One last chance at Portmouth Invitational

[SFP]

Everyone knows O did not have a very good year. That doesnt mean he isnt a heck of an athlete. In the NBA he isnt going to be asked to score prolly at all. If he can play lockdown defense and hit an open shot he will play several years in the NBA. Its all about fitting into a role on a team.

You have to be delusional if you think OE will be drafted and make an NBA team. I thought after last year he had the tools to make it but this year he showed that he has some growing up. You need to have the drive to make it in the NBA and his best bet is that he'll end up in Europe and hopefully put the work in that will lead to an NBA career. Plenty of guys with his skills and height at that level but with a much better work ethic. Can't say he can't he will not make it one day but I'd be surprised if he gets invited to a camp and makes it through. NBA is a totally different league then any pro sport.

[Da Coach]

Do you have any links?

Here are a number of projected "mock drafts".
I can't find any that list Osiris being drafted.--

http://www.nbadraft.net/2010mock_draft

http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-mock-draft/2010/

http://www.collegehoopsnet.com/Draft/mockdraft.htm

http://hoopshype.com/draft.htm

http://www.mynbadraft.com/2010-NBA-Mock-Draft

ESPN lists over 200 of the top players available for the 2010 NBA draft, and they do not even have Osiris Eldridge listed-
http://insider.espn.go.com/nbadraft/...aftyear%3d2010


There are hundreds of internet sites that try to project the NBA draft. Just do a google search for- 2010 NBA mock draft to see many of them.
Here is a database of many other draft sites for NBA (and NFL) drafts.
I haven't looked at all of them, but I did check many, and don't find OE's name anywhere. Considering a lot of draft sites a year ago did list Osiris in the second round, and one even listed him in the late first round, it's obvious his stock has fallen.-

http://thehoopdoctors.com/online2/2009/02/mock-draft/

[Braves4Life]

I'd be surprised if he gets invited to a camp and makes it through. NBA is a totally different league then any pro sport.

Actually, I think he'll get invited by somebody but really stands NO chance to make a team. NBA D-League would be considered a major success for King O.

[tornado]

The Portsmouth All Tournament Team is named, and two Valley players made it...

P.I.T. All-Tournament Team
Jordan Eglseder, Northern Iowa (Cherry, Bekaert & Holland)
Rodney Green, LaSalle (K&D Rounds)
Donald Sloan, Texas A&M (K&D Round)
Raymar Morgan, Michigan State (Roger Brown's)
Kevin Palmer, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (Roger Brown's)
Osiris Eldridge, Illinois State (Roger Brown's)
Mikhail Torrance, Alabama (Portsmouth Partnership)
Ryan Thompson, Rider (Norfolk Sports Club)
A.J. Slaughter, Western Kentucky (Norfolk Sports Club)
Reggie Holmes, Morgan State (Sales Systems)
DeShawn Sims, Michigan (Portsmouth Sports Club)
Jerome Randle, California (Roger Brown's) -- MVP

[BSSFan#1]

Reality of Portsmouth is players there are a long shot.

Last year there were 4 drafted who made NBA rosters. Deron Washington was the only one drafted in 2008 and he didn't make it on a NBA roster.

[tornado]

several experts who were at the PIT said flatly there were NO players there who would get drafted....

[houstontxbrave]

uggh so much is made of who will wont get drafted. Lots of guys dont get drafted and end up making it in the league and there are a lot of guy who get drafted and never do one thing in the league.

Often its not so much your talent but right place right time. If Eldridge is dedicated and works hard he might get a shot. He might also work hard and never play one second in the NBA.

But the bottom line is if you dont do everything great you better do one thing better then anyone else. Eldridge has a nice game but he does not do anything better then anyone else and his overall game is not exceptional.

A guy like Jermaine Taylor is a very good example for Eldridge. Very similar types of players from non BCS. Taylor was in the right place, NBDL, worked hard and with injuries got a shot with the Rockets and now has gotten into their rotation.

It can happen but a lot of luck also is needed, when you pretty much are the same as a lot of players. Great athlete, decent player but really dont do anything incredible.

[SFP]

Jordan Eglseder is one player I'd be surprised someone does not take a good look at him. Jerome Randle and Raymar Morgan are the other two players in the right system could make it. This draft has a ton of guards which will make any of these any guard from this list to be picked up. The first 2 picks in this years draft will be guards followed by Cousins.

[Da Coach]

Here is a site that posts evaluations of the players from the Portsmouth Invitational-

http://www.draftexpress.com/article/Portsmouth-Invitational-Tournament-Recap-All-Third-Team-3439/

Here is the evaluation for Osiris Eldridge-

Osiris Eldridge, 6??™3, SG, Illinois State
14.3 points, 37.0 FG, 36.3% 3FG, 7.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 2.3 turnovers, 1.0 steals, blocks

Kyle Nelson

Illinois State wing Osiris Eldridge enjoyed a fantastic sophomore season, and then proceeded to fade out of the draft conversation completely after showing little to no improvement and seeing his team??™s success fall off dramatically at the same time. Two years later at Portsmouth, he showed his strengths and weaknesses in a performance that is unlikely to get him drafted, but reminded scouts that he can still be a very good basketball player down the road.

Eldridge is undersized for the wing at 6??™3, but he has terrific athleticism to compensate, boasting highlight reel explosiveness and quickness in the open floor. He is also an aggressive player, using his strong and compact frame to his advantage when slashing to the basket.

Despite his mediocre percentages in college, he actually has decent shooting mechanics and can get his shot off whenever he pleases. His shot selection is spotty at best, however, and he became over reliant on his perimeter jump shot as his collegiate career progressed. During his junior and senior at Illinois State, he relied more on forcing jump shots, which has not proved to be his strong suit. He was at his best at Portsmouth when he attacked the lane and used his athleticism and physicality to score or get to the line.

By the end of Portsmouth, Eldridge was playing to his strengths: playing aggressively on defense and attacking the basket, and was looking like a very intriguing player to keep an eye on. While the NBA may not be in his immediate future, he is a talented athlete who teams will likely be keeping an eye on in the D-League or overseas.