Big Blue exhibition game: Enes Kanter will get to play at Rupp after all

LEXINGTON, KY. — Most of the details of the Big Blue All-Stars vs. The Villains exhibition basketball game on Oct. 24 at Rupp Arena were already out by the time organizer Jeff Sheppard held his official press conference Thursday afternoon to announce the event. But Sheppard, a former University of Kentucky player, had one big surprise up his sleeve.

“I have a very special announcement that just developed,” Sheppard said. “We have an addition to the Big Blue All-Stars. I’m so excited to announce that he’s going to be playing for us because unfortunately this year he was not able to wear the blue and white and represent the University of Kentucky.

“And so for the first time playing on Rupp Arena’s floor, Enes Kanter will play for the Big Blue All-Stars. (That’s) as good as we could do. We’re super excited to have him on our team.”

Kanter, a 6-foot-11 Turkish player ruled permanently ineligible by the NCAA last season before he ever played for the Wildcats, was taken with the No. 3 overall pick in the NBA draft by the Utah Jazz. Because of the ongoing NBA lockout he, along with the long list of other professional stars expected to participate in this game, was available.

Sheppard, who stressed that none of the rosters are set in stone, also expects the Big Blue All-Stars — coached by former Wildcat Rex Chapman — to include John Wall, Rajon Rondo, Nazr Mohammed and DeMarcus Cousins, among many others.

Sheppard said he’s “working really hard” to get former Florida player Joakim Noah on The Villains roster, which is being coached by Christian Laettner and is expected to include former North Carolina star Tyler Hansbrough and Duke’s Nolan Smith. Sheppard said he’d also consider asking Bruce Pearl to be an assistant coach to get a “Tennessee flavor.”

There’s one major caveat to this game, for which tickets go on presale today and full sale Monday.

“If the (NBA) lockout ends, this whole tour ends,” said Sheppard, whose Big Blue All-Star team begins a five-game tour against small state colleges on Saturday and concludes with the big event in Rupp. “That’s beyond our control, but if the lockout ends, the tour ends — immediately. That would just be a tough break.”

Organizers are optimistic, though. During the press conference, Sheppard showed a pro wrestling-style promotional video in which Laettner taunts UK fans. He, of course, hit the last-second shot to beat the Wildcats in the 1992 East Regional final of the NCAA tournament.

“Hey Kentucky fans, remember me?” Laettner says in the video. “Yeah, you remember. How could you forget? … The Villains are going to stomp the Big Blue All-Stars again, just like in 1992.”

Laettner spoke to reporters on a conference call Thursday and said he’s excited to be part of the event in part because proceeds benefit The V Foundation, of which he’s been a longtime supporter. He said it’s also because he misses the roar of the crowd — even if it’s against him.

“I want to be part of that. I miss that,” he said. “I’m 42 now and I’m getting it less and less. When you retire from the NBA, you don’t get much cheering and booing.”

Laettner figures to get plenty of the latter when he comes to Rupp. Sheppard said T-shirts that say “I Still Hate Laettner” and “Laettner Sucks” are available at bigblueallstars.com. Laettner approved of both shirts.

“He’s been a good sport,” Sheppard said. “I still don’t like him.”

Laettner said he understands the “utter resentment and disdain” UK fans have for him, and he doesn’t hold it against Big Blue Nation.

“I never have and I never will. I think I realize where it comes from,” he said. “It’s kind of a compliment when you get booed so heartily, I think. There’s a thin line between love and hate.”

Big Blue exhibition game: Enes Kanter will get to play at Rupp after all
Ineligible Wildcat will be with All-Stars against Villains Oct. 24
12:28 AM, Oct. 7, 2011
courier-journal.com

Kanter to play in charity game

Would-be Kentucky player Enes Kanter will play for the Big Blue All-Stars in a charity game against “villains” of the program, organizer Jeff Sheppard said.

Of course, Kanter did not get to play for UK because he was ruled permanently ineligible by the NCAA.

Sheppard said he originally hoped Kanter would play for a team that will tour Kentucky in the next few days.

That was a no-go.

But Sheppard seemed happy to announce that Kanter had committed to play in the Oct. 24 charity game in Rupp Arena.

Kanter to play in charity game

Jerry Tripton, October 6th, 2011

ukbasketball.bloginky.com

Enes Kanter(Turkey) vs Montenegro - Adidas Istanbul Cup 2011

Enes Kanter #14 - 8pts/10rbs

Enes Kanter wants to play basketball, considers China

All draft picks need to prove themselves in the NBA, but most enter the league having proven something to the general public. College stars have spent a great deal of time on our TV screens, other college players have at least spent some time as prospects, and most of the best foreign players face good competition at the club and international levels.

New Utah Jazz big man Enes Kanter(notes) is an outlier. A 19-year-old from Turkey, Kanter was set to play for John Calipari at Kentucky, only to be declared ineligible by the NCAA. So he hasn't played organized basketball for an entire year, and before that he was facing subpar competition for a prep school in Southern California. Kanter has lots of talent, but most scouts and GMs had barely seen him play in a competitive environment before he vaulted to the top of their draft boards.
As such, Kanter needs to play basketball somewhere next season, lockout or no lockout. According to his agent, he's considering China. From Brian T. Smith for the Salt Lake Tribune (via PBT):

Kanter's agent, Max Ergul, told The Salt Lake Tribune on Friday that his client has official offers from two Chinese teams. Ergul does not want Kanter to miss another year of basketball, and he will seriously weigh the offers if the lockout stretches into late September.
"It's very interesting stuff," said Ergul, who said he could not reveal the names of the clubs because details of the negotiations are still confidential. "We'll be entertaining those ideas as well as the lockout progresses. He's a ballplayer — he has to play." [...]
If the lockout does not end by late September and Kanter decides not to play pro ball overseas, he plans to work out with trainer Tim Grover, who also has ties with Chinese teams.

Kanter's interest in playing overseas isn't notable in itself -- virtually every NBA player of any substance has entertained offers at this point in the summer. Still, his situation is quite different from that of someone like Kobe Bryant(notes). Whereas established players are going overseas to earn some extra money and engage in a diversion during a lockout, Kanter would head to China to prove something and improve his game. He has a legitimate professional interest in the CBA beyond increasing his marketing profile or keeping his bank account afloat.
The CBA isn't the best league around, but it seems amenable to getting NBA imports for a year if it boosts its bottom line. Plus, even at 19, Kanter has experienced enough change that he could move to a new country and probably acquit himself fairly well. He could in fact learn something from a trip to China. If it happens, he may gain more from the lockout than players looking at a club team as a cool way to spend a few months.

Enes Kanter wants to play basketball, considers China
By Eric Freeman
sports.yahoo.com

Kanter doesn’t want to sit another season, considers China

Last season the NCAA relegated Enes Kanter to wearing a suit when Kentucky played, saying he had played for a professional team in his native Turkey and was ineligible to play college ball (he did practice with the team).

Still, there was enough promise there — big men with soft hands are a rarity — that the Utah Jazz drafted Kanter No. 3 overall.

And now the lockout could force him to sit another season. He, understandably, does not want to do that.

So while he is hesitant, Kanter is considering playing in China, his agnet told the Salt Lake Tribune.


"Kanter’s agent, Max Ergul, told The Salt Lake Tribune on Friday that his client has official offers from two teams. Ergul does not want Kanter to miss another year of basketball, and he will seriously weigh the offers if the lockout stretches into late September.

“It’s very interesting stuff,” said Ergul, who said he could not reveal the names of the Chinese teams because details of the negotiations are still confidential. “We’ll be entertaining those ideas as well as the lockout progresses. He’s a ballplayer — he has to play.”


Kanter will play for Turkey in Euro Basket starting at the end of August. That tournament will deterimine European Olympic bids for the 2012 London Olympics.

Kanter doesn’t want to sit another season, considers China

Kurt Helin

Jul 29, 2011, 2:43 PM EDT

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com

Utah Jazz draft pick Enes Kanter will play for Turkey in EuroBasket tournament

SALT LAKE CITY — It appears the Turkish national basketball team will benefit from the ongoing NBA lockout.

New Utah Jazz center Enes Kanter has agreed to play for his national team this summer and will represent Turkey at the upcoming EuroBasket tournament in Lithuania, according to eurobasket2011.org.

However, Kanter's teammate and fellow compatriot, Jazz center Mehmet Okur, will not play for Turkey this summer while he continues to rehab the back and Achilles issues that plagued him last season.

Turkish basketball federation president Turgay Demirel confirmed that his country's rising star and third overall pick of the 2011 NBA Draft will join that nation's top squad.

"He has been a good player for our junior program — for our junior national team he played very well," Demirel told the website of the 19-year-old big man. "I think in the EuroBasket he will help the team."

Demirel also pointed out that Okur was not participating because of his injuries, not because of the NBA lockout.

Kanter's father, Dr. Mehmet Kanter, told the Sporting News earlier this year that the basketball player turned down an invitation to play for Turkey in last summer's world championship so he wouldn't miss the first month of classes at the University of Kentucky.

Kanter was later ruled ineligible by the NCAA for allegedly receiving extra benefits from a Turkish team he'd previously played for before moving to the U.S. in 2009.

In 2009, Kanter earned MVP honors (186 ppg, 16.4 rpg) while leading Turkey to a third-place finish at the FIBA Europe Under-19 Championship.

Turkey won a silver medal while hosting the 2010 FIBA World Championship. The Turks will face Spain, Lithuania and Great Britain, amo, ng others, in Group A of the 24-team tournament.

Utah Jazz draft pick Enes Kanter will play for Turkey in EuroBasket tournament

deseretnews.com

By Jody Genessy, Deseret News

Published: Thursday, July 7, 2011 12:35 a.m. MDT

email: jody@desnews.com

Twitter: DJJazzyJody

Utah Jazz: Enes Kanter will play for Turkey in EuroBasket tournament

SALT LAKE CITY — It appears the Turkish national basketball team will benefit from the ongoing NBA lockout.

New Utah Jazz center Enes Kanter has agreed to play for his national team this summer and will represent Turkey at the upcoming EuroBasket tournament in Lithuania, according to eurobasket2011.org.

However, Kanter's teammate and fellow compatriot, Jazz center Mehmet Okur, will not play for Turkey this summer while he continues to rehab the back and Achilles issues that plagued him last season.

Turkish basketball federation president Turgay Demirel confirmed that his country's rising star and third overall pick of the 2011 NBA Draft will join that nation's top squad.

"He has been a good player for our junior program — for our junior national team he played very well," Demirel told the website of the 19-year-old big man. "I think in the EuroBasket he will help the team."

Demirel also pointed out that Okur was not participating because of his injuries, not because of the NBA lockout.

Kanter's father, Dr. Mehmet Kanter, told the Sporting News earlier this year that the basketball player turned down an invitation to play for Turkey in last summer's world championship so he wouldn't miss the first month of classes at the University of Kentucky.

Kanter was later ruled ineligible by the NCAA for allegedly receiving extra benefits from a Turkish team he'd previously played for before moving to the U.S. in 2009.

In 2009, Kanter earned MVP honors (186 ppg, 16.4 rpg) while leading Turkey to a third-place finish at the FIBA Europe Under-19 Championship.

Turkey won a silver medal while hosting the 2010 FIBA World Championship. The Turks will face Spain, Lithuania and Great Britain, among others, in Group A of the 24-team tournament.

Utah Jazz: Enes Kanter will play for Turkey in EuroBasket tournament

By Jody Genessy, Deseret News

Published: Thursday, July 7, 2011 12:35 a.m. MDT

deseretnews.com

Enes Kanter to work out for Wizards

The Wizards have a workout scheduled with Turkish big man Enes Kanter on Friday in Chicago, which is significant because Kanter’s agent, Max Ergul, has already stated that he doesn’t expect his client to be around for the sixth pick that Washington currently holds.

During the NBA combine in Chicago last month, Kanter expressed his desire to play for the Wizards and possibly team with his “good friend” John Wall. The Wizards interviewed the 6-foot-11 Kanter in Chicago but had been hoping to arrange another meeting with him before the June 23 draft in Newark.

The 19-year-old Kanter missed all of last season at Kentucky because of violating NCAA eligibility rules and is projected to go anywhere from second to sixth. He has already worked out for Cleveland, Minnesota, Utah and Toronto. Ergul said the two sides agreed to meet before a Wizards contingent went to Treviso, Italy, over the weekend to scout international players at the Adidas Eurocamp.

“I think they know he’s not going to be there. They need to move up,” Ergul said of the Wizards. “It’s my job to make my kid available and accessible to very good franchises with new ownership and a good front office trying to do a job for the fans. It’s my job to help their cause. They want to get to know the kid a little bit more, so they can go back and make some major decisions if they need to.”

The Wizards will host another workout at Verizon Center on Tuesday, when they welcome Florida State forward Chris Singleton, Kansas forward Marcus Morris, Tennessee forward Tobias Harris, UCLA forward Tyler Honeycutt, Purdue guard E’Twaun Moore and UTEP guard Julyan Stone.

Enes Kanter to work out for Wizards

06:33 PM ET, 06/13/2011
By Michael Lee
washingtonpost.com

NBA draft position preview: big men

The list of the top big men in the 2011 NBA Draft is littered with names that even die-hard hoops fans may not be familiar with. Four of our Top 5 are international players, and the only American born player -- Tristan Thompson -- played just one collegiate season at Texas. Teams that go big at the top of the draft will be taking a big gamble. Because of the uncertainty at the top, teams looking for a post player in middle of the first round (like the Sixers picking at No. 16) could come away with a steal. Some more established and recognizable names will fall, while lottery teams bank on the potential of the players listed below.

1. Enes Kanter (6-11, 260, Kentucky)

Kanter sums up this year's crop of post players perfectly. The 19-year-old has all the tools, but good luck getting a handle on how he'll perform against NBA competition.

Unless you've followed Turkish basketball closely, chances are you haven't seen Kanter play. He spent last season sitting on the Kentucky bench after being ruled ineligible by the NCAA. He practiced everyday with the Wildcats, but practicing and game action are far different animals. Kanter is an extremely polished and athletic post player, that rare combination of size and skill.

He's a legitimate center at 6-11, and is able to step out and knock down the mid-range jump shot. Kanter also has the intangibles in his favor -- from all accounts he's very coachable and handled his frustrating season at Kentucky with maturity beyond his years. Look for Kanter to go in the Top 5, maybe as high as No. 3 to the Jazz.



2. Jan Vesely (6-11, 240, Czech Republic)

Like Kanter, Vesely isn't your typical big man. The 21-year-old is an extremely gifted athlete who can excel on the offensive end right away. Vesely is a high-energy guy who would be a great fit for a team that likes to push the tempo. Consistency is the question mark with Vesely, who some feel is a tweener at the small and power forward positions.

Vesely will rely on his athleticism and explosiveness from the jump in the NBA. He's billed as having a quick first step and being a great finisher around the rim. Vesely will need to improve his strength and play on the defensive end to fulfill his potential as a Top 10 pick. The Raptors could take a chance on him with the fifth selection.



3. Jonas Valanciunas (6-11, 240, Lithuania)

In the mold of his foreign counterparts, Valanciunas is able to run the floor and is very skilled with the ball in his hands. Valanciunas is considered by some to have the most talent and potential of any of the international players in this year's draft. At 21-years- old, he has significant European experience under his belt.

The knocks on Valanciunas are familiar: needs to add strength, improve his defense and consistency to be a factor over the course of an 82-game season. But his upside will be too much for a team picking in the Top 10 to turn down.



4. Bismack Biyombo (6-9, 240, Spain)

Biyombo was born in the Congo, but last played professionally in Spain. Where as other international players are known for their offense, the 20-year-old Biyombo is a defense-first big man. He's one of the top rebounders and interior defenders in the draft -- an elite level shot blocker with a NBA-ready body. His offensive game needs serious work, but whichever team drafts him will take the immediate dividends of his defense and wait for his offense to evolve.

Biyombo should go anywhere in the 8-13 range with the Pistons, Bobcats and Bucks being the frontrunners for his services.



5. Tristan Thompson (6-9, 225, Texas)

Thompson has a ton of potential. He averaged 13 points and eight rebounds as a freshman at Texas. Thompson's frame has all the makings of a terrific rebounder and shot blocker. He made great strides offensively during his time in Austin, a lefty who is a handful to defend on the low block.

Thompson, 20, attacks the offensive glass, taking advantage of his terrific leaping ability and nose for the ball. He'll get the bulk of his points early in his career in transition and on the offensive glass. Look for Thompson to go anywhere in the 10-15 range.

5 others to keep an eye on: Markieff Morris (Kansas); Kenneth Faried (Morehead St.); Donatas Motiejunas (Lithuania); Tobias Harris (Tennessee); Justin Harper (Richmond).

NBA draft position preview: big men
Thursday, June 9, 2011

Posted: 11 a.m.
By Sean Kane
E-mail Sean Kane at skane@comcastsportsnet.com
CSNPhilly.com Contributor

ESPNU Enes Kanter

Enes Kanter – Draft Profile

This week will be the final profiles of lottery picks. Starting next week, Mo and I will profile potential second round picks. I will also list the top 20 players that I think will be most successful. My top six are:

#1 Kyrie Irving – I see no reason to disagree with the majority. Point guard is an important offensive position and Irving is the best in this or next year’s draft.

#2 Derrick Williams – I think he can be an NBA SF.

#3 Enes Kanter – See below.

#4 Jonas Valanciunas – I would consider picking Valanciunas over Kanter, drafting him on the condition that he works with a Cavs provided strength coach and shooting coach. In a year, he can come from Europe with 15 lbs of added muscle and a reliable 18 footer.

#5 Brandon Knight –He’ll eventually be a quality PG in the NBA.

#6 Alec Burks – He’s a great scorer and rebounder with good size and athleticism for a shooting guard. PER, offensive rating, on-court / off-court numbers are all impressive and he doesn’t turn 20 until July. I like that he was the #33 ranked SG in the class of 2009, now he’s a lottery pick. I give extra credit for players with late growth spurts who are rapidly improving. With improved shooting, he should be excellent.

Now, for my #3. Kanter is meeting with the Cavs this week and is a likely pick at #4.



Enes Kanter


Height: 6’ 11.25”

Weight: 259 lbs

Position: PF / C

Age: Turned 19 in May

Summary: Enes Kanter is the mystery of the high lottery. He was a basketball prodigy, dominating Europe’s youth tournaments and playing in the Euroleague as a 16 year old. Due to NCAA eligibility problems, he has not played competitively in over a year. He is projected as a top 4 pick.

Basketball Bio: Kanter first made his name in European youth tourneys. At age 16, his 15 rebounds per game earned him first team all tournament at the 2008 European U18 championship. The next year he dominated; averaging 18.6 points and 16.4 rebounds while winning MVP and leading Turkey to 3rd place. At 16, he was signed by Turkish basketball power, Fenerbache Ulker, and played in 11 professional games, including 4 in the Euroleague. This brief professional stint proved more critical to Kanter’s future than the 2 ppg and 1.5 rpg would indicate. Kanter turned down large European contracts and decided to move to the United States to play college basketball. He enrolled at Stoneridge Prep in California, playing one year of high school. He committed to play at Kentucky, but was ruled ineligible by the NCAA due to his brief professional play. He has spent the last year practicing and training with the Kentucky basketball team.

Skill Overview: Kanter has the size to play power forward and center in the NBA. He measured as the second tallest player at the combine and was in great shape, weighing 259 lbs with only 5.9% body fat. Possessing the size & strength to match up with most NBA centers, he plays physically in the low post and is not afraid of contact. He is a strong competitor, staying active on the boards and defensively. His activity level, positioning, and great hands make him a dominant rebounder. Kanter has exhibited a range of offensive talents; displaying solid footwork and finishing moves in the post, while also demonstrating shooting range out to the college three. Kanter has a good attitude and works hard at improving his game.

Kanter is an average athlete. Of the seven players over 6’10” at the NBA combine, Kanter had the second lowest vertical jumping and wingspan. Of the “tall” players, he was 2nd in the speed drill and 3rd and 4th in agility drills. Kanter has been described as “non-explosive”, and the combine athletic tests support that. Kanter’s biggest negative may be his limited history of competitive basketball, with almost no experience against players older than 18. The game is about to get a lot faster; will Kanter’s rebounding and offensive games thrive against players as big and athletic as him? Will his defensive rotations look as impressive when the guards and ball are moving at blazing speed? No one can definitively answer these questions.

Additional Info: The other forum where Kanter impressed was the Nike Hoop Summit in April 2010. At this annual high school all-star game, Kanter nearly lead the internationals to victory over a United States team featuring Kyrie Irving, Brandon Knight, Jared Sullinger, and Harrison Barnes. Kanter scored 34points, a new event record, and grabbed 13 rebounds in 24 minutes. He was great on the offensive glass and scored with post moves, jump shots, fast breaks finishes, and even on drives. Very impressive, but it was a high school all-star game, so it’s hard to tell how impressive. The US front line was not outstanding; consisting of Sullinger, Patric Young (3.4 ppg & 3.8 rpg at Florida State this year), Leonard Myers (2.1 ppg and 1.3 rpg at Illinois), and Terrence Jones (more SF than PF). Defensive rebounding wasn’t a priority in the game, as each team collected 17 offensive boards. Almost half the missed shots were rebounded by the offense.

Kanter is considered a good shooter, however again there isn’t a lot of actual data supporting this. High school highlights show him hitting high school three’s, but how many were missed? That info isn’t readily available. He shoots well during a workout, but what about with an NBA defender rapidly closing on him? Combine shooting tests were a mixed bag. Of the 16 players that performed the big men drills, he was in the top third in two drills and the bottom third in two. He was 5 of 12 for the timed shooting drill of 35 seconds shooting 15 – 18’ jumpers.

As an offensively skilled big man; comparisons include Al Horford, Kevin Love, or Carlos Boozer, and I won’t debate this. I have him rated #3 primarily because people who are a lot smarter than me have him rated highly. When he has played, he has been dominant against his age group. Hopefully the potential shown in the opportunities available to him will transfer to the NBA, both offensively and defensively.

Enes Kanter – Draft Profile
June 6th, 2011 by Kevin Hetrick
cavstheblog.com

Wednesday Schadenfreude: Brandon Bender Says He'll Spill His Guts About Rick Pitino

You can find the story over at AllKyHoops.com. You can also check out this post at Card Chronicle (be sure to read and enjoy all the comments).

For my part, I can't imagine anything that could be revealed about Rick Pitino that would surprise me in the least after his 15 seconds of infamy at Porcini's a few years back, but who knows? Perhaps Bender will provide allegations of all sorts of NCAA lawlessness as he seems to suggest to Anthony Wireman in the article above.

Anyway, Brandon Bender seems to be on some kind of revenge tour against Pitino and Forde, but I think this is aimed more at Forde than anyone else, since Forde and Pete Thamel of the New York Times released a series of articles tying Bender to Kenneth Caldwell, a so-called "runner" who was said to have been inserting himself into the recruitment of Kevin Ware at the University of Central Florida in violation of NCAA rules.

In fact, Forde tried to tie Bender to Enes Kanter's recruitment (you know Forde -- he's gotta cast some suspicion on UK at any cost, truth be damned), an allegation which Bender flatly denies:

Obviously, there were some pretty strong allegations and references made in those articles. How do you respond to what was written?

I think was it damn foolish because they went with assumptions and no proof. Then, they said I was shopping Enes Kanter to SEC schools. I don't even know Enes Kanter. I saw him one time in my life.

I also think it was lame to bring up Ken Caldwell's past...things that happened 20 years ago.[emphasis mine]

After reading Bender's comments, it's impossible to imagine we won't see some articles, possibly even from the Thamel/Forde stable, connecting Bender to John Calipari with the implication that Bender is "coming clean" at the behest of Don Cal and the UK La Cosa Nostra. That ought to be lots of fun to comment on, and I can hardly wait. In fact, I'll be disappointed if they don't materialize.

Truthfully, though, I doubt anything of great value will come from Bender, and his credibility will understandably be questioned because he clearly seems to have an axe to grind with Louisville and Rick Pitino, as well as Forde. That's a first-blush perception, though, and not a fact -- I really don't know what he will say, or if anyone will even attempt to prove the veracity of the comments. After all, Pitino is not Calipari, and FForde has a vested, financial stake in ensuring that Pitino stays as clean as possible.

This affair should be nothing if not entertaining, and since there is no college basketball or football right now, I am all about being entertained.

Wednesday Schadenfreude: Brandon Bender Says He'll Spill His Guts About Rick Pitino
by Glenn Logan on May 25, 2011 9:12 AM EDT in Kentucky Wildcats Basketball
aseaofblue.com

Kanter’s draft plight could parallel that of 2010’s Cousins Landing Spot

Editor’s note: Pistons.com continues a 15-part series leading to the June 23 draft with a look at one of the possibilities for their pick at No. 8, Turkish big man Enes Kanter. Next: Kemba Walker.

More and more, it looks like Enes Kanter is this year’s version of DeMarcus Cousins – the player generally considered the best big man in the draft, and one that probably will be out of reach for the Pistons, yet given a slight chance to drop to their range because of some nagging questions.

The questions are different with Kanter than they were for Cousins, but the level of uncertainty they create could have a similar effect.

On pure talent, Cousins should have been in the discussion alongside ex-Kentucky teammate John Wall to be the No. 1 pick in 2010. Concerns over Cousins’ temperament and maturity, though, sent up significant red flags in some NBA front offices. Cousins ultimately went fifth overall to Sacramento, which suspended Cousins midway through last season for an altercation with a teammate.

Kanter, likewise, would be worthy competition for presumptive 2011 No. 1 pick Kyrie Irving, Duke’s freshman point guard, had he played last season as a Kentucky freshman groomed to take over in the middle for Cousins.

And there’s the rub. Kanter has precious little game tape for NBA scouts to digest and get comfortable with the fact that what they see while watching the 6-foot-11¼ Turk in individual workouts will translate to five-on-five basketball.

The one game everybody has seen – over and over, most likely – was the 2010 Nike Hoop Summit, an annual international competition between a team of graduating American high school seniors and another featuring the rest of the world’s best at that age.

Irving was the point guard for Team USA and helped it pull out a late win with 15 points, five assists and no turnovers in 25 tidy minutes. But Kanter was the unquestioned star that day, scoring 34 points and grabbing 13 rebounds – going head to head with Ohio State’s then-incoming freshman Jared Sullinger, for the most part – in just 24 minutes on a day he didn’t know if he would play at all with a balky back.

“I didn’t show myself,” said Kanter last week at the Chicago draft combine. “I took like four painkillers for my back. Some player pushed me; my back was hurting. I talked to my coach and he said, ‘Tell me how you feel.’ I said, ‘I feel good – I took like four painkillers’ I didn’t play 100 percent. Even in practice, I couldn’t play 100 percent because of my back.”

Kanter says he came to the United States two years ago after playing professionally in Turkey at age 16 – the root of his eligibility issues with the NCAA – for the educational opportunities, learning English on his own in that time.
 
He showed enough in that Hoop Summit outing that Kanter made the pulses of NBA scouts race. Kanter was also why Kentucky’s practices last winter under John Calipari were likely the most heavily scouted college practices ever. The NCAA ruled Kanter ineligible, but he was able to practice with the team while Kentucky appealed the ruling, which wasn’t finally denied until well into the SEC season.

“When the NCAA made me ineligible, I was so sad because I came to the United States for education,” Kanter said. “When they told me no, I cannot play because I am a professional, it just made me so sad, because I didn’t want to be a professional. That’s why I came here. But after that, I talked to my teammates, I talked to coach Cal, and I said, ‘I cannot give up right now.’ They said, ‘You have to be ready for the next level.’ ”

There isn’t much about Kanter’s game not to like. He has a fine shooting touch beyond mid-range. He’s strong, likes to play inside and has the frame to accommodate NBA pounding. While not a freakish athlete, he’s got more than enough athleticism to flourish. Scouts who saw him frequently at Kentucky practices – where two freshman teammates, Brandon Knight and Terrence Jones, were both considered lottery worthy – say Kanter was clearly the standout prospect. Kanter’s soft hands draw consistent raves.

In today’s NBA, where power forward and center are virtually interchangeable, Kanter has the size and skill set to play either position, which means teams with a proven center can take Kanter without worry and put him at power forward, and vice versa.

It’s considered a near certainty that Cleveland will select Irving with the No. 1 pick. Kanter could go as high as No. 2, though, a pick held by Minnesota. The Timberwolves might spend it themselves on Kanter or they could be talked into trading the pick – it is widely believed Minnesota is interested in veteran help for a young team that needs a rallying force.

If Kanter doesn’t go No. 2, Utah would consider him at No. 3 and Cleveland might well wind up grabbing him at No. 4 – most believe the pick there will be Kanter or Jonas Valanciunas, another 19-year-old. Or Kanter could get snapped up by either Toronto or Washington, picking fifth and sixth. That’s considered Kanter’s likely floor in this draft – unless something is discovered over the course of the evaluation process that will play out over the next four weeks to scare teams away.

Kanter is spending that time, as he has much of the past two months, in Chicago working under renowned trainer Tim Grover. His body fat was an impressive 5.9 percent at the Chicago combine and Kanter said he’s working to expand his offensive repertoire.

“I think my game is a lot to play toughness,” he said. “I would say rebound and post moves, but right now I’m working on my face-up, my shooting, with Tim Grover. … In Europe, they put me in low post, but coach Cal told me, ‘You are not just a center; you can play power forward.’ Me and coach Cal just worked on my shot and worked on my quickness and worked on my face-up game, dribbling and everything.”

More on Enes Kanter

College: Kentucky (ineligible)

Size: 6-foot-11¼, 259 pounds

Age: 19 on draft night

The good: Kanter has the size to play center and the skill to play either center or power forward. His shooting range should eventually extend to the NBA 3-point arc, yet he is comfortable with his back to the basket, as well. Soft hands are an outstanding trait.

The bad: The only rap on Kanter right now is lack of experience and exposure. He hasn’t played organized basketball in two years since leaving Turkey, where he played professionally at age 16.

The skinny: There is only a sliver of a chance that Kanter gets past Cleveland, Toronto and Washington – picking 4-5-6 – to get to the Pistons at No. 8. You can safely assume that if he were to fall that far, he would draw very strong consideration.

 
Kanter’s draft plight could parallel that of 2010’s Cousins Landing Spot
by Keith Langlois, Pistons.com @Keith_Langlois
nba.com

Irving, Kanter both untested, both full of potential

It was a throwaway quote tossed off by Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski in the middle of making a more expansive point after the Blue Devils' NCAA Tournament game against Michigan last March, but it spoke volumes.

"If he plays the whole year," Krzyzewski said, referring to freshman point guard Kyrie Irving, who was limited to 11 games after suffering a freak toe injury, "he might be the best player in college basketball. The kid is that good. He's that good."

Of course, anyone who follows Duke basketball already knew how good Krzyzewski and his assistant coaches thought Irving could become. They changed their entire offense -- remember that Duke was coming off the national championship in 2010 -- to take advantage of his skills. And in eight games at the beginning of the season, during which Irving averaged 17.3 points and 5.1 assists and shot .532 from the field, .483 from three-point range and .895 from the free-throw line, he more than justified his coaches' faith in him.

Then came the toe injury, suffered against Butler, 28 games on the sidelines, and a return for the NCAA Tournament, where Irving again provided tantalizing glimpses of what could have been.

We'll never know if Irving would have become the college player of the year. But the future No. 1 pick of the Cleveland Cavaliers is going to have plenty of time to prove his worth in the NBA. And how good can he become?

How about Chris Paul good?

Irving caused a brief stir earlier this week when he chose not to participate in the on-court drills at the NBA combine in Chicago. But Irving doesn't need to flex his measurables. No, he's not freaky athletic/explosive in the mold of Derrick Rose or John Wall. But he's more than athletic enough to excel in the NBA.

Consider Michigan Staten coach Tom Izzo's first reaction after Irving torched the Spartans for 31 points in an early December game: "His speed most impressed me," Izzo said. "I mean he can shoot it, but the way he can handle the ball and get inside out, you've got to corral him."

That speed is why the Duke coaches changed their offense.

"Everything was tailored toward giving him the spacing and the ability to do what he does," Duke associate head coach Chris Collins said this week. "Make plays or let other players play off him. That's why for us it was such a tough adjustment [after Irving was injured]. Our whole season was predicated around having him be the guy. That's how we trained. When he went down, we had to reinvent our whole system."

Some pundits think the Cavs shouldn't take Irving No. 1, that because Baron Davis is already on the roster, Arizona forward Derrick Williams would be a more prudent choice. But this is one of those deals where drafting for need would be a mistake. Taking the best player available is the ticket. Irving is the best player available, and his particular skills have become increasingly valuable in a league where point guards control so much with penetration and decision-making.

"You look at the NBA right now," Collins said. "It's a point guard driven league. The teams that are still alive have dynamic point guards."

"In today's NBA, Kyrie Irving is a coveted commodity," said ESPN analyst Jay Bilas. "You just can't find point guards at that level in free agency. You get them in the draft."

Collins has no doubt Irving will take his place among the NBA's elite point guards.

"He's really good at the pick and roll," Collins said. "That's something we do a lot of. If he plays off the ball, he can make shots. And he can play off others as well. It makes him very dangerous, not only when he has the ball, but when he's off the ball. You have to be accountable for where he's at all the time."

Also armed with the No. 4 pick in the draft, the Cavs have a chance to pair Irving with a young, talented inside player. The consensus choice of all the mock NBA drafts compiled by NBA.com says that would be 6-11 Enes Kanter. Like Irving, he's 19 years old. Unlike Irving, Kanter had no chance to showcase his skills at the collegiate level. The NCAA ruled him permanently ineligible after determining he had taken excessive benefits from a pro team in his native Turkey, so Kanter was reduced to a practice player at Kentucky this season.

Kanter did take part in on-court work at the Chicago combine, and he impressed with his combination of size and mobility. That didn't surprise me after some conversations I had with the Kentucky staff and other college coaches who recruited Kanter.

Washington assistant coach Raphael Chillious remembers his first impressions of the big man while conducting a clinic for Nike in Greece. Kanter was 16 years old.

"Two things stood out right away," Chillious said. "He's got unbelievably soft hands; he caught everything. And he reminded me of a Moses Malone-type rebounder. I saw him go out of bounds on one side of the basket [to claim a rebound] and come back inbounds on the other. Moses was like that. This kid is just a high, high, high level, instinctive rebounder."

Can two 19-year-olds put Cleveland back on the playoff track? Irving and Kanter won't make anyone forget about King James, but add them to a nucleus that includes J.J. Hickson, maybe nab Cleveland native and former Ohio State star David Lighty -- who by some accounts is another Bruce Bowen -- in the second round of the draft, and Cav fans can start to get excited again.

Irving, Kanter both untested, both full of potential

Chris Dortch

nba.com

2011 NBA Draft: Enes Kanter Might Slide to No. 5

There is a chance, Raptors fans, that the same player we would have selected at No. 3 overall may still be there at No. 5 overall.

Enes Kanter appears to be Bryan Colangelo’s primary target in this draft, and with Minnesota expected to trade their pick rather than spend it on Kanter, it is very likely that he makes it past the Jazz and Cavs and falls to the Raptors.

Kanter is a much safer pick at No. 5 than at No. 3, where I would suggest they had to draft a point guard.

However Enes Kanter at No. 5 overall is too good of a potential value to pass up regardless of who is left on the draft board (of course, Kyrie Irving and Derrick Williams will be gone).

At No. 3 overall, Colangelo had a chance to blow the pick on Kanter if he failed to realize his immense potential—now, at No. 5, we will be picking the best of who’s left and there is less opportunity for Colangelo to blow the pick.

In all fairness, Colangelo has been a pretty good talent evaluator of prospects, except for 2006, when he went with his heart instead of his brain—and his franchise player—and opted against All-Star-caliber big man LaMarcus Aldridge and instead selected fellow countryman Andrea Bargnani.

It may be puzzling to some that they would openly advocate drafting more sure things like Brandon Knight and Kemba Walker at No. 3, but would opt for Kanter over both of them at No. 5, but it is all about value.

Kanter at No. 5 represents a terrific value for someone who has the skill to be in the mix at No. 1 overall, especially if he played the 2010 NCAA season for Kentucky with Brandon Knight and Terrence Jones.

How could he slip?
With the Pacers and Timberwolves already discussing a blockbuster deal for the second overall pick, it has become evident that the Timberwolves will do everything in their power to move from the second overall spot since they do not need Derrick Williams with Michael Beasley in town.

That means Williams will go second overall, Brandon Knight will likely go third and players like Alec Burks, Kawhi Leonard and Marshon Brooks will be given hard looks by the Cavs at No. 4, which may lead them to pass on Kanter, and thus he would fall to the Raps.

I have them selecting Kawhi Leonard, whose stock is soaring, and reports have it that they are looking to acquire another first-round pick to select Marshon Brooks.

Prepare yourselves, Raptors fans, as there is now a very strong possibility Enes Kanter slips to the Raptors.

2011 NBA Draft: Enes Kanter Might Slide to No. 5

By 

Raju Byfield

 (Correspondent) on May 21, 2011

bleacherreport.com

Kanter eager to showcase skills at NBA combine

With each day adding more distance to the last time Enes Kanter played in an organized basketball game, the 6-foot-11 Turkish center only grows more anxious to prove he can play.

Kanter celebrated his 19th birthday Friday by trying to prove himself in front of an NBA audience at the league's combine. While Brandon Knight, his would-be former teammate from the University of Kentucky, declined to participate in skill drills, Kanter threw himself into everything asked.

"No one has seen me play yet, and no one knows me,” Kanter said. “… It was really important (to participate) because every NBA guy is here and I just try to do my best and show myself."

He'll get a chance to play in the league next season — pending a lockout. Kanter is projected as a top-10 pick by most observers, going as high as fourth to Cleveland, according to NBAdraft.net.

Former UK guard DeAndre Liggins said Kanter is ready.

“He's an animal in the low post, and he can shoot it like 15 feet,” Liggins said. “Very physical, got a big body — he's going to be a good player.”

The NCAA ruled Kanter ineligible after he accepted about $33,000 in excess of permitted compensation while playing for a professional team in Turkey, and he never suited up for UK this season.

Kanter maintained that he never handled any money, receiving only what his father gave to him. He also expressed disappointment with Fenerbahce, his Turkish team, for not helping him become eligible. He hinted it may have been a backlash for not signing a long-term deal with the club.

“They didn't try hard enough to make me play in the NCAA,” Kanter said. “I think after I left there they try to make me sign like a six-year contract. … I said my dream was always NBA. After I left, I think they got mad.”

But Kanter credits Fenerbahce for getting him prepared for the rigors of the NBA. From playing games in both the Turkish league and Euroleague, Kanter got used to the travel and physical demands. At 16, he said he was the youngest player to ever play in the Euroleague.

“That was a really good experience for me because I was playing with real pros, like 30-, 35-year-old guys,” Kanter said. “It just makes you more ready. If you cannot (play) against these guys, you cannot play.”

The last time Kanter performed before a wide audience he dropped a record 34 points and 13 rebounds in the Nike Hoops Summit game on April 10, 2010. And he did all that with a bad back.

“I couldn't show myself 100 percent because of my back,” Kanter said. “Before the game I wasn't sure if I was going to play or not.”

Kanter said he's been working out in Chicago for about six weeks with trainer Tim Grover, who has worked with Michael Jordan, Dwyane Wade and Kobe Bryant.

Grover and Kanter met during the Jordan Brand Classic international game held in Greece. It's part of the reason why Kanter feels that, despite missing last season, he's ready to play.

Since being denied eligibility, working out has been about all Kanter could do — until now. He plans on taking full advantage of the combine.

“After they made me ineligible I just didn't want to give up,” he said. “They said, ‘Right now you have to be like tough and try to get ready for the next level.' Before practice and after practice I worked with coach (John Calipari) and my strength coach every day.”

Kanter said he thinks about Calipari's last bit of advice every time he steps on the court.

“Just play hard, because no one has seen you play yet,” Kanter said. “Go out there and show everybody who is Enes Kanter.”

C.L. Brown can be reached at (502) 582-4044.

Kanter eager to showcase skills at NBA combine

Written by C.L. Brown

courier-journal.com