Anthony Davis is Joakim Noah?

ESPN is doing a breakdown of the top three prospects for the 2012 NBA Draft.  This week they are focusing in on Anthony Davis.  


Scouting breakdown
David Thorpe: Everyone loves players that are this long and agile. Especially when they have a great motor and attitude. A player like that can only get better. And such is the belief with Anthony Davis.

When I consider his story -- he was a guard until a late, and huge, growth spurt sent him to power forward/center -- it makes me think of the similar story of one of the best big men in the NBA today: Joakim Noah. In the span of five seasons as his team's starting center, Noah's won two national titles at Florida and now plays for the Chicago Bulls, which had the NBA's best record in 2010-11. (The Bulls are also the league's best defensive team.)

Noah, who has the hottest motor running of any 7-footer I've ever seen, can thank his feel for the game for much of his success. Most of that comes from being a guard for much of his early career. It forced him to learn the total game, while also giving him very unique advantages on each end of the floor. He can start a fast break with his speed dribble, just like Davis can. Or he can beat a slower opponent just outside the pinch post with a wicked crossover, then set up a teammate for the corner 3 or finish with a dunk himself. Like Noah, both actions are easily in Davis' wheelhouse.


Noah also trusted both of his coaches, Billy Donovan at Florida and Tom Thibodeau with the Bulls, and allowed them to make him the focal point of a pressured offensive possession in the middle of the floor. They were both confident Noah would make a smart play. Davis has that kind of upside.

Also consider Noah's ability as a dominant rebounder and defender, especially as a helper in space against smaller guys. Davis has those same kinds of tools.


Courtesy of McDonald's Game staff
A splendid blend of size and agility, Davis just needs more strength.
Davis has very few flaws in his game. His body will undoubtedly get much bigger and stronger (look at Noah these days and you'll see how Davis could conceivably fill out). He'll learn how to play both fast and deliberately under his college coach. He'll be put in scores of situations where he'll get to make plays off the dribble, only ensuring he'll improve in that area. He's already better than most bigs with the ball in his hands. Kentucky coach John Calipari is an excellent defensive coach, as well, so Davis should be well-schooled on that end.

He's a can't-miss long-term NBA starter who can be a rebounding force, a shot-blocking leader, an excellent pick-and-roll defender and quite possibly an offensive talent that must be in the game at crunch time.

Conduct the 2007 draft again and Noah would be a lock for the top 3 alongside Kevin Durant and Al Horford. And every league GM will be thinking about that when the 2012 draft rolls around.

The college game
Fran Fraschilla: Let's face it. Davis is going to a great program that is known to enhance players' value in the NBA draft. No one has been better at getting players ready to go high in the draft than Calipari. But Davis will certainly work at improving.

While we will see him play center and power forward a lot this season in order to take advantage of his tremendous length and athleticism, he is not going to overpower anyone in the NBA ... or the SEC, for that matter. Instead, Davis will be great at rim-running in transition and occasionally handling the ball in the middle of the fast break. He'll be finishing at the rim on a ton of screen-and-rolls and will clean up missed shots on the offensive boards. Even at 6-foot-10, he will be able to create off the dribble against the slower defenders he will be matched up against in college. And his size will affect the Wildcats positively on the defensive end of the court.

While Kentucky is loaded again with great young talent, Davis' abilities will shine in Calipari's system for a simple reason: Calipari's system is designed around how he can enhance his best players' skills. Instead of fitting a round peg into a square hole, he just makes the hole round. Davis is a perfect fit and it will pay dividends next June.

Entering the draft
Chad Ford: Davis really is the Holy Grail from an NBA scout's perspective -- he simply oozes potential. He's tall, has a huge wingspan, runs the floor like a guard, is a great kid and here's the kicker -- he plays hard all the time. Prospects like that just don't come along very often. Every scout I've spoken with loves the idea of Anthony Davis.

The question is whether the idea can transform into an NBA player. Davis needs to get stronger if he's going to play the 4 or 5 in the NBA. He still needs to define his game -- especially in the low post. Just as David Thorpe mentioned, a late growth spurt transformed a 6-3 guard into a 6-10 big man. Sometimes that's just too big of a leap. Davis will also be on a loaded Kentucky team, which means he might not be able to showcase his skills from Day 1.

I think Davis is the favorite for the No. 1 spot because of the plethora of physical tools and intangibles he brings to the table. He won't have to dominate as a freshman to maintain his lofty position -- he just has to keep showing improvement.