CBS Sports 2013 NBA mock draft

[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.

[Captain Kangaroo]

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.

If I was Danny Ainge, I'd trade Ryan Hollins for Zeke in a heartbeat.

[skip-zip]

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.

The physical nature of the NBA game is one important factor to consider. And I particularly noticed Class of 82's "servicable and useful" comment. So, lets boil this down a bit and really take a look at what he might be able to contribute.

He's a shot blocker. He might find it much more difficult to block shots in the NBA vs. the MAC, but I see the potential for some contribution there. Is he physical enough to rebound or defend in the NBA? I have great doubt about that based on what we've seen him do in the MAC. Scoring in the NBA? Only if he becomes deadly consistent with that hook shot, or develops a 10 foot jumper. I've never seen signs that he could ever become effective as a scorer moving towards the basket, and that has been against far less physical MAC players.

The greatest thing he has going for him is simply his height. That makes him significantly more rare. But as a college Senior from the MAC, without some big numbers next to his name in his four years, I think he's going to find it difficult to get much of a chance.

[Class of 82]

The physical nature of the NBA game is one important factor to consider. And I particularly noticed Class of 82's "servicable and useful" comment. So, lets boil this down a bit and really take a look at what he might be able to contribute.

He's a shot blocker. He might find it much more difficult to block shots in the NBA vs. the MAC, but I see the potential for some contribution there. Is he physical enough to rebound or defend in the NBA? I have great doubt about that based on what we've seen him do in the MAC. Scoring in the NBA? Only if he becomes deadly consistent with that hook shot, or develops a 10 foot jumper. I've never seen signs that he could ever become effective as a scorer moving towards the basket, and that has been against far less physical MAC players.

The greatest thing he has going for him is simply his height. That makes him significantly more rare. But as a college Senior from the MAC, without some big numbers next to his name in his four years, I think he's going to find it difficult to get much of a chance.

As Akronzips71 noted, Zeke would not have to worry so much about fouling as a defensive role-player at the next level. At least some of Zeke's at-times-soft play here, perhaps even most, has been due to him trying to stay out of foul trouble in a league known for being pretty ticky-tacky... and excruciatingly inconsistent to boot. In the NBA, his primary job will be to give a starting big man some rest and eat up a few minutes without his team getting creamed in the paint. Heck, he'll be expected to foul quite a bit in the role I see him playing. And I'd bet he'd be a much more aggressive, and thereby much more effective, rebounder in such a role, too. Any scoring he could add would be a bonus, but if he could do only what I described, he could have a job in the league for quite a while. Again, think Ryan Hollins, who, imo, is nowhere near as quick or athletic as Zeke. And Hollins has already made millions in the NBA, which is kind of mind-boggling, really.

It doesn't hurt that Zeke is a pretty smart young man, too. That's an X factor that shouldn't get discounted either.

[skip-zip]

As Akronzips71 noted, Zeke would not have to worry so much about fouling as a defensive role-player at the next level. At least some of Zeke's at-times-soft play here, perhaps even most, has been due to him trying to stay out of foul trouble in a league known for being pretty ticky-tacky... and excruciatingly inconsistent to boot. In the NBA, his primary job will be to give a starting big man some rest and eat up a few minutes without his team getting creamed in the paint. Heck, he'll be expected to foul quite a bit in the role I see him playing. And I'd bet he'd be a much more aggressive, and thereby much more effective, rebounder in such a role, too. Any scoring he could add would be a bonus, but if he could do only what I described, he could have a job in the league for quite a while. Again, think Ryan Hollins, who, imo, is nowhere near as quick or athletic as Zeke. And Hollins has already made millions in the NBA, which is kind of mind-boggling, really.

It doesn't hurt that Zeke is a pretty smart young man, too. That's an X factor that shouldn't get discounted either.

Just keep something in mind. Separate his ability to block shots and his ability to defend as two different things for a moment. I don't believe he has proven to have the combination of quickness and physical ability to keep opposing players from getting to the basket. There's some big guys in the NBA who may not have a ton of basketball skills, but do have that physical ability, and are strong enough to fight for rebounds on top of that. They become "servicable" as backup players in the paint because of those abilities.

I know what you're saying. He could play a backup role, and swat at shots in the paint without the fear of collection fouls. But is that, alone, good enough? We'll find out if someone feels that way next June.

[Dave in Green]

I expect to see a different Zeke this season. He's no longer the skinny little kid he was when he first arrived. Tbis season, Zeke will be a 22-year-old man. He's still adding bulk, and it's all muscle. He's starting to get more of an attitude. At least that's what some who know him better than I do are saying. Anyway, Zeke's Mom will be back on the forum before long and straighten us all out.

[OU Dude]

I don't mean this as any disrespect to the young man but as an outsider looking in Zeke doesn't seem like he enjoys playing the game very much. It's like if he and DJ Cooper switched bodies and he was 5'11" and Coop was 7' Zeke would never go near a bball court and be totally happy (and Cooper would be in the NBA already).

OU hasn't beat Akron 5 of the last 6 games (with two of those being conference championships and two being by +24 points) because OU is that much better than Akron, they did it because they were mentally tougher. For all of his jawin and chest bumpin and reckless shot takin Cooper really believes he is unbeatable, and his teammates drink the koolaid when the lights are bright. Akron could benefit from a little more attitude. Abreau is developing nicely and is bringing some of that attitude, dude was lights out in Cleveland (how bout the irony of AA not being able to miss a shot even when he tried!) but I think Marshall needs to bring it as well to get the whole team bought in.

side note- somebody tell Dambrot to keep the big man under the basket on D! just because he can defend on the perimeter doesn't mean he should.

I hope Zeke comes in like a junkyard dog and dominates next year, its time for the MAC to return to being a multi-bid league and these two teams are primed for a run.

[FromdaBurgh]

I don't mean this as any disrespect to the young man but as an outsider looking in Zeke doesn't seem like he enjoys playing the game very much. It's like if he and DJ Cooper switched bodies and he was 5'11" and Coop was 7' Zeke would never go near a bball court and be totally happy (and Cooper would be in the NBA already).

OU hasn't beat Akron 5 of the last 6 games (with two of those being conference championships and two being by +24 points) because OU is that much better than Akron, they did it because they were mentally tougher. For all of his jawin and chest bumpin and reckless shot takin Cooper really believes he is unbeatable, and his teammates drink the koolaid when the lights are bright. Akron could benefit from a little more attitude. Abreau is developing nicely and is bringing some of that attitude, dude was lights out in Cleveland (how bout the irony of AA not being able to miss a shot even when he tried!) but I think Marshall needs to bring it as well to get the whole team bought in.

side note- somebody tell Dambrot to keep the big man under the basket on D! just because he can defend on the perimeter doesn't mean he should.

I hope Zeke comes in like a junkyard dog and dominates next year, its time for the MAC to return to being a multi-bid league and these two teams are primed for a run.

OU Dude..while I often times refrain from making comments bc of who I am...I want you to know that there was nothing in your statement that was disrespectful! As a matter of fact, I am in COMPLETE AGREEMENT with what you've said. While Coop may not be my favorite person in the world, I can absolutely respect him when he said "don't call us a cinderella team..we BELONG here". That was such a profound, prolific statement and because of that type of mindset, I believe its the reason why OU were in the Sweet 16! I can do nothing but respect that type of "swag" and mental toughness.

Now, what I will say to EVERYONE on this particular thread is...YOU HAVE NNNNOOO IDEA whats about to happen! THAT IS ALL!!!

[scottditzen]

I hope Zeke comes in like a junkyard dog and dominates next year, its time for the MAC to return to being a multi-bid league and these two teams are primed for a run.

I'll drink to that!! Next season should be amazing. See ya at the Q!

[scottditzen]

Now, what I will say to EVERYONE on this particular thread is...YOU HAVE NNNNOOO IDEA whats about to happen! THAT IS ALL!!!

Haw yeah!!!!!

[Captain Kangaroo]

Now, what I will say to EVERYONE on this particular thread is...YOU HAVE NNNNOOO IDEA whats about to happen! THAT IS ALL!!!

Zeke's broken into the Top 10 worldwide in Guitar Hero?!