Jrue Holiday SELECTED BY: 76ers Round 1 (17)

SI Rank 9

BIOGRAPHY: Holiday declared for the NBA draft after a freshman season in which he averaged 8.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.6 steals while starting all 35 games for UCLA, earning Pac-10 all-freshman team honors. While those numbers hardly seem NBA caliber, Holiday is considered a top prospect due to his athleticism and scoring ability. His one-on-one skills weren't showcased in UCLA's defensive-oriented style of play, but coach Ben Howland felt Holiday was his most talented player, saying there's no question that Jrue is a first-round NBA draft pick. Although Holiday is built in the mold of a combo guard, he is considered a good enough passer to earn minutes at the point. Maybe Holiday's biggest strength is his defensive work - his 55 steals ranked second on the Bruins behind Darren Collison and his frame is strong enough that he can hold his own down low against opposing guards. Holiday compares favorably to a former UCLA player who was selected in the lottery last season in Russell Westbrook, who only averaged 12.7 points as a sophomore before going into the draft and being picked fourth overall. While Holiday is a superior talent off the dribble, he still needs to develop as a standstill shooter, connecting on just 30.7 percent of his 3-point attempts. There is a school of thought that Holiday's free-flowing style of play is better suited for the NBA than the college game, and that is a big reason why he is considered a lottery pick.