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Not sure how much draft hype he's been getting early on, but these guys are taking a cautious approach considering his age and baggage....says he will probably have to go to Portsmouth and have a great camp:
http://www.draftexpress.com/viewarticle.php?a=1179
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<font size=4><a target="_blank" href=http://www.draftexpress.com/viewprofile.php?p=473>Michael Southall</a>, 6-10, center, senior, Louisiana La.
34 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks, 12-18 FG, 10-13 FT </font size=4>
<i>Jonathan Givony</i>
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Always with one eye on the happenings on the mid-major scene, we take a trip to a familiar destination that was good to us last year in our never ending search for the next diamond in the rough. Louisiana Lafayette is the team that current Boston Celtics rookie backup point guard <a target="_blank" href=http://www.draftexpress.com/viewprofile.php?p=440>Orien Greene</a> caught our eye from last year and led us to declare him the “sleeper of the draft.” This year Lafayette boasts two more legit draft prospects in 6-5 combo guard <a target="_blank" href=http://www.draftexpress.com/viewprofile.php?p=515>Dwayne Mitchell</a> and 6-10 big man <a target="_blank" href=http://www.draftexpress.com/viewprofile.php?p=473>Michael Southall</a>. In a rare televised game on primetime television against a terrific Western Kentucky team, it was Southall who stepped up to the plate with 34 points to announce his reemergence on the NBA draft landscape.
Southall is a familiar name to draftniks. Initially committed to both Kentucky and Georgia Tech before and after encountering legal problems, he made the All Sun-Belt team in both his freshman and sophomore seasons at Louisiana Lafayette before declaring for the draft in 2003. Southall withdrew and later spent time in jail for violation his probation, being forced to sit out the next two seasons before finally returning to the Ragin’ Cajuns to get his college degree and play his senior year.
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Despite the baggage and his age (we could not dig up a date of birth but our calculations say he is somewhere in the ballpark of 24 or so), Southall is a guy that the NBA will take a hard look at. His size is obviously intriguing, but he’s also an excellent athlete who is quick off his feet as his 3.3 blocks per game will attest. Southall made a living in the paint against the Hilltoppers all game long sealing off his man, catching the ball with either hand and finishing time after time with an explosive dunk. He went to the line repeatedly and knocked down almost all of his free throws to boot. He showed a bit of range on his jump shot and even put the ball on the floor at times semi-effectively. Defensively he rotated well and showed the ability to get off the ground and block shots with either hand.
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Southall is a pretty skinny player and had some problems with his conditioning at the end of the game, struggling a bit on the glass after not boxing out and generally not showing great awareness for what was going on around him. His team is nowhere near as good as they were last year with <a target="_blank" href=http://www.draftexpress.com/viewprofile.php?p=440>Orien Greene</a> and <a target="_blank" href=http://www.draftexpress.com/viewprofile.php?p=400>Tiras Wade</a>, but you can never rule out a bunch of gifted athletes as the Lafayette puts on the floor in a lose or go home conference tournament that will send one team to the Big Dance. Southall is another player that should get invited to Portsmouth and has a chance to make some noise there with his size and athletic ability. He looks and plays a bit like a 6-11 version of Peter John Ramos, with the good and the bad that comes along with that. -->
<center><a href="http://www.draftexpress.com/viewarticle.php?a=1179">The rest of the story</a>
<center><p><a href="http://www.draftexpress.com/viewprofile.php?p=473">MS Profile</a>
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Originally Posted by cheezdoodle
Does anyone have an Ideal of what goes on in "Portsmouth?" By the way...nice article!
I believe that is where the NBA has their pre-draft camp.Quote:
Originally Posted by RaginEsquire06
Portsmouth (Virginia) is the first of two NBA pre-draft camps, for seniors only. Last years biggest names included Jason Maxiell, Taylor Coppenrath and Jawad Williams. Maxiell earned himself 1st round money at that camp (the first player in a long time to do so at the PIT), while Coppenrath and Jawad hurt themselves for the most part.
Orien was not invited last year, and honestly was never really given a very serious look from the NBA except for a few select teams. ____ shame, you never know just how high he could have went if they knew just what a terrific player they had on their hands. But then again, he only really recovered from his leg problems in early June, so maybe that was a good thing that he didn't go.
Great article and nice source of information, so thanks for the link.Quote:
Originally Posted by cheezdoodle
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The Portsmouth Invitational Tournament is one of only two official NBA pre-draft camps, traditionally held in the weekend following the NCAA final four in Portsmouth, Virginia. The organizers attempt to assemble the 64 best NCAA senior draft prospects in the country for an 8 team, 11 game tournament held over a four day period. The 54th edition of the tournament will be conducted this year from April 5th to April 8th.
... <b>Centers:</b> - A rare commodity and the easiest position to get selected at, size, some athleticism and any resemblance of a back to the basket game garners an invite. (example: <a target="_blank" href=http://www.draftexpress.com/viewprofile.php?p=473>Michael Southall</a>, <a target="_blank" href=http://www.draftexpress.com/viewprofile.php?p=35>Torin Francis</a>, <a target="_blank" href=http://www.draftexpress.com/viewprofile.php?p=528>Mohamed Kone</a>. Total invited: 6)<br />
<center><p><a href="http://www.draftexpress.com/viewarticle.php?a=1212" target="_blank">The rest of the story</a>
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Dwayne Mitchel is also listed as a possible invite at the shooting guard position. Best of luck Dwayne, you deserve everything you get.Quote:
Originally Posted by NewsCopy
Dwayne can play NBA style basketball. Its all about high flying fast tempo in the NBA & Dwayne is all that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tripple Threat
this site now has southall going to the pistons in the 2nd round
They are on the rosters:
http://www.draftexpress.com/viewarticle.php?a=1248
Very interesting teams they are on.
"Stongest list of Seniors in the last 5-10 years"
I contend this has to do with the 5-8 rule that spread an extra 200 players around the D1 ranks back in 2001, and while not as many some in 2002 as well.
2001 redshirt freshmen are 5th year seniors now, and 2002 frosh are true seniors.
I hope Southall gets a chance to go up against Yemi. We know he can dominate that matchup!
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Carl Krauser posted a double-double Wednesday in his first game at the Portsmouth (Va.) Invitational Tournament, scoring 11 points and handing out 12 assists for Norfolk Naval Shipyard in an 84-75 victory over Tidewater Sealants.
Krauser, a Pitt senior who led the Panthers in scoring and assists in his final college season, played 30 minutes. He shot 3 for 7 yesterday, including 1 for 1 from 3-point range, and he added two rebounds and one steal. He also committed four turnovers.
The tournament, which runs through Saturday, is designed to showcase selected college seniors for various NBA scouts.
Paul Miller of Wichita State led Norfolk Naval Shipyard with 19 points. Nick George of Virginia Commonwealth and Jai Lewis of George Mason each added 16 and Mike Hall of George Washington scored 12. Michael Southall of Louisiana-Lafayette grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds.
<center><p><a href="http://pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/sports/college/s_440702.html" target="_blank">The source of the story</a>
By Dave Mackall
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
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Bobby Jones of Washington led Tidewater Sealants with 18 points.
Dave Mackall can be reached at dmackall@tribweb.com or 412-380-5617.
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<! He will be represented in the States by Chicago-based agent Keith Kreiter of Edge Sports. ->Quote:
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Keith Kreiter (Edge Sports) also has signed athletic 6-10 Louisiana Lafayette big man <a target="_blank" href=http://www.draftexpress.com/viewprofile.php?p=473>Michael Southall</a>, who had a nice showing in terms of defense and rebounding at Portsmouth two weeks ago
<center><p><a href="http://www.draftexpress.com/viewarticle.php?a=1269" target="_blank">The rest of the story</a>
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Originally Posted by Ron Briscoe, Southeast Regional Basketball Report & Scouting Service
Thanks for the info Ron. Best of luck to Mitchell, Southall and Milsaps.
yeah thanks for the info, its hard to keep up with everything...
but not with RAGINPAGIN!!!
IS there any news on Southall's workouts so far? Does he still have a good shot at going late?
I noticed that NBA.com didn't even have Southall listed as a prospect.Quote:
Originally Posted by redcajun
I seen something a few days ago but I can't remember where. And it said that Southall only bench pressed 185 2 times which isn't good from a center.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hatch
Wasn't he in jail for a year?:) Seriously though that shouldnt affect his draft position, I wouldn't think.Quote:
Originally Posted by Clutch0364
Thanks for the update. I hope he gets his chance somewhere.
www.draftexpress.comQuote:
Originally Posted by Clutch0364
Dwayne Mitchell-bench press (185)x17, no step vertical-37.5 in, running vert. 41.5 in., 3/4 court sprint-3.16 sec------------------------------------------
Michael Southall-bench press (185)x2, no step vert.-31.5 in, running vert. 37 in., 3/4 court sprint-3.51 sec
It's wrong to compare Southall and Mitchell because Mitchell is such a freak athletic.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tripple Threat
They play two different positions, they can't be compared. The predraft camp stats should be compared by position, but this is the way they are presented after the results are tallied. My interest is in both players.Quote:
Originally Posted by Clutch0364
I'll show the comparisons to some of the players who might be compared to Southall...
Paul Milsap-bench press(185)x15, no step vertical-28.5, running vertical-32.5, 3/4 court sprint-3.3
Yemi Nicholson-bench press(185)x8, no step vertical-26.5, running vertical-26, 3/4 court sprint-3.65
Michael Southall-bench press (185)x2, no step vert.-31.5 in, running vert. 37 in., 3/4 court sprint-3.51 sec
By the way, Jordan Farmer from UCLA, was the only player to out jump Mitchell (no step vert.-33.5 and running vert.-42. Overall, this info is pretty cool stuff if you ask me...I'm excited to see how things turn out.