard feelings towards him. I know many North Carolina Tar Heels fans were irritated with what Roy displayed and I understand. It was okay for him to go to the game but he could have easily chosen not to wear the Jayhawk emblem.

Player matchups:

Derrick Rose vs. Mario Chalmers

- Derrick Rose rarely turns over the ball and makes challenging plays look easy. While Mario Chalmers is the player I feel will be the one to take the crucial if Kansas is in a tight one, Derrick Rose's strength and athleticism will be too much. Edge: Derrick Rose

Chris Douglas-Roberts vs. Brandon Rush

-This matchup likely will decide the outcome of the game. Both are great shooters with CDR having greater ability in the transition game. If Brandon Rush can limit CDR's effectiveness, Kansas will win. Chris Douglas-Roberts, the All-American is just too good. Edge: Memphis

Darrell Arthur vs. Robert Dozier

-Arthur, when he shows some tenacity and Kansas makes an effort to get the ball down to him he can be one of the most effective big men in the country. Dozier has athleticism for his size, but Arthuer has more. Edge: Kansas

Darnell Jackson vs. Joey Dorsey

-Dorsey has been a changed man since the beginning of the tourney. Dorsey can be very dominant in a game through rebounding and defense without scoring (as shown by in the UCLA game). Darnell Jackson has been very inconsistent in this tournament but can bring a lot to a team. Edge: Memphis

Kansas Bench vs. Memphis Bench

-Kansas: Sasha Kaun has played his best basketball this tournament. He is possibly the only big man that cared to show up for the Davidson game and the reason Kansas is still playing. Sherron Collins can replace Russell Robinson and Chalmers without missing a beat. When his outside shot is falling, he is dangerous. Big negative: Collins turned the ball over 7 times against UNC. And don't forget about Cole Aldrich. He played strong when the other Kansas big men were struggling with foul trouble.

-Memphis: Shawn Taggart is similar to Dozier, neither do too much or hurt a team by stupid mistakes. Shawn can clean up the glass at times but expect Kansas to keep him out of there. !! Kansas, at times is careless with boxing out, which could result in easy baskets for Taggart. Willie Kemp, last year's starting point guard is capable of producing decent numbers when giving Rose a breather. Edge: Kansas

My pick: Kansas in a close one, 87-82.