Just when Maryland really started getting excited about a potential star to lead their front court for years to come, speculation has already blown up about whether 7-foot-1 center Alex Len will declare for the NBA draft after this, his sophomore, season.
Entering the year, there was buzz around College Park that Len had bulked up over the off-season, learned English and drastically improved his game. Coach Mark Turgeon praised his rapid development, and then Len turned in his most impressive college performance against Kentucky in the Terps’ opening game. Len’s 23 points and 12 rebounds turned heads on national television, not to mention how Len outplayed his opposing center in stud freshman Nerlens Noel. Noel finished with only four points, and Len was officially on the NBA radar.
Since the 72-69 loss to the Wildcats, Maryland has rattled off six straight victories due in large part to Len’s play. The Ukrainian big man has averaged 14.7 points, 9 rebounds and 2.6 blocks, while shooting an impressive 54 percent from the field and 77 percent from the foul line. However, what has been most impressive to scouts is Len’s ball handling, ability to shoot from the outside and his obvious athleticism. The NBA loves drafting potential, and Len oozes it.
Just when Maryland fans thought Len’s potential would manifest itself in a Terps uniform, a growing probability is that the NBA will come calling after Len’s second season in college. NBADraft.net has Len projected as seventh overall, and ESPN.com’s Chad Ford said that Len has an “outside shot” of being the top overall pick. For those keeping score at home, that’s a rapid leap for someone who just a year ago didn’t understand what plays his point guard was calling out because, you know, he couldn’t comprehend English.
The hope for the Terps is that just because the NBA thinks you’re good isn’t enough to pull you out of college, and that Len will have to make that decision himself. Some believe Len’s love for the program, Turgeon and his mentality that he still has a lot to accomplish as well as improve upon before leaving for the NBA will keep him around for at least a third season. It’s difficult to read into that too much, considering Len was already playing professionally in Ukraine before Turgeon came calling. That predisposition tells this writer that Len was always looking at college hoops as an opportunity to prepare for the NBA, rather than for the glory of the ACC.
Also worth considering is that Len has only played seven games this season so far, and that a much more competitive ACC schedule awaits him come January. Len averaged 14 points in his three non-conference games last year, before scoring in double figures in only three out of 18 ACC games after that. In the end, look for conference play to dictate where Len will find himself next year more than any other factor.
