D.J. Augustin SELECTED BY: Charlotte Bobcats, Round 1(9)

SI Rank 8 GRADING SYSTEM

BIOGRAPHY: Augustin considered leaving Texas last summer after his freshman year, but his decision to return to school for one more year looks like it was a good one. This season, the Longhorns shared the Big 12 regular-season title with eventual national champion Kansas, and advanced to the regional finals of the NCAA tournament with NBA rookie of the year Kevin Durant gone, Augustin was at the center of it all as a first team All-America. He averaged 19.2 points - second in the Big 12 only to possible No. 1 overall pick Michael Beasley - and 5.8 assists, which led the conference. The biggest concerns about Augustin surround his diminutive stature. Though he's listed at 6 feet, he's probably shorter, and few players of that height have gone on to starring roles in the NBA. Still, Augustin combines excellent quickness, impressive shooting range and great vision and passing ability, and while he doesn't have Chris Paul's talent, the 6-foot New Orleans Hornets point guard's impact this season may make teams more open-minded to drafting a shorter floor general. Even though the draft is loaded with blue-chip guards like Memphis' Derrick Rose, USC's O.J. Mayo, Indiana's Eric Gordon and Arizona's Jerryd Bayless, Augustin is almost sure to be a lottery pick and could sneak into the top 10.