[Hilltopper]

CBS Sports says Zeke is the 46th ranked NBA prospect for the 2013 NBA draft. DJ Cooper is # 59.

[Dave in Green]

Nice comment from CBS:

Still a work in progress, but there's plenty to work with.

Most of the mock 2013 drafts have Zeke a mid-to-late second-round pick. He really controls his destiny here. If he doesn't show progress for the Zips this season, he could fall out of the draft completely. If he gets it in his head how many more millions he could make in the NBA versus the computer business, and if he wants it bad enough, Zeke has the tools to become a more dominant player and even move up to a first-round NBA draft pick. It's going to come down to desire and motivation.

[GP1]

Most of the mock 2013 drafts have Zeke a mid-to-late second-round pick. He really controls his destiny here. If he doesn't show progress for the Zips this season, he could fall out of the draft completely. If he gets it in his head how many more millions he could make in the NBA versus the computer business, and if he wants it bad enough, Zeke has the tools to become a more dominant player and even move up to a first-round NBA draft pick. It's going to come down to desire and motivation.

I agree. There is also some luck hitching on with an NBA team. There are lots of guys not in the NBA who are just as good, if not better, than some guys on NBA rosters. The NBA is hard as heck to make because the number of players is small.

Zeke has a future in professioal basketball, whether it is the NBA or a high level league in Europe. I lean to high level Europe. Either way, he is going to be making some really good cash in the next few years.

[skip-zip]

I'll say that he needs a spectacular Senior year just to move INTO draft consideration. In fact, I'd love to see him have a great Senior year, whether he gets picked in the draft or not.

But, wouldn't it be great to see the Akron Zips mentioned on draft day next year?

[Class of 82]

I don't think there's any question Zeke will get a shot to play in the NBA if he wants one, whether he's drafted or un-drafted. I'd guess, though, that somebody likely will draft him. You can't teach 7 feet tall, and being 7 feet tall still means something in the NBA... especially given the relaxation of the rules on zone defense.

Will Zeke be a "good" NBA player? No I don't, honestly. But as a 7-footer with a pretty good head on his shoulders, I think he could attain to being "serviceable and useful" for any team that takes a shot with him. Serviceable and useful 7-footers, even ones barely so, can still have very lucrative and rewarding and successful NBA careers. Ryan Hollins is ample proof of that much.

At any rate, I'm just looking forward to Zeke having a monster senior season and, after that, him getting his degree and becoming another proud Akron alum. The rest of it will take care of itself. And I hope that's how Zeke approaches next year as well.

[Dave in Green]

One intangible about Zeke is that he tends to have his strongest performances when he's playing head-to-head against other good bigs of comparable size and ability. For example, when ESPN's Myron Medcalf recently named Zeke one of the nation's 10 best shot blockers for next season, he said:

Mississippi State’s Arnett Moultrie had one of his worst games of the season against the Zips due to Marshall’s defense.

The 6-11 Moultrie was a first-round NBA draft choice, the 27th player picked this year. In college, Zeke only gets to go up against NBA caliber bigs like Moultrie a couple of times a year. In the NBA, he would be doing it almost every night. Does Zeke just have a hard time getting motivated against lesser opponents? Would Zeke rise to the occasion in the NBA and be motivated to shut down the opponent's best big every night?

Hard to say what the answer is. But you can bet that NBA scouts will be focused on how Zeke performs against the best college bigs he goes up against. This is one of the intangibles that could earn Zeke a higher draft rating than his overall college performance might seem to merit.

[GP1]

Would Zeke rise to the occasion in the NBA and be motivated to shut down the opponent's best big every night?

I don't know if this is the question. I think a better question is...Coming off the bench, would Zeke be able to rest the starting center with productive minutes on the defensive end? The answer to that question is yes. However a lot rests on whether or not he can get with the right team. I don't see Zeke as a draft pick. If an NBA team is going to take a chance on a "work in progress", it is usually a player who didn't play four years in college. The NBA draft is very short and it is hard to take a chance with a player with so few choices.

We haven't even scratched the surface of Zeke's NBA prospects. The real questions are centered around which teams need center help because free agents are signed on needs, not the future. I'd look for a team that needs immediate help rather than a team looking for a long term investment. I have no idea who those teams will be in two years because I don't follow the nba.

[akronzips71]

I think Zeke would fit in a place where he could play his ass off and not have to worry about fouling out, because he is not the only big man.

[akzipper]

Just like all of the Suckeye fans were yelling for the Cavs to take Sullinger at 4, I will be yelling for them to take Zeke next year!! Obviously not with our lottery pick, but I would take him in the second round no doubt.

Just imagine how this team would be if Zeke just went nuts this year...an Anthony Davis type year...

[Jalapeño Zippy]

Just like all of the Suckeye fans were yelling for the Cavs to take Sullinger at 4, I will be yelling for them to take Zeke next year!! Obviously not with our lottery pick, but I would take him in the second round no doubt.

Just imagine how this team would be if Zeke just went nuts this year...an Anthony Davis type year...

IMO Zeke would fit in good at San Antonio. How great of a circumstance would it be for him to learn under Tim Duncan and Pop?

[Dr Z]

Wouldn't it be odd if Zeke decides he doesn't want to play basketball anymore after this year.
That would be our best prospect in football (Wagner) and basketball doing the same in back to back years?!?
Not a prediction, just an observation.

PS If Zeke wanted to move up in the draft, the best way to do that would be having a great NCAA tournament. That gets kids noticed.

[Hilltopper]

Wouldn't it be odd if Zeke decides he doesn't want to play basketball anymore after this year.
That would be our best prospect in football (Wagner) and basketball doing the same in back to back years?!?
Not a prediction, just an observation.

PS If Zeke wanted to move up in the draft, the best way to do that would be having a great NCAA tournament. That gets kids noticed.

From what I know, I am pretty sure Zeke is planning on playing the game next level.

[Dave in Green]

Someone who should know left a subtle hint on how serious Zeke is about an NBA career right here.

[johnnyzip84]

Someone who should know left a subtle hint on how serious Zeke is about an NBA career right here.

With all due respect, this link says plenty about how serious MAMA ZEKE is about Zeke's potential NBA career. I'm not sure how much, if any, it says about Zeke's true desires and intentions. I'm just taking a stab here Dave, but my guess is you don't have any children

[Zipmeister]

Was watching some NBA highlights on ESPN, noticed the physicality with which those big guys play, and couldn't help but wonder how Zeke would survive playing in the league.