Eric Gordon SELECTED BY: Los Angeles Clippers, Round 1(7)

SI Rank 9 GRADING SYSTEM

BIOGRAPHY: Considering all that Gordon had to deal with in terms of Indiana's coaching controversy, the Indianapolis product enjoyed a solid freshman season from an individual standpoint, but his production tailed off as the season drew to a close. The first-team all-Big Ten selection lead the conference in scoring at 20.9 points per game, but he averaged 18.1 points and shot 32.3 percent - including 14 percent (7-for-50) from 3-point range - in his final seven games of the season. While still dealing with the effects of a wrist injury suffered in February, Gordon scored a combined 24 points on 7-for-28 shooting while going 0-for-12 from beyond the arc in the Hoosiers' Big Ten tournament loss to Minnesota and first-round NCAA tournament defeat to Arkansas. Despite his late-season struggles, Gordon certainly has the potential to be a big-time scorer on the pro level. Though a bit undersized for a true two guard in the league, Gordon has a solid, thick build and can overpower defenders while driving to rim. Though he turned the ball over 115 times in 32 games in 2007-08, he is at his best in the open court and is a strong one-on-one defender. While his shot selection is questionable at times and he must improve his 3-point production after shooting 33.7 percent from beyond the arc in college, Gordon is a certain lottery pick. He'll likely be selected in the middle of the top 10, possibly sixth or seventh by a team looking for immediate offensive production from the guard spot.