College Basketball: Anthony Davis Cements #1 Draft Pick Status

It was a defensive master-class from Anthony Davis as the Naismith award winner led the Kentucky Wildcats to the National Championship. With March Madness now behind him, there is only one question. It’s not whether Davis goes #1 in the NBA Draft but who will be lucky enough to land him.

A freaky stat-line
The offensive side of the stat-line for Anthony Davis last night isn’t exactly inspiring. Dropping 5 dimes was great but he went 1 of 10 from the field and only had 6 points. This was an aberrant performance by his usual attacking standards but one that was of little concern to NCAA Basketball betting fans. What he did defensively was more in tune with what we have come to expect and more. Davis had an astounding 16 rebounds and 6 blocks, in one of the most impressive defensive displays in Final Four history. John Calipari knew he had a special talent when he recruited Davis but even Coach Cal must have been impressed last night.

Davis adjusted his blocks mid air unlike any big man. He has the height of a NBA center but can make graceful adjustments more suited to the likes of Dwayne Wade. The worst teams in professional Basketball are drooling.

It’s not quite the Megamillions but…
Make no mistake, Anthony Davis is a lock to be the top draft pick right now. There hasn’t been a player of his size with his kind of NBA-ready talent available for several years. This is particularly true for a big man, where usually a few years seasoning is mandatory. Anthony Davis can make a difference today. Were this the NFL we’d already know Davis was a lock to end up in Charlotte with the Bobcats. The lottery system used by the draft, which is an admirable if unsuccessful attempt to deter tanking, adds a big dash of uncertainty to the mix.

Charlotte and Washington hold the best shots at landing Davis. Trades mean the Jazz and Hornets look set to have two lottery picks each come the draft. The most interesting scenarios however involve teams with longer shots at picking the big man. The Blazers are also in play for two lottery picks and, despite blowing up their roster mid-season, could move back into playoff contention immediately with the addition of Davis. The Kings already have one successful Calipari product in DeMarcus Cousins and would love to pair him with Davis. Even the Raptors would benefit big-time from Davis. With injuries wrecking their roster, the arrival of talent like Davis could turn Toronto into a big defensive unit overnight.

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