Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Nobody loves them some 7-foot-1, underclassmen, big guys more than the NBA. In fact, all that a seven-foot player has to do to make it in the league is show the smallest amount of potential, as well as a pulse. The NBA is just dying, kicking and screaming for more solid centers.
Now, former Maryland Terrapins center Alex Len is looking to fulfill all their dreams and desires.
Len made his intentions to enter the NBA Draft known early yesterday. With him passing on remaining eligibility and certainly going to be drafted in the lottery, the only questions that remains is how good he will actually be.
The numbers do not showcase Len as a super-productive, exceptional talent. If we were to be honest, his lack of consistent productivity in college, coupled with how high he will be selected in the draft, makes him a potential bust type of player. There is not a thing in his college career that points to him being a sure thing.
He has shown flashes of brilliance, however, making him that much more interesting to teams who are searching for a center. Len looks to possess every aspect you would hope a 20-year-old, seven-footer would have. Len has size (obviously), is very athletic for a man of his build and does work hard on the glass — something that translate well to the NBA.
His offensive consistency will definitely need to improve. If Len wants to be anything more than the stereotyped high-motor guy, putting the ball in the basket is something that he is going to have to work on. Still, even with all the questions surrounding his game, the potential is so high with Len that there will not be too many teams who will pass up on drafting him.
The best-case scenario for Len is that he becomes a more athletic version of David Lee (one who hopefully plays more defense). Worse case? Well, you can add him to the random guy in the Hall of Big Guys.
Joe is a Senior Writer for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @JosephNardone
