I was going to add to this title and do a "/Players Most Likely To Head Overseas Next Week Following The D-League Showcase And Not Getting The Gatorade Call-Up They Hoped For/Deserved", but decided that this was already a little too long. Here is the official Ridiculous Scott's Ridiculous Upside's Ridiculous Call-Up Rankings list, by position:
Bigs
1. Courtney Sims, Iowa: He's a monster. Averaging 23.5 points, 13 boards, and 3.5 blocks per game. Why is he still in the D-League? Did his opening night triple-double, with 22 points, 17 boards, and 11 blocks not get him noticed?
2. James Mays, Colorado: Mays is a very solid player. Couple that with him being a rookie with a good pedigree, good D-League numbers, and being very close to Denver, the squad he nearly made this preseason, and I think a call-up could be in his future. Currently, Mays is averaging 20 points, 9 boards, two steals, and a block per game.
3. Richard Hendrix, Dakota: Hendrix, a 2nd round pick with Golden State this year, is a monster. In his first game as a Wizard, he scored 23 points, had 12 boards, and 3 blocked shots. Look at that NBA teams, fly him in and he'll be productive instantly!
4. Erik Daniels, Erie: Even though I've never liked his game, veteran Erik Daniels is getting it done this year. He has NBA and top level overseas experience, which will never hurt when working for the call-up. Playing out of position, as a 6-8 center, he's averaging 20 points and 9 rebounds.
5. Jermareo Davidson, Idaho: I would have Jermareo higher, but he's currently been losing minutes in Coach Gates' rotation, averaging a pedestrian 12 points and 8 boards in 27 minutes over his past 3 games. Though he's got NBA experience, if a D-League coach doesn't want to give a guy minutes, he's probably got issues that make him untouchable for an NBA team.
Honorable mention: Lance Allred, Idaho
Swing Men
1. Marcus Williams, Austin: He may be the best NBA-prospect named Marcus Williams, and certainly the best not currently in the NBA! He was called-up twice last season, and I assume it will be similar again this season. Currently, he's averaging 22 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists, showing off his well-rounded game.
2. Renaldo Major, Dakota: Major has rebounded well from open-heart surgery last season for the Wizards. He's currently averaging 17.6 points, 6 boards, and 4 assists to go along with 2.4 steals. Additionally, he's occassionally playing every position from the one to the four in Coach Ticknor's offense, showing his versatility.
3. Coby Karl, Idaho: Karl is perhaps the ugliest man in the D-League (proof.), though he is putting up numbers with a stacked Stampede team. He's averaging 16 points, 5.4 assists, and 3.6 rebounds, shooting 46% from the field.
4. Bobby Jones, Sioux Falls: Bobby's been with 1,237 NBA teams thus far, and will more than likely add at least one more to his resume this season. He's averaging 16 points, 9 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game, while guarding the best non-big on the floor.
5. Cedric Bozeman, Anaheim: Bozeman's got NBA experience, good mid-range game, and can slash to the bucket. Thus far this season, he's averaging 17 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 3 assists.
Honorable Mention: Joe Crawford, Los Angeles.
Guards
1. Blake Ahearn, Dakota: Blake's got the NBA experience, the shooting prowess, the attitude, and everything else that people should be looking for in a call-up. Since re-joining Dakota, following a stint with the Spurs/Toros, Ahearn is averaging 24.5 points and 7.5 assists, shooting 50% from 3-point territory.
2. Eddie Gill, Colorado: Gill, though he's not putting up call-up numbers, is definitely the top point guard in the D-League.
3. Will Conroy, Albuquerque: Definitely a flight risk, as he left last year to go to Italy, but he's a D-League success story, going from just 12 points and 6 assists in 2005 to the season he's having this season. Thus far this season, he's averaging 24.6 points, 7.4 assists, and nearly three steals per game.
4. Walker Russell, Fort Wayne: Walker Russell had a tryout with Phoenix last week, and if he keeps putting up numbers, another is probably on it's way. The biggest knock on him is that he's never put up numbers otherwise, so I'm worried he may be a fluke. Currently, he's averaging 16 points and 11 assists, along with 2.5 steals per game.
5. Maurice Baker, Dakota: NBA guys know what they're getting when they look at Mo. He's an NBA-ready guard, who can lead the team when he's on the floor. This year, he's once again showing an NBA-ready game, averaging 17 points, 7.5 boards, and 5.3 assists. If you're looking for an on-court leader that will do what it takes to win, call Mo.
Honorable mention: Mateen Cleaves, Bakersfield, and Curtis Stinson, Iowa: Curtis Stinson isn't a great NBA prospect, but when you're putting up numbers, you'll get looks. Stinson, a D-League vet (5 different teams), is currently putting up huge numbers on a very good Iowa team. Everyone likes winners, and if a point guard is putting up great all-around numbers on a D-League team, there will be a decent path to get into the League. Currently, Stinson is averaging 15 points, 8 boards, and 8 assists per game. Cleaves is a vet. You know what you're getting with him.
Let me know who I missed in the comments!
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