The 2011 NBA Draft is just a little over a week away, and the futures of three local college stars will be decided. For Georgia Tech's Iman Shumpert and Georgia's Trey Thompkins and Travis Leslie, the draft could be a dream come true or it could be an earth shattering reality check.
Draft night is sure to be a nervous night for the three players as there really isn't a consensus on where they might be picked. Here is a round up of some of the latest mock drafts.
Ziller projects Shumpert to be selected No. 27 overall to the New Jersey Nets although he doesn't seem to really understand why.
Shumpert could go in the teens. My question: if he's such a good prospect, why has everyone constantly ripped Georgia Tech's guard play?
Ziller doesn't project Thompkins or Leslie as first round picks.
In their full draft projection, NBA Draft.net projects Thompkins as a first round pick at No. 25 to the Boston Celtics. Travis Leslie is slotted as a second round pick to New Jersey at No. 36. Shumpert follows close behind as the No. 44 pick to Chicago.
Draft Express is also high on Shumpert and have him going to Denver with the No. 22 selection in the first round. They also project Leslie as a first rounder going to Chicago at No. 30 with the final selection of the first round. Trey Thompkins slips all the way to the No. 12 pick of the second round by Larry Bird and the Indiana Pacers.
Ford doesn't project any of the three to be a first round pick in next week's draft.
As far as the mock drafts are concerned, Shumpert seems to have the best chance at being selected in the first round. Thompkins and Leslie's projections as second rounders at best has to raise a few eyebrows at their decision to leave Georgia after their junior seasons.
For more on the 2011 NBA Draft, visit Ridiculous Upside and SB Nation's NBA Draft hub.