The Prospect - Fngb3's Blog - Operation Sports

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The Prospect

Posted on February 11, 2012 at 02:23 PM.

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His name is Ion Falls.

He entered the NBA draft as an 18 year old just off his freshman year at UCLA. Dreadlocks, no tattoos, a penchant for t-shirts and worn sandals, Ion looked very much like a great many young men after their first year of college only seven feet tall. He didn't start in his year as a Bruin but showed signs of the work ethic needed to truly shine in the professional arena, and possessed the raw physical gifts that make NBA clubs swoon.

Even if he never reached starting caliber, let alone all-star level, as a right handed, all-around small forward NBA teams hoped he could provide the kind of versatility that every winning franchise needs. His nickname coming out of college was Skinny but that had much more to do with his length than lack of bulk because at 7'0" even his 248 pounds carried thin.

He impressed in the rookie showcase by showing off his length and high motor, being energetic on the offensive boards (4 Orebs) and working quick put-backs for easy buckets. His athleticism was more than enough for the NBA game but not mind blowing like most of the other rookies in the showcase. Additionally he showed a willingness to work in the post even if his game down low was far too raw to necessarily be effective.

He also displayed a workable mid range game (76 med) but a discouraging reluctance despite his height to be aggressive around the rim, never dunking the ball (35 dunk). A lack of killer instinct to physically and mentally dominate his opponents had many scouts questioning his ability to compete in the pros. However, with respectable averages in points and rebounds it was the potential and ultimately the victory in the showcase that most teams valued most about Ion.