Scout's TAKE

Ian Thomsen

March 19, 2001

"If Yao Ming, the 7'6" center from China, enters the draft, a lot of people believe he'll go No. 1. The others with the most talent seem to be Eddie Griffin, the 6'9" freshman from Seton Hall, and Tyson Chandler, the 7'1" kid from Dominguez High [in Compton, Calif.]. They're both Kevin Garnett types—tall and athletic, good runners, jumpers, shot blockers. I know Griffin's been criticized for not playing to his potential, but he's got the skills to be even better as a pro; he's good enough one-on-one to play in the NBA right now. Some of my colleagues think Chandler's a little soft, but in a few years he could have more going for him than Griffin. His frame can carry a lot of muscle, and he runs the floor like David Robinson. Not many 7-footers have ever done that."