Q: Glenn

Hey guys,
how does the rankings system work for college. I understand there are votes and stuff but is it more complicated than that?

Vanderbilt are 6-0 (on Nov. 30th) but not ranked in the top 25 and others have lesser records but seemed to be ranked higher.

Could you clear this up?

Cheers
Glenn

A: MARK BROWN

Glenn,
Basically the AP(Associated Press) Poll is voted on by journalists who cover NCAA hoops.

The ESPN/USA Today poll is voted on by NCAA coaches.

Both pools of voters are trying to account for the strength of a team’s conference and schedule in determining whether to be impressed with Vandy’s results so far. Vanderbilt plays in a very tough conference (SEC) though they have yet to start conference play this season. A team like Vanderbilt is not a traditional power in the SEC or nationally so it is common for the voters to take a wait and see approach in favor of teams that began the season with higher expectations.

This weekend’s win over Georgia Tech got some notice and they have hit #25 in the Coaches poll and may well make the AP poll.

I assume your interested in Ogilvy’s progress. From what I have seen, I’m impressed. He’s drawing a lot of praise from all over NCAA basketball with a common theme being that he is ahead of where Bogut was when he arrived at Utah.

Q: Matthew

to Chris and Mark,
Do you think that Luke Nevill will get drafted next year and if so at around which pick? I was also wondering if you think Patrick Mills and Nathan Jawai are NBA potential?

A: CHRIS ANSTEY

I really don't know what the scouts opinion on Nevill is. Jawai is definately NBA potential but still has a lot to learn. Remember his size is nothing new over there and if anything, he is undersized. Same for Pat Mills. He is a genuine star in the making but is very small for the NBA where point guards on most teams are post up point guards. I'd love to see all of them in the NBA but with the talent getting better even more quickly throughout Europe, it's getting harder and harder.

A: MARK BROWN

Matthew,
Hard to say on Nevill. Remember, he still has another year of eligibility left at Utah after this season. Luke is a work in progress and if he continues to develop, I think he can be a first round pick someday. I don't know enough about Nathan Jawai to speculate on that so let's talk about Mills.

He's made a tremendous splash over here putting St. Mary's on the map and on the brink of the Top 25. His signature 37 point performance over then #11 Oregon was hailed from all corners of the NCAA. People here are comparing him to Tony Parker. High praise indeed. Without getting too carried away, it's clear that his quickness, scoring, passing and handling have made him a dangerous weapon in the NCAA and the scouts have noticed.

Q: ROGER

chris and mark,
the center, guard pairing of utah utes ballers weigh and nevill is starting to show some real polish, with the duo combining for 34 points, 12 boards, 3 assists, 3 steals and 3 blocks in their road loss to PAC10 team washington on wednesday. has the pairing got enough potential to become a possible force in the NBL or europe in years to come? (if they stay together)

A: MARK BROWN

Roger,
It is nice to see Nevill and Weigh off to good start.
Their games do complement one another. With Luke as post presence, Stephen can feed him and spot up for a three when the defense collapses. Luke established himself last year as a productive big man at the NCAA level. It is time for Weigh to step up his game and so far he is doing it. While there is no guarantee they will be paired up as pros, each has the potential do well professionally.

A: CHRIS ANSTEY

Q: ANDREW

Chris and Mark,
It is a fantastic effort for Patrick Mills being named in the 17 man boomer squad. The question I have is "has Patrick made a mistake signing for St Mary's in the West Coast Conference". From what I am hearing he is good enough to play big minutes straight away in one of the big conferences such as as the Big 12, ACC, SEC, Big 10 etc. Will this prevent him from developing to his full potential?

A: MARK BROWN

Andrew,
It is possible that Pat Mills could be a star at one of the big-time schools in a major conference. Hopefully, his decision works out. He can also be a star at St. Mary's, lift them to the conference championship and into the NCAA Tourney on a regular basis. And by the way, Steve Nash came out of Santa Clara in the WCC and look at him now (and don't forget about John Stockton,Gonzaga) just to name two.

Thanks for writing in,
Mark

A: CHRIS ANSTEY

Q: LUKE

Chris,
do you think david andersen or matt nielsen will ever play in the NBL again even if it is at the end of their careers?

A: Chris

I think Matt will as he has emotional ties to the Kings. He also has a young family, and his family is in Sydney. I doubt Dave will, he will spend his career in Europe and hopefully the NBA before retiring back here.

Thanks,
Chris

Q: ADAM

Dear Chris or Mark,

With your proximities to the game this question may be a little difficult to answer. What is the situation with a third of the Boomers training squad annouced recently (July 12) being from Sydney? Does this not seem like 'jobs for the boys' as Goorjian is indeed both the Boomers and Kings head? The Worlds team from last year also had five of the twelve members from the Sydney Kings. Some of the selections are warranted but really Ian Crosswhite, and to a lesser extent Russel Hinder, and Luke Kendall, as good as these players are, are they world class? And for a little more evidence I believe Luke Martin, whilst a King was also a Boomer (where is he now). Also do you know any gossip, substantiated or otherwise about whether Sam Mackinnon will be suiting up in the NBA next year?

Thanks

A: CHRIS ANSTEY

My personal opinion regarding the Boomers is that as the training camps are conducted right now, Australia will never have it's best team on the floor together as most of it's best players are around 30 years old. After long basketball seasons, the bodies of a 30+ year old players don't stand up to 5 hours on court a day plus another couple of meetings and recovery. I know that's the reason I can't commit to it, it killed my last NBL season. It's the reason Cattalini doesn't play, Brett Maher may be the same. Older players know how to get the best out of themselves, and sometimes it's not running themselves into the ground. Anyway, I hope the young guys who play do well obviously, and hope that we have a full squad to choose from next year, as opposed to this year without Bogut, Nielsen and CJ Bruton.

Q: MATTHEW

To Chris,
I was wondering how long it will be before Australia are contesting for medals again and how long do you think it will be before Andrew Bogut becomes a real force in the NBA?

A: CHRIS ANSTEY

Hard to say with the Boomers, sometimes it's just a matter of everyone clicking for 2 weeks at a tournament. We're not that far away, but the European teams are getting better and faster at the moment. We haven't been able to put our best team on the floor together for a few years, and if we are able to do that in Beijing, we will be competitive with anyone. Then you just need some luck!

As for Bogut, I wouldn't expect him to be the go to guy on an NBA team any time soon. His strength in the NBA is that he can compliment his teammates. I would expect him to continually improve and be a starter in the NBA for years, and think he will find a nice niche similar to Luc Longley, but with perhaps a bit more of an offensive game.

Q: ALISTAIR

What do you think of Brad Newley's chances of being drafted? Is there any way of keeping tabs on how he is going at pre-draft camps, etc? I notice that draftexpress.com has him being drafted 4th last in the second round by Detroit.

Alistair Vermont, Victoria

A: MARK BROWN

Alistair,
I was not at the NBA pre-draft camp in Orlando but I have spoken to an NBA Scout who was. He tells me that Brad Newley shot the ball well and overall played a pretty solid game. That said, in this scout's opinion, Newley did not do anything to make himself an obvious draft choice. This scout felt Brad could be taken late 2nd round or not at all.

Thanks for your question.

Q: TRIGGER

hey,
With so many aussies in college and a few talented players having just finished there college carrears where can we expect 2 see them play. Matty knight and stefan Blaszczynski would do quite well in the nbl are either of these two or any other aussies rumored 2 be signed by an nbl team ??

A: CHRIS ANSTEY

As far as I know, neither of those two guys are rumoured to be signing in the NBL for the upcoming season, but are in a good position in terms of the NBL points system, where they are 3 point players and could fit into most teams if they decided to come back. My thought is that most kids who are used to living overseas in the college system are well prepared to try their hand in Europe. They have already overcome the hard part of moving away and living in a foreign environment. Sadly, until the NBL finds a way to at least be competitve with some other leagues in the world, it will always be a fall back option for the better quality players.

Thanks for the question.

Q: DEE

Do you think Aaron Bruce might take his name out of draft and return home and play pro ball? A draft publication said he wasn't proving much by returning to Baylor. Please write back.

A: CHRIS ANSTEY

Dee,

I think he will end up back a Baylor and use the draft camps as experience towards next year when he will employ an agent and nominate for the draft again.

Thanks for writing,

Chris

A: MARK BROWN

Dee,

I am reasonably certain that Aaron Bruce will end up removing his name from the NBA Draft. However, I believe he should return for his final season at Baylor. He can always return home in the future, but I hope he is of the mind to see things through in college. His situation at Baylor has definitely changed from his freshman year. They have more talent now and his role has changed and his numbers have gone down. The good thing is his team is getting better. It is possible that his draft stock will not improve with another year but he can still get better and finish what he started at Baylor.

Thanks for the question,

Q: DONSY

I was a little surprised to see Aaron Bruce declare for the NBA draft. I thought he didnt have the best season this year and I wouldn't have thought his stock would be anywhere near high enough to be drafted. What is going on here? He hasn't signed with an agent so do you guys think he's just testing the waters, hoping to get a few try outs and get his name out there or could there be teams interested in him?

Cheers

A: MARK BROWN

Donsy,

I think you are right on the mark. Aaron Bruce is going through the process available to him to evaluate his current NBA prospects. He has not hired an agent and is continuing his academic schedule so he keeps his options open. If his workouts show that his stock is higher than expected, he has the option to stay in the draft. If not, he withdraws from the draft by June 18 and returns to Baylor for his final year. Only 1st round picks receive guaranteed contracts so it only makes sense to stay in the draft if you are reasonably certain you will be taken in the 1st round. I don't believe that Aaron will be rated as a 1st round pick and fully expect that he will be back at Baylor next season.

Thanks for your question.

-Mark

A: CHRIS ANSTEY

That's exactly what I think he is doing. As long as he doesn't sign an agent, which he won't, he loses nothing by declaring. It may prove to be a smart move if he can get invited to some camps to see what he's in for next year. You're right, I don't see him being drafted anywhere that will warrant him not returning for his senior year, but hopefully this experience will give him further scope for improvement to increase his chances next year.

Thanks,

Q: ANNA

Guys - who is australia's next premier point guard? Is [Pat] Mills the answer?

A: CHRIS ANSTEY

Yes, followed by Aaron Bruce at this stage.

Thanks,

Q: DONSY

Chris,
Before David Barlows latest knee injury he was in very impressive form and improving at a rate that if he continued might have been a shot at the NBA. With his length combined with his shooting ability, athleticism and ball skills is he a legitimate shot at making the NBA some day?

A: CHRIS ANSTEY

Donsy,
I think he has a legitimate shot at getting a look in at least. I look forward to playing with Dave at the Tigers this year to get a first hand opinion, but his skill set for his size is as good as anyone in Australia right now.

Q: MATTHEW PORTER

To Chris,
I was wondering how long you think it will be until Luke Nevill enters the NBA and which round do you think he will go in?

A: CHRIS ANSTEY

Matthew,
It's too hard to say at the moment. He still has a long way to go, and has a lot of improvement left in him, so I would hope he would see out his college career. It depends on how well he develops in that time as to if and when he gets drafted.

Q: ADAM

Chris or Mark,
I am stunned that Sam Mackinnon has never played in the NBA. I have followed the Australian national team closely since the late 80's and no other Australian player has looked athetically as comfortable against team USA as Mackinnon. Why is it do you think that he has not been drafted before now? Poor Agent? Injuries? Lack of Exposure? Or am I overestimating his talent?

A: CHRIS ANSTEY

I think in the past Sam has struggled with consistency from the perimeter. I agree, he has been our best international player over the last 10 years. I actually played in a summer league in LA with him for Dallas and he was very impressive, but back then the feedback was that he needed to be able to shoot better and they thought defenders would just allow him some room. I believe a few teams are interested in him this year, and that he is being flown over. With his improved jump shot, I would say he would have to have a legitimate shot of making at least a vet camp.

Q: ADAM

Chris or Mark,

I am a strong supporter of Nathan Jawai (Baby Shaq of Australia) but, I don't understand why he left the us college system. He has a lot of potential that would fit in beautifully in the NCAA. What is the status of Jawai and what are his future plans.

A: CHRIS ANSTEY

Q: MATTHEW

Is the NBL horribly and damagingly biased to old veterans well past the age of universal athletes.

A: CHRIS ANSTEY

Q: MATTHEW

Is it fair in saying NBL clubs do little to let rookie players have breakout seasons and reach the status of other established league stars? It seems the NBA is the other end of the spectrum.

A: CHRIS ANSTEY

Matthew,
I don't believe so. Most NBA rookies that have breakout seasons do so on struggling teams, where they are handed extra responsibility quickly to sharpen their learning curve. Not many elite teams see their rookies having a big impact. Obviously there are exceptions. The NBL is no different. Nobody would expect a rookie to carry a team to a championship, and usually have pieces in place to win lots of games. Even someone like Joe Ingles, who may have had the best rookie season for a lot of years, was up and down and had some ordinary games due mainly to inexperience. Players need to learn the game, and there is no better place to learn it than on a winning team. If that is the cost of not having a breakout rookie season, then so be it.

Q: BRAD

I was wondering what your thoughts were on young aussie players who think that by automatically trying to go over to the states and play college basketball that this will translate into opportunities and success at a professional level. I think it has been proven that the american system isn't providing players with the best skillsets these days to compete internationally if they cant make the NBA and from what i am seeing in the NBL, guys who come back into the league from college aren't really producing and i feel that promising aussie juniors should really be looking to play in the NBL straight away if they are good enough and build from there rather than going to a college situation that isn't going to improve them as players, and Chris you and guys like Sam Mackinnon could attest to this given your respective B'ball career paths.

A: CHRIS ANSTEY

I believe two things about the NCAA college system. The first is that it provides an opportunity to earn an education at the same time as pursuing an athletic career. The NBL does not do this. Sure, some players come back and don't make an impact on the NBL, but some do, and just weight of numbers suggest that many more will fall short of NBL quality than make it. It's the same here. Don't forget that the NBL is a pretty good league.

For the kids who have a legitimate shot at making the NBA, the NCAA puts you in front of their scouts every week. Someone like Joe Ingles may only play in front of scouts a few weeks a year, and different scouts will form different opinions based on when they saw him play.

Q: ANNA

Andrew Bogut has largely been a disappointment for the Bucks fans - particularly as a Number 1 pick. If the ping pong balls fall their way and they get a shot at Oden do the Bucks trade Bogut away for a point guard?

A: MARK BROWN

Anna, Anna, Anna,
Let's not give up on Andrew so soon. There is alot I like about his game. As the #1 pick of 2005, Bogut may be viewed as a disappointment in some circles but I don't think trading him is part of the plan in Milwaukee. While Bogut may never be the premier big man in the NBA, I believe he can be a fine all-around big man on a winning team. The Bucks are in position to get a very good player in the draft and new coach Larry Krystkowiak is likely to make Bogut a more integral part of the offense. If they are healthy, they should certainly be a playoff team. If the opportunity to draft Greg Oden falls in their lap, I'm sure all options will be on the table including playing he and Andrew together. As for a new point guard, I wouldn't argue with finding one who is more of a distributor than Mo Williams.

Q: WARREN

I was wondering why Damian Martin of LMU college, (WCC) name wasnt on the recent Boomers squad/21 invitation list? From his stats of last season he seemed to have had an improved season from previous years and was named WCC Defensive Player of the Year. Has he recently been injured or not included because of form? What young guards do you see leading the future Boomers?

A: CHRIS ANSTEY

I think the main reason is that many college players, even the best of them, find themselves under prepared for international basketball. Even Andrew Bogut has taken a long time to adjust to it, and is still yet to really dominate. College teams are very structured, and their players genarally aren't given much 'creative leeway'. You need to be able to think on your feet internationally as your opponent will have most likely been playing for years, and have a fantastic basketball brain. As for the future, I would love to see Aaron Bruce and Patrick Mills keep improving and make their mark on the Boomers. Not only are they both very good players, they are both good people.

Q: DAVE

Hey Chris and Mark.
What do you guys think of Sam Harris?

A: MARK BROWN

Dave,
Sam Harris is having a very difficult time getting minutes at Old Dominion. Though he has incredible size at 7'3", he doesn't make enough of an impact when he is on the floor to merit more minutes. He has one more year of eligibility at ODU and he will be part of the AIS 21-man Try Out and Development Camp in June so there is still the opportunity to improve. ODU graduates it's top two bigs but with Sam's limited athletic ability and skillset, he will have to become a bigger factor doing the things he can do like rebound and block shots.

Q: ELDEAN DEMMERY

What are your thoughts on the young Patrick Mills making the Boomers squad? Can you tell me more about his playing style, and do you think he has what it takes to play in the NCAA!

A: CHRIS ANSTEY

I really like Patrick. He is a small, very quick point guard, who didn't look out of his depth at the last Boomers camp. He is still growing his offensive game, but is already very good defensively in the full court. I'm not sure if he will be ready to play for Australia by Beijing, but he will be an exceptionally good NCAA player from day 1, and I think will develop into Australia's premier point guard.

Thanks for your question,
Chris

Q: TRIGGER (follow up question)

sorry i didn't ask that correctly, i was refering to the 21 man squad that was named with sum quite inexperienced players named including sam harris who at 7'3 has great size but that seems to be about it. Nevill is averaging more rebounds than this guy is minutes. how does he get a look in over him!? suprising to see a few nbl guys who have little impact named in that team. what are your thoughts there?

A: CHRIS ANSTEY

Trigger,

Remember that the NBL is a far superior league quality wise to the NCAA. As a spectacle, sure, the NCAA, but the level of play is lower. Someone like Stephen Hoare, who has won best 6th man in the NBL the last two years, would be one of the best 50 players in the USA college system. As for comparing the two bigs, that's Goorjian's call. He obviously sees more in some players than others, and has a proven track record. Essentially that group is learning what the Boomers is about, and I would be surprised to see any college players (maybe Kickert) make the team.

Q: TRIGGER

chris, you seem to rate Nevill highly, i agree at 7'1 and a good build has the body for the nba and has also put up great numbers! can you explain why his not in the boomers squad???

A: CHRIS ANSTEY

Trigger,

The big P word, potential. I think with an Olympics coming up soon we need to keep the squad as small as possible so that we get used to playing with each other. In reality, Nevill isn't as good as Bogut, Andersen or Nielsen yet, so there are no spots left for him.

Q: KEITH LATHAM

Does joining an elite NCAA basketball school help a players development more than a non-elite or even 'mid-major'? Daniel Dillon at Arizona isn't getting enough playing time to remember what the ball feels like, and looks to be maybe the 4th or 5th guard next year. While Aron Baynes at Wazzu, surging this year but hardly elite, is getting considerably more work than Dillon, as is Iti at New Mexico State, and all the guys at the 'mid-majors'. I'm an Arizona fan, but was Arizona right for Dillon?

A: CHRIS ANSTEY

Keith,

It's hard to say. To be the best, you need to challenge yourself. If you have a chance to go to a school like Arizona, you take it, then work your butt off to get some playing time. If you do this, you are going to end up making the most of your potential at college.

For players who aren't quite up to an Arizona type school, you pick a school where you will get both playing time and an education at the end of it.

All in all, I think Arizona was the right choice for Dillon- now he needs to keep improving and earn more court time.

Thanks for writing,
Chris

A: MARK BROWN

Keith,

As I sit here at Madison Square Garden watching Roy Hibbert and Georgetown destroy Villanova in the first half of their Big East quarterfinal, it occurs to me that your question points out an interesting dilemma for all young basketball prospects. By the way, if the 7'2 Hibbert keeps playing like this, he'll go #3 in the NBA draft right behind Oden and Durant in no particular order.

I'm sure Dillon is learning quite a bit in Arizona from a Hall of Fame coach and practicing against great competition. However, if he can't get minutes in real competition, it's a big problem for his development. I think you may be right. Dillon came to Tucson with limited offensive skills and competes for time with players who can really score. Sometimes defense-oriented guys become even more specialized when they are surrounded by others who are more aggressive offensively. Dillon may have flourished more in a lesser program but he is now forced to make the best of his situation. You never know, Shakur is done this year and the Wildcats have had plenty of guys leave early and if new recruits are not quite ready, Dillon may just get more of a chance but he'll need to make himself more of a scoring threat for next year.

Q: MITCHELL SALTER

Hey,
Matthew Knight is having a great season carrying his team due to the injury of Brandon Worthy. Where do you see Matt Knight next year? Back in the NBL, EuroLeague or somewhere else??

A: MARK BROWN

Mitchell,

I've had an opportunity to watch Matty closely recently and I have a great deal of respect for what he has accomplished at the NCAA Division I level. He's had a great career at LMU and has helped them win a lot of games. That said, I don't see Matty as an NBA player. Though he is very tough and powerful, at 6'8 he's not quite athletic enough to play the power forward position at the NBA level. EuroLeague is the next best level in the world. If he stays healthy and works hard he might be able to sign with a team that qualifies for that prestigious competition. With all the domestic leagues in Europe, I am confident that he has the ability play somewhere on the continent. I had a chance to speak with him on campus last week and he is setting his sights on Europe or the NBL and of course plans to be a factor for his country in international competition.

Thanks for your question.

-Mark

A: CHRIS ANSTEY

It's hard to say without knowing him personally. NBL teams wil be salivating over him if he chooses to come back to Australia, but I would suspect he will pursue an overseas options first. Whether that be some summer leagues in the States or accepting a European offer, I don't know.

Q: HELEN

Could you tell me what you know about Andrew Boguts Aust coach? I think the name is Sisa Markovic?
Thanks Helen

Editors note: His name is Sinisa Markovic

A: CHRIS ANSTEY

Helen,

He is someone who has been a mentor for Bogut since he was a junior at Dandenong. His full attention is on Bogut, and can see areas where he may be slipping during extended periods with the Bucks. He flies over to the States a few times a year to do extra work with Andrew, almost like a service for your car. Actually, let's just call him Bogut's mechanic for now- he fixes the little things that others miss.

Q: ROSS FORAN

With so many young Aussies playing in the college system in America these days, what are the prospects for seeing another Aussie going in the first round of the NBA draft over the next few years?

A: MARK BROWN

Ross,

There are a growing number of Aussies playing significant roles in NCAA hoops over here. At this point, most would not appear to have NBA futures let alone 1st round prospects. With 2 more years left after this one, Luke Nevill has the best shot to be an NBA player and a 1st round pick. Aleks Maric (1 year eligibility remaining) is a very productive big man in a tough conference but I have my doubts about his NBA future.

One wildcard is Martin Iti. His height, length, quickness and athletic ability suggest NBA potential but he has not put it all together to be a starter on his New Mexico State team. His coach, former NBA star Reggie Theus, knows NBA talent and he thinks it's still possible for Martin but he has only one more year of eligibility after this season to prove he is worhty.

Thanks for your question.

A: CHRIS ANSTEY

Ross,

Q: DEREK

Is Luke Nevill receiving much praise in the media in the states for his consistent play at the moment? Is he one of the top 5 or so big men in college basketball at the moment?

A: MARK BROWN

Derek,

The National media is not really giving Luke much publicity and a lot of that has to do with the fact that Utah is not ranked and not winning. In Utah and within the Mountain West Conference, he is acknowledged as a top player.

I believe Luke is very good and I expect him to eventually be among the top 5 big men in the NCAA. At this moment he is not.

Big men that are ahead of him are guys like:

Greg Oden, Ohio State
Glenn "Big Baby" Davis, LSU
Joakim Noah, Florida
Nick Fazekas, Nevada
Jermareo Davidson, Alabama
Randolph Morris, Kentucky
Aaron Gray, Pittsburgh
Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina.

All of those players play for nationally ranked programs.

Q: SIMON GEE

How do you distinguish path taken into the NBA. In particular the path into the NBA either via the NCAA or the NBL.

Looking at NBL players like Brad Newley and Joe Ingles, and the NCAA players like Luke Nevill, and Matthew Knight.

How would you go about rating these players playing in completely different leagues and their potential ability to ever make the NBA.

In partcular Joe Ingles vs Matthew Knight, as they are both the same height at 6'8.

A: CHRIS ANSTEY

I think the NCAA is proving more and more to be the best route for any young player hoping to play in the NBA. Australian basketball is refereed much differently, with more soft fouls being called resulting in players being rewarded with free throws for moves that would not be rewarded overseas.

Joe Ingles definitely has a huge potential, but my hope is that he doesn't form habits of expecting to get to the line overseas like he does in Australia. Brad Newley commented after the World Championships how much more physical it was, and how much harder you had to work for a lay up. I think young players in Australia need to be better schooled in Australia for that transition.

Having said that, I think Ingles has as good a future as any Aussie at the moment, especially when he gets a bit stronger. I haven't seen enough of Knight to compare him to Ingles, but from the little I have seen, I think Ingles is a bit better at this stage. While the refereeing is different, Ingles is playing against better and more mature players every day, which has seen him improve a lot this season already.

A: MARK BROWN

Simon,

Traditionally, the path to the NBA has been through the NCAA. NBA executives have adjusted their thinking on this and increasingly are looking overseas. Obviously, Europe is where they have concentrated most. The talent level is high and the travel is easier for scouting.

That said, from what I read (I haven't been able to see Newley and Ingles play) they are stars already in the NBL. The fact that they compete among professional men every game can only help them and if they can show their skills in International competition with the Boomers that will help to elevate their stock.

NBA talent evaluators often "Go with what they know". They know how talent relates from the NCAA game to the NBA. They are not as familiar with the NBL to NBA comparison. If you are in the NCAA, scouts will see you play all year long. That is the major advantage to being in the States.

Q: DEREK

Hi guys; In both your expert opinions, who out of the extensive current crop of Aussie NCAA players will (if any) make the NBA?

thanks,
Derek

A: CHRIS ANSTEY

Derek,
None at this stage stand out, although Nevill may be the best equipped physically if he can prove himself against some of the better big men in the country.

A: MARK BROWN

Q: MITCH, of Brisbane

Mark/Chris

One of Australia's most promising talents Pat Mills has signed on to play with St Marys next year, what sort of role do you feel he will play in this team and do you feel he will make an impact straight away or be a player that they will work on slowly?

Thanks
Mitch
Brisbane

A: CHRIS ANSTEY

Pat made his first Australian camp this year and I spent 2 weeks training with him. I really like him. He is small, but incredibly quick. He is very mature for a player his age, and held his own at the camp. His full court ball pressure creates problems for anyone. I would expect him to see some minutes in his freshman year, even as a freshman in a great program, and to turn into a very good college player. I see him eventually being one of Australia's premier point guards.