Anthony Gruppuso-USA Today Sports
Name: C.J. Aiken
Age: 22
Height: 6-foot-9
Position: Power Forward
School/Country: St. Joseph’s
Latest Stats: 10.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.6 bpg
After three seasons at St. Joseph’s, 6-foot-9 junior power forward C.J. Aiken made a surprising move by entering his name into the 2013 NBA Draft . Aiken has good athleticism and his length has the ability to cause havoc on the defensive end. Aiken has continuously been amongst the top shot blockers in college basketball, averaging 2.6 blocks per game this past season — a number that was ironically enough an entire block per game lower than his first two seasons in a Hawks’ uniform.
Aiken is an intriguing prospect, but his draft stock is not all that high at this point. This power forward prospect will have the opportunity to improve his position during pre-draft workouts and possibly move up to the latter portion of the second, but at this time that remains to be seen.
Strengths: Aiken’s length makes him a handful inside. At 6-foot-9, he has been labeled as one of the top shot blockers in college basketball over the past few years, so there’s no denying his potential at the defensive end of the floor. Aiken has proven the ability to also score and rebound the ball effectively.
Weaknesses: Aiken needs to add some strength to his frame if he has any potential of getting drafted or making an NBA roster by the fall. Aiken doesn’t have an offensive game that is comparable to his potential on the defensive side of things, so he needs to refine his game, and most notably his range.
Draft Projection: Undrafted
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