The NHL and NBA Drafts came and went last week, and we'll get to that in a minute, but what is very interesting is that Chad Ford has already released his very early top 100 for next year's draft. Rodney Williams makes the list and is rather high. Williams is the #18 overall talent, according to Chad Ford, for next year's NBA Draft.
Below is Ford's analysis and his positives and negatives.
Williams was a player who shocked scouts in the early going with three big performances at the start of the season. But since then he's seen his minutes and production drop sharply. Williams has all the physical attributes you want in a small forward, but either he's just not ready to use them at the highest level or, once again, Tubby Smith doesn't know how to coach NBA prospects.
| Projection | Late lottery to mid first round |
| Positives |
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| Negatives |
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- Gopher basketball is picking up a walk-on transfer. Chris Halvorson is transferring from Valpo back to Minnesota where he will walk on. Halvorson played his high school ball at Henry Sibley, spent his freshman year at Valpo and will be a sophomore back at the U this fall.
- Gopher basketball has a couple exhibition games scheduled for the upcoming season in Canada. Trinity Western University and the UBC Thunderbirds will host your Golden Gophers in early September.
- The NHL Draft came and went last week. Incoming Gopher center, Nick Bjugstad was drated by the Florida Panthers 19th overall. Three other incoming Gophers were drafted on the second day of the draft. Mark Alt, Justin Holl and Max Gardiner were the soon-to-be Gophers drafted in the second round.
- For your Wild coverage of the NHL Draft be sure to check out HHockey Wilderness. And to get a grip on all of the Timberwolves complications go to Canis Hoopus.