G/F Evan "The Villain" Turner (2010 Naismith Winner)

[Buckskin86]

Matta on a few matters

I talked with coach Thad Matta today for a couple of stories I'm working on. Here's some of what else he had to say:

-- Only two NBA teams, Philadelphia and Minnesota, have contacted Matta about Evan Turner. "I've been a little shocked" there are only two, he said.

Then again, that means Washington isn't interested -- it's going with John Wall -- and that Turner isn't going to be around longer than two or three picks.

Philadelphia, with the No.2 pick, is scheduling him for a workout in Philadelphia in the next couple of weeks, and Minnesota, by all accounts, is madly trying to trade up to the No.2 pick to take Turner.

Matta on a few matters (Hoops & Scoops: an OSU basketball blog)

There have been rumors that the Philadelphia 76ers might not take former Ohio State star Evan Turner with the No.2 selection in the NBA draft and instead trade away the pick. But team president/general manager Ed Stefanski said this week that "we have not shopped the No.2 pick whatsoever" and that "it would take a blockbuster for us to consider moving the pick."

http://www.dispatch.com/live/conten...11/rumblings-6-11-art-g3b8r6lk-1.html?sid=101

Turner Won't Work Out With Wiz; Wall No. 1 Seems Inevitable
Friday, June 11, 2010
Posted By The Baseline

Since they won the draft lottery, it has been considered a fait accompli that the Wizards would select Kentucky's John Wall first overall.

Well, any remaining doubt was probably erased Thursday when David Falk, agent for Ohio State's Evan Turner, told The Washington Post his client would not work out for the Wizards.

Wall is the only player the Wizards have scheduled for a workout for the top choice, The Post reported on its website.

Falk, in Boston for Game 4 of the NBA Finals, told the newspaper that Turner would only work out for Philadelphia, which holds the No. 2 pick, on June 17--the same day Wall will work out for the Wizards. Wall is currently scheduled to workout for the 76ers the day before.

Turner Won\'t Work Out With Wiz; Wall No. 1 Seems Inevitable - The Baseline - The Baseline - Sporting News

SLAM ONLINE | ? Exclusive Evan Turner Pre-Draft Workout and Interview

 

[Buckskin86]

2010 NBA Draft: Top Shooting Guards
By: Luke Byrnes Last Updated: 6/11/10

Earlier this week we ranked the top Point Guards in the 2010 NBA Draft class, with Kentucky's John Wall being the hands down #1 prospect.

HOOPSWORLD continues its coverage of the 2010 NBA Draft by looking at the top prospects at the shooting guard position.

Evan Turner, 6'7", 215 lbs.: During stretches of this season, Turner was considered a possibility for the number one overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft and, I suppose, he still could the first player selected. I don't see it simply because John Wall is so dynamic a player. Turner, on the other hand, is smooth. Efficient. There just isn't a whole lot on the court that Turner can't do for his team and, in most cases, better than everyone else on his team. Turner is a triple-double waiting to happen and while he most regularly draws comparisons to Brandon Roy of the Portland Trail Blazers, Turner's game reminds me of a young Grant Hill. Lethal in the mid-range. Handles of a point guard. A difference-maker on both the offensive and the defensive ends of the floor. Maybe more important than all of that, Turner is a leader and winner. He is simply one of those players that can will his team to a victory, largely due to the fact that he is such a fierce competitor. The former Ohio State star has a knack for coming up with loose balls and never takes a possession off. Turner is turnover prove and will have to continue to develop his decision-making skills at the NBA level, but he is as close to a "can't miss" prospect as you'll find.

Read more NBA news and insight: http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=16458#ixzz0qjUcf0P3

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=16463

 

[Buckskin86]

What to wear? What to wear?

Among other things, Evan Turner tells NBA.com that he bought a scarlet and gray (or, in his words, "gray and red") suit and a pair of Ohio State cufflinks for his stage appearance in New York next week.

What to wear? What to wear? (Hoops & Scoops: an OSU basketball blog)

 

[Buckskin86]

Turner visiting 76ers on Thursday
Burlington County Times

The Sixers, owners of the No. 2 pick in the June 24 draft, will work out Ohio State shooting guard Evan Turner on Thursday morning.

Turner, who is projected to be the Sixers' selection, is slated to be joined by Villanova's Reggie Redding and La Salle's Rodney Green during the session in Philadelphia.

The 6-foot-7 Turner averaged 20.4 points, 9.2 rebounds and 6.0 assists during his junior season with the Buckeyes.

PhillyBurbs.com: ?Turner visiting 76ers on Thursday

Evan Turner ignoring Wizards' interest
By Mark J. Miller

The Washington Wizards have the first overall pick in the upcoming draft and the team has tried several times to get Ohio State's Evan Turner to come in for a workout, but, according to the Washington Post, he has thus far spurned the team's offers.

The team has asked Turner's agent, David Falk, several times, "but Falk was not receptive, convinced that the Wizards would take (John) Wall," the paper reports. Falk is focused on building Turner's relationship with the Philadelphia 76ers, which picks second. He told the Post that he thinks "the 76ers (are) a better fit for Turner."

Evan Turner ignoring Wizards' interest - Sports Rumors - NBA? - Yahoo! Sports

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cd8PNTMMCuQ]YouTube - Turner, Johnson have game[/ame]

 

[Buckskin86]

Posted on Thu, Jun. 17, 2010
Sixers' probable draft pick Turner has overcome adversity
By DICK JERARDI
Philadelphia Daily News
[email protected]

THE GREAT ATHLETES play relaxed. No moment is too overwhelming. The possibilities are considered and analyzed.

When you watch Evan Turner next season, and every indication is that you will be watching him play for the 76ers, notice the rhythm and pace to his game. It is understated, quiet, effective and very relaxed.

When you've been where Turner has been and lived what he has lived, playing basketball does not seem all that daunting.

Before his fourth birthday, Turner got just about every illness imaginable. He did not learn to speak until he was 3 because of oversized baby teeth and an overbite. A few years later, he rushed across a street and got hit by a car.

"[My family] said I was sick, like, every other day," Turner said last week from the Washington office of his agent, David Falk. "They were wondering if I was ever going to be fully healthy, live a normal life."

Read more: Sixers' probable draft pick Turner has overcome adversity | Philadelphia Daily News | 06/17/2010

Turner puts his game on display today for Sixers
Published: Thursday, June 17, 2010
By DENNIS DEITCH
[email protected]

** COMMERCIAL IMAGE ** In this photograph taken by AP Images for 2K Sports, Snoop Dogg, middle, Evan Turner, and Wesley Johnson, right, visit 2K Sports motion capture studios for the upcoming video game NBA 2K11 in Novato, Calif. on Monday June 7th, 2010. (Photo by John Storey/AP Images for 2K Sports)

Today, the people?s choice will work out at the 76ers? practice facility. Friday, the underdogs come to Philly to show whether they can make general manager Ed Stefanski think outside of the box.

Inside that box, wrapped so nicely when the Sixers landed the No. 2 overall pick in the NBA draft thanks to some lottery luck, is Evan Turner. The Ohio State guard has done nothing to dissuade anyone from the conventional wisdom that he is the second-best choice in the draft behind Kentucky?s John Wall.

Turner arrived in Philadelphia Wednesday and got a tour of the Wachovia Center before he gets down to business this morning at Philadelphia College of Osteopaethic Medicine. There will be two other players with draft aspirations in attendance ? La Salle?s Rodney Green and Villanova?s Reggie Redding ? but this is all about the 6-7 Turner, whose size and all-around skills at the shooting guard position make him an appealing guy to pair with last year?s first-round selection, Jrue Holiday, in the Sixers? backcourt.

Turner puts his game on display today for Sixers - The Delaware County Daily Times : Serving Delaware County, PA(DelcoTimes.com)

Turner?s meeting with Sixers produces signs he will be drafted by Philly
June 16th, 2010 ? No Comments ? NBA, Philadelphia 76ers
By FRANK WARD
DailyPhiladelphian.com Editor

At this point, if we didn?t already know it, Evan Turner will be the Sixers top pick in the NBA Draft next week. If you doubted that at any point in the past, just watch to the video below from the Sixers website in which they interview Turner in the team locker room.

About 35 seconds in, they bring up the question about a uniform number. Thaddeus Young has his number 21. Turner says his backup number is 11, but that?s occupied by last season?s top pick Jrue Holiday. Why would you ask that if you weren?t picking the guy?

Turner’s meeting with Sixers produces signs he will be drafted by Philly

 

[BB73]

Congrats to Evan on being named tOSU's Male Athlete of the Year.

Official.Site

Evan Turner Named Ohio State Male Athlete of the Year

COLUMBUS, Ohio - http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/Vi...813&SPID=10421&DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=1293033http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/Vi...813&SPID=10421&DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=1293033Evan Turner, the consensus national player of the year in men's basketball, has been named the 2009-10 Ohio State Male Athlete of the Year, the department of athletics announced Thursday.
Turner swept the 2010 college basketball season player of the year awards after claiming the Naismith Trophy and John R. Wooden Award, as well as the USBWA, Associated Press and NABC POY awards. The junior guard also was the Big Ten Player of the Year and the Most Outstanding Player at the annual Big Ten Tournament, which the Buckeyes captured with a win over Minnesota.

Turner averaged 20.4 points and 9.4 rebounds in 2010 as his Buckeye team reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament and won the Big Ten regular season and tournament titles. A 6-7 junior from Chicago, he was the conference's top scorer and rebounder and ranked No. 2 in assists (6.0, 6th in the nation) and steals (1.7).

Turner declared for the NBA draft and will forego his senior season at Ohio State. He is projected to be a Top 3 pick in the annual draft slated for June 24 in New York.

Turner moves on to the ballot for the Big Ten's Jesse Owens Athlete of the Year award. Softball senior http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/Vi...813&SPID=10421&DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=1059867http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/Vi...813&SPID=10421&DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=1059867Sam Marder was named the Buckeyes' female athlete of the year Wednesday.

Ohio State Male Athletes of the Year
Year Men Sport
1982 Art Schlichter, Football
1983 Chris Perry, Golf
1984 John Frank, Football
1985 Robert Playter, Gymnastics
1986 Mike Lanese, Football
1987 http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/Vi...813&SPID=10421&DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=1059295http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/Vi...813&SPID=10421&DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=1059295Butch Reynolds, Track/Field
1988 Chris Spielman, Football
1989 http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/Vi...813&SPID=10421&DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=1583407http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/Vi...813&SPID=10421&DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=1583407Joe Greene, Track/Field
1990 Mike Rancanelli, Gymnastics
1991 Jim Jackson, Basketball
1992 Jim Jackson, Basketball
1993 Chris Nelloms, Track/Field
1994 Chris Sanders, Track/Field
1995 http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/Vi...3&SPID=10421&DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=204762385http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/Vi...3&SPID=10421&DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=204762385Blaine Wilson, Gymnastics
1996 * Eddie George, Football
1997 * http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/Vi...3&SPID=10421&DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=204762385http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/Vi...3&SPID=10421&DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=204762385Blaine Wilson, Gymnastics
1998 Hugo Boisvert, Hockey
1999 Scoonie Penn, Basketball
2000 Jamie Natalie, Gymnastics
2001 Jamie Natalie, Gymnastics
2002 Raj Bhavsar, Gymnastics
2003 Craig Krenzel, Football
2004 http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/Vi...813&SPID=10421&DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=1060020http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/Vi...813&SPID=10421&DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=1060020Dan Taylor, Track/Field
2005 Mike Nugent, Football
2006 A.J. Hawk, Football
2007 Troy Smith, Football
2008 http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/Vi...813&SPID=10421&DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=1058556http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/Vi...813&SPID=10421&DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=1058556Andras Horanyi, Fencing
2009 http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/Vi...813&SPID=10421&DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=1057236http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/Vi...813&SPID=10421&DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=1057236J Jaggers, Wrestling
2010 http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/Vi...813&SPID=10421&DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=1293033http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/Vi...813&SPID=10421&DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=1293033Evan Turner, Basketball
* Recipient of the Big Ten Jesse Owens Award

 

[Buckskin86]

Turner likes what he sees in Philly
Likely top draft pick impresses Collins
By CHRIS BRANCH ? The News Journal ? June 18, 2010

PHILADELPHIA -- Not much doubt remains as to who the No. 2 pick will be in the 2010 NBA Draft.

Ohio State product Evan Turner expects it. Sixers coach Doug Collins, while not confirming the pick, sounded convinced.

Turner even turned down an opportunity to work out for the Washington Wizards, who hold the top pick. Most experts believe the Wizards will take former Kentucky point guard John Wall, but Turner was still in the discussion.

The Chicago native worked out Thursday in front of Sixers coaches at the Sixers' practice facility. He admitted a fall past No. 2 isn't something he expects.

"I'd be surprised, definitely," Turner said. "I always say though if you wake up and have a job involving basketball, it's a good time."

Turner likes what he sees in Philly | delawareonline.com | The News Journal

Posted on Fri, Jun. 18, 2010
Turner now favors Sixers
By Keith Pompey
Inquirer Staff Writer

After originally wanting to be the overall No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, Evan Turner is now determined to become the second overall pick, which is owned by the 76ers.

The Ohio State junior even refused to participate in predraft workout with the Washington Wizards, who hold the No. 1 pick. He declined to work out for any team except for the Sixers.

But back on May 20 the 6-foot-7, 210-pounder wanted to become a Wizard.

Why the switch?

"The Wizards are looking for their best choice, and my agent [David Faulk] and I are looking for my best choice," said Turner, who participated in the Sixers' predraft workout Thursday along with Villanova's Reggie Redding and Temple's Ryan Brooks at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.

"Philadelphia is a better choice than the Washington Wizards," he added. "My agent and I sat down and we talked. . . . He said Philly was a great city and that was the best situation."

Read more: Turner now favors Sixers | Philadelphia Inquirer | 06/18/2010

Posted on Fri, Jun. 18, 2010
Turner already seems to be popular in Philly
By BOB COONEY
Philadelphia Daily News
[email protected]

If Evan Turner isn't drafted by the 76ers with the second pick in Thursday's NBA draft, it would probably lead to more disbelief among Sixers' fans than their recent 27-win season did.

Read more: Turner already seems to be popular in Philly | Philadelphia Daily News | 06/18/2010

Turner impresses team + and vice versa
By: TOM MOORE
The Intelligencer
PHILADELPHIA - The Sixers were pleased with Evan Turner's only workout for an NBA team.

Turner was, too.

In fact, after going through drills with the Sixers for an hour Thursday morning, Turner was already talking about the Sixers, owners of the second selection in the June 24 draft, in the present tense.

Asked about how much new coach Doug Collins, who was a high pick and played for the Sixers, would benefit Turner, he said, "I think it helps a lot. He knows a lot about the city and he's coached some of the greatest players in the game. He coached wings. I think I can really benefit from him. He's got a real positive outlook.

"It's going to be fun. Last night at dinner, he told me all about playing in Philadelphia and how passionate they were. It's going to be super fun. I'm excited."

PhillyBurbs.com: ?Turner impresses team + and vice versa

Turner talks with Andre Iguodala, sounds like Sixers pick
June 17th, 2010
By FRANK WARD
DailyPhiladelphian.com Editor

On Day 2 of the Evan Turner Draft Tour in Philly, the guard from The Ohio State University continued to sound like the man the Sixers will use the second pick in the draft on next week. Turner discussed many topics including having Doug Collins as coach.

Turner talks with Andre Iguodala, sounds like Sixers pick

SIXERS: Sixers Video Player

SIXERS: Sixers Video Player

 

[Buckskin86]

Who is Evan Turner, the NBA draft pick?
Evan Turner is most often compared to two NBA players, Brandon Roy of Portland and Grant Hill of Phoenix, who showed many of the same skills as Turner when they entered the league
Sunday, June 20, 2010
By Bob Baptist
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

In the month since the NBA draft lottery established the order teams will choose in the top half of the first round, Ohio State coach Thad Matta said two have contacted him to discuss Evan Turner.

They are Philadelphia, which owns the No.2 pick and is listening to offers to trade it, and Minnesota, which picks No.4 and is the team most openly coveting Turner.

"Ninety percent" of what they asked, Matta said, was about Turner's "character and who he is as a person."

When they asked about him as a basketball player, they wanted to know what position Matta saw him playing in the NBA.

"I don't know," Matta said he told them. "I think he's a basketball player."

Who is Evan Turner, the NBA draft pick? | BuckeyeXtra

 

[Buckskin86]

Posted on Tue, Jun. 22, 2010

Evan Turner confident about joining 76ers
By Keith Pompey
Inquirer Staff Writer
Evan Turner expects to become a 76er.

The Ohio State junior guard has refused to participate in predraft workouts for other NBA teams. He's even jokingly told the Philadelphia-area media to "be nice to me in the future."

"I would kind of be surprised, definitely," Turner said of possibly not becoming a Sixer.

Read more: Evan Turner confident about joining 76ers | Philadelphia Inquirer | 06/22/2010

Stephen A. Smith: Drafting Turner a necessary next step for 76ers
POSTED: June 22, 2010 By Stephen A. Smith
Inquirer Sports Columnist

The NBA draft is approximately 48 hours away, and here's what we know about where the 76ers are right now:

They've got the No. 2 pick in the draft. Barring a blockbuster offer, the Sixers are not about to trade that pick; they will take Ohio State's Evan Turner, instead.

New head coach Doug Collins is not running the show. That responsibility still falls on the shoulders of president-general manager Ed Stefanski. But since Stefanski still hasn't received an official vote of confidence from chairman Ed Snider and his cohorts, potential chaos lurks perpetually around the corner. Stefanski is making the decisions even as he dangles in the wind.

Welcome to the Sixers' interpretation of progress.

"We're looking forward to the draft," Stefanski told me a few days ago. "We like a few people we've talked to. [Turner] is definitely one of those people. He simply knows how to play the game of basketball. Whatever decision we make, whatever direction we go in, we would hope to go in the direction of a player of his caliber. You'll have to wait until Thursday to see who that player is."

Read more: Stephen A. Smith: Drafting Turner a necessary next step for 76ers | Philadelphia Inquirer | 06/22/2010

DP Show Daily: Reggie Miller says Turner better than Wall
Posted By: Dan Patrick

Former Ohio State star Evan Turner could be the No. 2 overall pick in this year's NBA draft.
AP

A daily recap of the Dan Patrick Show ...

Q&A with Reggie Miller
DP: John Wall looks to be the consensus No. 1 pick in the NBA draft by the Wizards. Now Philadelphia is on the clock. Is [head coach] Doug Collins going to take Evan Turner or a big man?
RM: He's taking Evan Turner. And I don't know that it's definite, but there's no way you can pass up a talent like Evan Turner. He's a combo guard. I think immediately, he's going to be better than John Wall. There's a learning curve for John Wall.

DP: Is it tougher to learn the game as a point guard or as a shooting guard?
RM: Definitely harder as a point guard. We talked about Phil Jackson managing egos. When you've got these older players saying, ?Give me the ball," or, ?Hey rook, come here and do this for me," it's a little bit tougher. As a shooting guard, your natural reaction is to put the ball in the basket. That's what you're taught as a shooting guard: score. That's easy. So that'll be easier for Evan Turner. But being a combo guard, being able to play two positions and being in Doug Collins' system, I think Evan Turner will be the better player in the long run. And he's my Rookie of the Year.

Read More: DP Show Daily: Reggie Miller says Turner better than Wall - Dan Patrick.com

 

[Buckskin86]

Turner begins sharing the wealth
Pre-draft splurges included a house for his mother
Thursday, June 24, 2010
By Bob Baptist
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

NEW YORK - For his first major purchase as a professional athlete, Evan Turner bought his mother a house in the suburbs.

For his second, he bought himself a Range Rover.

Asked how a 21-year-old who has yet to sign a contract with an NBA team could afford to splurge like that beforehand, Turner grinned widely yesterday and said, "They know I'm good for it."

He will be soon.

Turner, the college player of the year at Ohio State last season, is expected to be the second player chosen tonight in the NBA draft, by the Philadelphia 76ers. Point guard John Wall of Kentucky is expected to go No.1 to the Washington Wizards.

As the second pick, Turner would be guaranteed $7.96million the first two years of his contract, including more than $3.8million next season, according to terms of the NBA's collective-bargaining agreement with the players' association.

The third and fourth years, both at the team's option, would be worth an additional $10million.

"It's kind of hit me but it's still unreal," Turner said yesterday as he and 14 other projected first-round picks helped the NBA play host to a youth clinic promoting physical fitness on the playing floor in Madison Square Garden.

"I mean, I understand what's about to happen, but just walking the streets and people going crazy for you, that's a little different. But it's what you work for."

http://www.dispatch.com/live/conten...turner-begins-sharing-the-wealth.html?sid=101

Turner named Big Ten's top male athlete

Evan Turner was named Jesse Owens Male Athlete of the Year in the Big Ten tonight, the third Ohio State athlete to earn the honor since the award was established in 1982.

Football player Eddie George in 1996 and gymnast Blaine Wilson in 1997 also won the award.

Turner, likely to be the No.2 pick in the NBA draft on Thursday night, was the national player of the year in men's college basketball after averaging 20.4 points and 9.4 rebounds during the 2009-10 season. He also was Big Ten player of the year and the outstanding player in the conference tournament.

A panel of media voters selected him from among the athletes of the year at each conference school.

The last men's basketball player to win the award was Glenn Robinson of Purdue in 1994. Other men's basketball players who won it were Steve Alford of Indiana in 1987 and Glen Rice of Michigan in 1989.

Turner named Big Ten's top male athlete (Hoops & Scoops: an OSU basketball blog)

New York, New York

After an eventful morning trying to get out of Columbus (broken cabin door, change planes, hour and a half late leaving), I made it to the midtown Manhattan hotel in time for the last 10 minutes of Evan Turner's interview session.

No worries. I caught him later at Madison Square Garden during an NBA youth clinic and we talked about his first two big purchases with the money he doesn't have yet. Find out what they are in Thursday's Dispatch.

And now for the rest of the story:

New York, New York (Hoops & Scoops: an OSU basketball blog)

Rob Oller commentary: Staying three years served Turner well
Thursday, June 24, 2010
By Rob Oller
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

The NBA draft is sizzle without the steak. The meat of the matter won't arrive until tonight's picks prove their worth or become charred remains in the coming seasons.

So it is impossible to know whether Evan Turner will become filet or chuck roast in the NBA, but several certainties surround Turner and the program from which he comes.

Turner is expected to be the second player drafted overall, behind John Wall of Kentucky, which reflects well not only on him but on coach Thad Matta's ability to recruit and develop talent at Ohio State. Until Matta arrived in 2004, the Buckeyes produced one first-round draft pick since 1992 (Jim Jackson at No. 4). Turner will be the sixth first-rounder in the past four years.

Rob Oller commentary: Staying three years served Turner well | BuckeyeXtra

Evan almighty
By: TOM MOORE
The Intelligencer
With the second pick in the NBA draft tonight, the Sixers are expected to take highly touted Evan Turner out of Ohio State.

The one near-certainty in tonight's NBA Draft is that the Wizards will take Kentucky point guard John Wall.

"Everybody else is (misleading) you," said Sixers coach Doug Collins. "Everybody shoots out smoke screens and is trying to tell you who they like and don't like."

Folks in NBA circles are also pretty confident that Ohio State shooting guard Evan Turner will be the Sixers' pick at No. 2.

The Sixers' biggest holes are at shooting guard and center.

With no big men worthy of going second, it's logical that Turner will be Philly-bound.

"We'd like to get the best player that fits our needs," Collins said.

The 6-foot-7 Turner won the John Wooden Award, Naismith Award and Oscar Robertson Trophy, and was named the AP National Player of the Year for averaging 20.4 points, 9.2 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 1.7 steals and shooting 51.9 percent from the floor during his junior season with the Buckeyes.

"When you watch him on tape, you see that competitive side of him," Collins said. "You've got to be a competitor in this league to be a great player."

PhillyBurbs.com: ?Evan almighty

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WqmUFhkV-4]YouTube - Evan Turner arrives in New York[/ame]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfsKKLYfZOQ]YouTube - Evan Turner - DraftExpress - 2010 Draft Media Day.mp4[/ame]

 

[Thump]

Didn't know he was dating women's player Samantha Prahalis.

 

[Hoosier Buckeye]

Moments away from ET being the #2 player drafted! Congrats!!!

 

[3074326]

Grats Evan!

The Sixers went from being hated to my second favorite team in a second.

 

[Mike80]

Congrats kid

 

[osugrad21]

Congrats ET.