NBA Draft 2011's Best Undrafted Players Include Michael Dunigan, Malcolm Thomas And Julyan Stone

The 2011 NBA Draft has come and gone and, despite this year's draft being considered low on talent, there were a number of talented players that didn't hear their name within the 60 picks mentioned on Thursday night. Unfortunately they don't have Summer League to look forward to, leaving them in a bit of pinch heading into next season with the lockout looming.

The player I was most surprised to see go undrafted was former top-30 talent Michael Dunigan. He has good size, a solid head on his shoulders and did well this past season in Estonia. In fact, I actually thought he might be a better player than new Golden State Warriors big man Jeremy Tyler.

Kawhi Leonard's teammate at San Diego State, Malcolm Thomas, is another player I was surprised to see didn't have his name called by deputy commissioner Adam Silver. Joshua from The Mikan Drill wrote up a solid review of Thomas's game here and there's no doubt he had more talent than some of the second round selections.

Julyan Stone was supposed to be drafted, at least according to the rumors, but that didn't work out when all was said and done. He's a legit prospect, however.

Greg Smith is another player who surprisingly went undrafted after leaving Fresno State following a solid -- but not outstanding -- sophomore season in which he averaged 11.7 points and 8.1 rebounds. At 6-foot-10 with an 8-foot-11 reach, one would have to think he was probably worth a pick based on size and upside if nothing else.

Other notables that went undrafted include Rick Jackson, Matt Howard, Jamie Skeen, Scotty Hopson, Jacob Pullen, Greedy Peterson, Diante Garrett, David Lighty, Demetri McCamey and Ben Hansbrough. 

There were two other players I liked but didn't think they'd get drafted in St. Mary's point guard Mickey McConnell and Richmond's Kevin Anderson.