The international prospects with first-round potential

	Seven-footer Yi Jianlian (right) has shown range out to 20 feet on his perimeter jumper. Clive Rose/Getty Images

One of the ways scouts try to evaluate young players is to compare their skills to an older player who has some similar characteristics. If the older player is an established star, and the younger player has some of the same attributes his elder did at the same age, such a comparison can help in projecting the younger player's future.

Of course, it helps if you start with an appropriate comparison. I almost fell out of my chair laughing when I read recently that some were comparing Yi Jianlian, a very promising forward prospect from China, to Kevin Garnett.

Yi is an excellent perimeter shooter who also shows the ability to drive to the basket. In time, and after a period of profound cultural and playing-style adjustment, Yi might become a fine scorer in the NBA. But Yi, 19, is also extremely thin and not nearly as aggressive a rebounder as the 30-year-old Garnett, who has already collected 10,000 rebounds in his NBA career.

Garnett, who has averaged more than 22 points and 11 rebounds in his 12-year career, is one of the unique talents to ever play in the NBA, so comparing anyone to him does both players a great disservice. Sometimes I wonder if we've learned anything from all the "next Magic Johnson" and "next Michael Jordan" predictions that have been made over the years. It is not any more likely that Yi is the next Garnett than he is the next Yao Ming, but that doesn't mean he can't become a good or even a great player in the NBA.

The 2007 NBA Draft does not boast an international player who is in the running to be the first overall pick, like eventual top selection Andrea Bargnani of Italy was last season. In terms of impact through the first round, though, this year's crop stacks up as similar to last year's. Six international players were chosen in the first round of the 2006 draft, and this year, despite the presence of what many feel is a much stronger collection of NCAA prospects, there are anywhere from four to eight international players who could be chosen in the first round on June 28.

Even with the draft less than three months away, the draft position of prospects is still quite volatile. Events like the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (beginning Wednesday), NBA Pre-Draft Camp, Nike Hoop Summit and Reebok Eurocamp, and, of course, the private workouts with NBA team personnel, will help clarify the draft picture. Before any of these events take place, predicting where players will ultimately wind up in the draft, or even who will wind up in the draft, is a fool's errand.

With that said, here is a thumbnail look at some of the top international prospects who have a chance to be selected in the first round this year.

Yi Jianlian, Guangdong Tigers (China), 7-0 forward

Watching Yi in the Chinese Basketball Association championship series, it is easy to see why NBA GMs and scouts are enthusiastic about his talent. While he is still very thin, Yi is a very good athlete who can run the court and has nice-looking form on his jump shot, with range out to 20 feet.

While Yi could not lead Guangdong to victory over the much more experienced Army team from Bayi (led by former NBA player Wang Zhi Zhi), he showed many exciting talents -- on the offensive end of the court. He is creative with the ball in his hands, able to fake, pull up off the dribble and hit shots. He likes to crash the offensive boards and had a few follow slams that showed off his vertical game.

On the defensive end, Yi showed his inexperience. Wang, who had the advantage of age, strength and years of NBA practices, was able to manipulate Yi around the basket and could get to the free throw line whenever he wanted. The silver lining is that Yi is not likely to be asked to guard the post in the NBA, at least not until he spends a couple of years on an NBA strength and conditioning program. When guarding players on the perimeter, Yi at least was able to play solid position defense and he didn't get beat off the dribble much.