CARMELO ANTHONY

Position: SF Class: Early Entry School: Syracuse High School: Oak Hill Academy (VA) Conference: Big East Ht., Wt.: 6'8, 220 Selected by Denver Nuggets Round 1, pick 3 (3 overall)

BIO: Anthony had one of the finest freshman seasons in NCAA basketball history by leading Syracuse to its first national championship. Anthony averaged 22.2 points and 10.0 rebounds and was a consensus national freshman of the year. Anthony recorded 20 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists in the national championship victory over Kansas. The Baltimore native was the freshman to earn Final Four Most Outstanding Player honors since Louisville's Pervis Ellison in 1986. The 6-8 forward had a spectacular college debut with 27 points and 11 rebounds in a loss to Memphis. Anthony shot 34 percent on 3-pointers at Syracuse. Anthony rebounded from some early free-throw problems to shoot 70 percent last season. In high school, Anthony had a memorable game against LeBron James' high school when James was a junior, outdueling him as Anthony's Oak Hill Academy team emerged victorious. Anthony led Oak Hill Academy to a 32-1 record in his final year. ANALYSIS: There are some experts who wonder if Anthony should be the No. 1 pick in the draft. If he's not, it's only because he isn't quite as athletically gifted as LeBron James, or for that matter, other superstar small forwards in the NBA such as Kobe Bryant or Vince Carter. Despite that minor quibble, Anthony has every ingredient for superstardom. He's a skilled offensive player who can score outside or inside, is a gifted passer and can rebound. Anthony is also a competitor, as he proved in leading Syracuse to the national championship in his freshman season. POSITIVES: When one watches Carmelo Anthony play, the word that most often comes to mind is "smooth." Despite his size, Anthony moves like he is on skates, and it is difficult to pinpoint the moment in which he shifts into higher gear. In terms of fundamentals, Anthony is highly polished. He is a good ballhandler at 6-8, and shoots the long ball well for his age. Anthony is not all finesse, however, as he displays a rarely seen toughness on the offensive boards. NEGATIVES: The NBA is all about matchups. With great size, you can create shots by going over the top of your opponent. With great speed, you can create shots by going around your opponent. One has to wonder whether Anthony's game will limited at the next level by neither being ultra-big or ultra-athletic. PROJECTION: Early First Round 2002 - 2003 Season Stats Photo: Craig Jones/Getty Images