POLL: SHOULD USC STOP PURSUING ONE-AND-DONE PLAYERS?

Just as ESPN.com’s Chad Ford has been predicting for weeks, USC’s DeMar DeRozan went to Toronto with the ninth pick in the 2009 NBA draft.

Here’s what ESPN analyst Jay Bilas had to say about DeRozan, including an interesting note about Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo’s history with the ninth pick in the draft (read: Amare Stoudemire):

“He’s a great finisher. He’s an outstanding athlete that can play in the open floor. He can get to the basket. He’s not a very good shooter — yet — but I think he can become a good shooter in time.

“He’s just a young kid. He has played only one year of college basketball. In the second half of the year, DeMar DeRozan got better and better. He shot just about 60 percent from the field. His feel for the game started to improve.

“He needs to improve his shooting consistency, there’s no doubt about that. He needs to learn how to get his own shot and learn the game. And he’s also got to upgrade his handle - just polish up his offensive game.

“You’re going to have to wait on him a little while. But remember: Bryan Colangelo years ago at the No. 9 spot was the guy who spotted Amare Stoudemire. No. 9 has been good to Bryan Colangelo.”

More from the USC blog:

• USC basketball recruiting: Lamont Jones to Arizona
• USC basketball: Kevin O’Neill still has fans in Tucson
• An Oregon Ducks uniform upgrade?
• Poll: Is it wrong to move the Rose Bowl?
• NBA draft: DeMar DeRozan in NYC
• USC basketball: Leonard Washington uncensored
• Garrett says NCAA investigation has USC ‘in limbo’
• USC basketball: Garrett says Floyd ‘was not forced out’
• USC basketball: O’Neill excited to bear Trojans’ burdens
• USC basketball: O’Neill and Garrett MFEO

Posted in: Hoops • NBA draft • Amare Stoudemire • Chad Ford • DeMar DeRozan • Jay Bilas |

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