If only junior power forward Howard "Trey" Thompkins could've entered the 2011 NBA Draft before the 2010-11 Georgia Bulldogs season began. The preseason SEC Player of the Year was hampered by an injury right from the start, with his draft stock tumbling further when he showed up at the NBA Combine with the highest body fat percentage of any participant. Watching him slip from a potential lottery selection to a question mark hasn't been fun, but he did remain an early second-round pick, going No. 37 to the Los Angeles Clippers.
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But how did the six-foot-10, 240-pounder perform on the court?
Despite the ankle injury, Thompkins upped his minutes in his final season, but his points, deep shooting, free throw percentage, rebounds and assists fell. The decrease in his free throw attempts per game might be the biggest cause for concern. Then he weathered a toe injury during the SEC Tournament.
Then again, much of his diminished production could be chalked up to improvement by his teammates -- Thompkins posted 4.6 win shares compared to 3.6 the year prior. He's never been known as a world-class athlete, but assuming he can get himself back in game shape, I'd rest easy, Clips fans. The book on Thompkins is that he's a versatile big man, but not superb at any particular aspect of his game.
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For more on UGA sports and notes on Thompkins, visit Dawg Sports.