Thursday, February 7, 2013
Oladipo's NBA future
By Luke Lapinski
In many ways, we're right back where we started. Indiana was No. 1 to begin the season, there were plenty of twists and turns from November to February and now the Hoosiers are back on top with March Madness closing in quickly. In all, they garnered 58 first-place votes in the most recent AP top 25 and once again reside atop the latest Bilas Index.
That said, one player in particular has emerged in a big way for Tom Crean. Cody Zeller, Jordan Hulls and Christian Watford are all playing major roles in the team's success so far, as is Victor Oladipo. And that was all expected. But Oladipo, in particular, has clearly taken his game to a whole new level this season. His defense is phenomenal, his energy is infectious and he's raised his offensive contributions considerably as a junior. What's more, he's hauling down 5.8 rebounds per night as a guard. And his 64.4 field goal percentage is remarkable -- especially given his position.
So how is his NBA future shaping up? Chad Ford ranks him No. 15 on his big board, and notes his considerable upside as a versatile defender at the next level. He also doesn't rule out a potential rise -- perhaps as high as the lottery or even top 10 -- if he continues on his current trajectory.
