For a class without a true superstar and a relatively weak lottery due to players staying at school, there will be plenty of steals to be had in the 2011 NBA Draft. Some of those steals will come in the first round, but every year there are second round picks who seemingly fly under the radar yet are able to make immediate impacts in the NBA.
While size and length is important in the NBA, sometimes college production can be overlooked. Look no further than San Antonio's DeJuan Blair, who fell to the 37th overall selection two years ago. He came off the bench and averaged 7.8 points and 6.4 rebounds and was crucial for fantasy owners down the stretch looking for rebounds.
A year ago, New York's second round selection, Stanford's Landry Fields, was one of the best fantasy rookies in the league. He averaged 9.7 points and 6.4 rebounds and, while he faded down the stretch, was a key guard who produced threes, rebounds, and the occasional scoring outburst.
While there may not be a Gilbert Arenas (selected in the second round by Golden State in 2002), there are potential players in the 2011 draft class who could produce for fantasy owners in their first year.
Josh Selby, PG, Kansas: His draft stock is rising and there is a chance he slips into the middle of the first round, but if the freshman falls he could land with a team that has plenty of minutes to hand out. After a shaky freshman year with the Jayhawks that saw him average 7.9 points and 2.2 assists, Selby declared for the NBA draft. He's the type of player who will flourish in a more open NBA style, and it would not be surprising to see him be a big contributor in both assists and three pointers if he lands with the right team.
Nolan Smith, SG, Duke: Like Blair, Smith is the typical senior who is being overlooked for younger, more promising youngsters this year. One of the best players in the NCAA a year ago, Smith does not have great size and isn't the quickest shooting guard, but all he did was produce for the Blue Devils. He averaged 20.6 points and 1.5 threes per game in his senior year and could be a spark off the bench for a contender looking for scoring. Duke prospects do not have a great track record in the NBA, but Smith is an excellent shooter who could produce like Gary Neal did for the Spurs a year ago.
Norris Cole, PG, Cleveland State: Cole is undoubtedly the best prospect no one has heard of in this year's draft. The senior averaged 21.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists and, despite being undersized, has the quickness and outside range to produce at the next level. At this stage in his career he is a back-up, but for a team in need of a reserve point guard, Cole could be the answer. He is raw at this point, but the right coaching could make him a good product for assists and threes.
JuJuan Johnson, PF, Purdue: All Johnson did his senior year for the Boilermakers was average 20.5 points and 8.6 rebounds, but his lack of size and height will keep him out of the first round. He must add bulk to his frame and work on his left-handed moves but he has range outside of 15 foot and can score in the paint, meaning he could easily be another player who provides a spark off the bench for scoring. His rebounding numbers were great at Purdue and he finds himself in the right place at the right time, much like Blair did at Pittsburgh. If he winds up on a team like Boston, he could see plenty of minutes off the bench.
David Lighty, SG, Ohio State: He is never going to be a go-to scorer at the next level, but Lighty has all the tools to be a J.R. Smith-like player off the bench who provides instant offense. Lighty made 1.4 three pointers on 43 percent shooting from beyond the arc and will use that to his advantage at the next level. His excellent defense will get him playing time and if he can continue his hot shooting, he could hold some fantasy value next year.
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