About 32% of  current NBA players have participated in the Final Four.  It’s a good indication that during this weekend’s Final Four match-ups, we will be watching the future NBA players.  Players such as UCLA’s Kevin Love, Darren Collison, Luc Richard,  Mbah A Moute- Memphis’s Joey Dorsey (Baltimore), Chris Douglas-Roberts, & Derrick Rose-Kansas’s Brandon Rush, Mario Chalmers and Carolina’s Tyler Hansbrough and Ty Lawson.  I expect these players to declare for the draft in two weeks.

            
   The majority of the NBA is made up of players that did not  participate in the Final Four.  Some of this year's college crop from Kansas State’s Michael Beasley (D.C.), USC’s O.J. Mayo, Texas’s D.J. Augustin, and Indiana’s Eric Gordon-to name a few- are expected to leave this season.  It’s not written in stone that making it to the Final Four means a NBA future.  For every player who made it to the Final Four and to the NBA, many did not get drafted at all.   A Final Four appearance just gives us a good indication of future pro prospects and that's just adds a little flavor and suspense to the event.

        
       The future NBA player this weekend that will shine is North Carolina’s Ty Lawson.  Lawson is a pure point guard, a floor general.  Lawson is the quickest college player with the ball.  Lawson can also shoot, direct and rarely makes  mistakes.  The main attribute that separates a good point guard from a great point guard is getting the ball down low to your big man.  It's easy to pass the ball on a break to an open man.  Getting the ball to your big guy in a half situation against a tough defense is major skill, ask the Hoyas.  Lawson has that skill and with that, a national championship for the North Carolina Tar Heels.

Written By Barry Barnes