6,10 – Center
Kanter is a Turkish born big man who played High School ball in the US but was ruled ineligible to play at Kentucky due to prior compensation received. He burst onto the national scene with a dominant performance at the Nike Hoops Summit in Portland last spring (see video below). After sitting out for the past year and not having been seen against NCAA competition there are some questions about his NBA readiness but those questions won’t stop him from becoming a top 5 pick in the 2011 draft.
Pros
Kanter is an elite rebounder who uses his strength and size well to shield off opponents and grab boards. He projects as an NBA center/power forward who should solidify the interior defense and rebounding for whichever team drafts him. On the offensive end he has a very nice back to the basket game and can overpower defenders with his strength, size and agility. His mid range game is very solid for a young player (only 19 years old) and he looks capable of stretching his jumper out to about 18 feet or beyond. Overall, Kanter possess a rare combination of size and skill and should be a top three pick in the draft. At such as young age he should have many years of improvement before he reaches his lofty potential.
Cons
Kanter will no longer be able to rely on his size/strength advantage once he gets to the NBA and will have to continue to refine his technique and skills. He is a solid defender but doesn’t project as an elite shot blocker and is not a high-flyer.
by NBA Draft Room