ESPN.com - Len's biggest question mark?

ESPN.com: College Basketball Rumors

Saturday, February 2, 2013
Len's biggest question mark?

By Luke Lapinski

Alex Len is essentially having the breakout season that Maryland fans were hoping for. Through 21 games, he's averaging a team-high 12.8 points and 1.9 blocks per contest, while also leading the way for the nation's top rebounding club by hauling down 8.1 boards per game. His production -- and upside -- have him in a good spot on most draft boards, including that of our own Chad Ford, who currently has the big man slotted in at No. 4 overall.

The question now: is there anything Len could do to climb even higher in the minds of NBA scouts? Ford notes that the biggest factor holding him back at the moment may simply be opportunity. His guards aren't getting him all that many looks, so his chances to actually score are somewhat limited. That won't be an issue at the next level, so it would be nice to know how well he might handle more consistent scoring chances. Plus, as we noted earlier this week, he's not necessarily getting the amount of playing time that some might expect -- most likely due to the Terrapins' depth up front.

Still, it's undeniable that he's been the main piece on this year's Maryland squad and a major reason the school still has a shot at making the NCAA Tournament. And, if the Terps can manage an invite to the Big Dance, that would give Len an excellent opportunity to showcase his skills to everyone on college basketball's biggest stage.

Chad Ford

How high can he go?

"Len has the talent to be the No. 1 pick in the draft. His biggest challenge right now is a collection of guards who aren't helpful in getting him the ball. In the past four games since our last update, Len had just eight field goal attempts against North Carolina State, just seven against North Carolina and six against Duke. It's hard to put up big numbers if you don't get the ball. Len's ridiculous reverse baseline dunk against Mason Plumlee and Duke showed off the incredible potential he has. The question is whether NBA scouts will get to see it enough to justify taking him No. 1."