MICKAEL PIETRUS

Position: SG Country: France Pro Club: Pau Orthez Ht., Wt.: 6'6, 200 Selected by Golden St. Warriors Round 1, pick 11 (11 overall)

BIO: Pietrus is considered the best pure shooting guard prospect in the draft and is a product of the Pau Orthez junior system in France. The 21-year-old has seen his scoring average rise each of his last four years with Pau Orthez, which competes in France's top division. Pietrus averaged 12.2 points last season and also performed well in Pau Orthez's Euroleague play, scoring 16 points against German team Alba Berlin. Pietrus played in three French All-Star games and played on France's junior national team that won the gold medal in the 2000 Euroleague Junior championship. ANALYSIS: Pietrus is a great athlete who can really leap. That skill, combined with his long arms, makes him an acrobatic dunker. He's a good defender who creates problems for opponents with his quick hands. He's not a great perimeter shooter, and like a lot of rookies, will need to go to work in the weight room to add some upper-body strength. POSITIVES: Pietrus is as good an athlete as you will find in the draft. He has a body similar to Michael Jordan and can sky almost as well. On the perimeter, Pietrus can get hot for stretches. He is still only 21 years old, so his shooting and overall game only figure to improve. NEGATIVES: Say what you want about his talent, but Pietrus failed to average double figures this year in the Euroleague. A few teams love him, but you have to wonder if he is overhyped. The United States is abundant with athletic 2-guards. What make Pietrus so special? He is a streaky shooter who has not proven he can consistently produce. Whoever selects Pietrus in the draft will be banking on the theory that he can. PROJECTION: Early First Round