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6/19/2008 2:36 PM
 
C Kosta Koufos  (United States)
Golden State—Kosta Koufos, C.A few years ago the Golden State Warriors pulled off one of the greatest upsets in NBA history. This season they finishshed ninth in the Western Conference. If they played in the Eastern Conference they would have been the fourth seed. However, the Warriors need a true center. Heading into last season, Koufos was listed as one of the best centers in the freshmen class. Koufos might have slipped a little bit thanks to Brook Lopez and Kevin Lowe but Koufos held his ground. Look for Golden State to take a good look at Koufos.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/30512-NBA-Mock-Draft
 
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6/19/2008 2:36 PM
 
Re: C Kosta Koufos  (United States)
- Kosta Koufos is rising up draft boards as well. Can't say I'd be pleased if the Sixers drafted him, the couple times I've seen him play he seemed timid and soft.

http://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/Petes_NBA_Mock_Draft_50/279586
 
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6/19/2008 2:37 PM
 
Re: C Kosta Koufos  (United States)
Big Men Make Impression

By Contributing Writer Zach Eisendrath

UCLA power forward Kevin Love may have been the biggest name to grace the floor at the Wolves' pre-draft workout at Target Center on Tuesday, but there was no shortage of intriguing post prospects at Minnesota's practice facility.

In addition to Love, French center Alexis Ajinca, Texas A&M center DeAndre Jordan and Ohio State center Kosta Koufos - all projected first round draft picks - also worked out for Wolves' brass.

Timberwolves.com caught up with all three of them, as well as Vice President of Basketball Operations Kevin McHale, to get their respective thoughts on a variety of topics with just nine days remaining before the June 26 NBA Draft.

Vice President of Basketball Operations Kevin McHale:
Q: On if he agrees with Wolves Assistant General Manager Fred Hoiberg that Kevin Love reminds him of his former teammate, Bill Walton:
McHale: Fred wasn't born when Bill Walton was throwing all those passes. Never listen to a (Iowa State) Cyclone when it comes to history. He's completely different. I don't want to counteract my friend Freddy, but Bill was an over-the-head passer ... Kevin's really that Wes Unseld. He's got a really good feel for the game, moves the ball up and down the floor really well. He does some really good things. And again, I think Kosta Koufus shot the ball very well, he can spread the floor for a seven-footer. Ajinca's really interesting, he has a 7-7 wingspan. It was really a good group ... All four big guys were impressive to me.

Q: On how Love measured out at pre-draft camp:
McHale: I think Kevin measured out in shoes 6-9 and 1/2. Let me tell you something, the difference between 6-9 1/2 and 6-10 really isn't all that much. These are some really long kids out here today, that's why it was interesting to watch him. He did a nice job against them.

Q: On if Love is a legitimate option at third pick:
McHale: A lot of guys are a legitimate option.

Q: On if Love is athletic enough to play the post in the NBA:
McHale: Yeah, I think so. I think Kevin looks really good. He's always been a really good small area quickness player. When you're a big guy, you're playing in small areas, you're not running around normally out to the three-point line.

Q: On Love's basketball IQ:
McHale: He just knows how to play. There's a gift in knowing how to play. It makes you faster, it makes you quicker, it makes you everything because you're anticipating everything, you're a step ahead.

Q: On if he enjoys evaluating big men more so than other prospects:
McHale: Yeah I think so. You like to see big guys. Unfortunately in our league its getting so doggone small. I never thought I'd see a Finals were the center would be Kevin Garnett and the power forward would be James Posey. I was born too soon. I'd like taking my chances against Posey down there, he'd be setting right next to Doc Rivers very quickly. But you know, it's a smaller league right now so it's nice to see big guys.

Q: On questions about Love's size:
McHale: Antonio McDyess plays center for Detroit, they had the best record. Right now, Kevin (Garnett) finishes the game at five (for Boston) and James Posey at 6-6 at the four. (The Lakers) play (Vladimir) Radmanovic at the four a lot when they have (Pau) Gasol at the five and (Phil Jackson) isn't happy with what (Lamar) Odom's doing. And some of the guys who are 6-10 in our league, might as well be 6-6. Nothing is more overrated, in my opinion, than your height, if you're over a certain height. ... What I heard was the Lakers' length was going to overwhelm the Celtics, how's that working out? Yeah, it's overrated. Those are big kids. Would you be asking me that if instead of being 6-9 1/2 he was 6-10 1/2? So that inch, that's going to throw everything into a completely different light? Again, Al (Jefferson's) 6-9 but Al scores against guys 7-2 all the time. Does Al look 6-9 when he plays? No. It's all relative to a lot of stuff. (If) they're basketball players, they're basketball players.

French center Alexis Ajinca
Q: On if he can play in the NBA:
Ajinca: I feel I can play (in the) NBA. But I really need some weight.

Q: On how he played Tuesday:
Ajinca: I think I played good. I showed I can run and shoot the three or two. I think I played good today.

Q: On how many teams he is working out for:
Ajinca: I've got 15 workouts.

Q: On how many times he has been to the United States: Ajinca: This is my fourth time.

Q: On how he feels his game is progressing:
Ajinca: I feel I learn every day because playing against big guys that are the same age as me (is) good for me.

Texas A&M center DeAndre Jordan
Q: On why he thinks his draft stock has improved in recent weeks:
Jordan: Workouts are going well, I mean, they are going great. The work that I put in after the tournament its working out, but the past six seven weeks, just working hard everyday, just trying to get better is helping me move up I guess.

Q: On how he prepares for pre-draft workouts:
Jordan: Just rest, but at the same time you have to be in shape, you have to be willing to bump a little bit. You have to be able to go up and down when you are tired. You have to be mentally tough and push it so you can finish the workout and not be sluggish (at the end).

Q: On the differences between the college and the pro game:
Jordan: (The NBA's) a lot more physical. You can play a lot more physical because at the college level they don't let you bump as much. But here they kind of like that. They let you do it. Its pretty much the physicality and you have to be mentally ready.

Q: On what he can bring to the Wolves:
Jordan: Athleticism, rebounding, just a defensive force.

Ohio State center Kosta Koufos
Q: On what he tried to show on the court.
Koufos: I just tried to show as much as possible. I just wanted to play hard and go after it. Just get up and down the court, that's about it.

Q: On the differences between pre-draft workouts for different teams:
Koufos: They do pretty much the same things. A lot of shooting, a lot of 1-on-1, 2-on-2 and 3-on-3 and such. Some teams mix in different things as others do as well.

Q: On if he is open to playing for any NBA team:
Koufos: I'm just going to any team that wants me. I'm just going to go out and try my best and enjoy it.

Q: On how he would fit in with the Wolves:
Koufos: They are an up-tempo team, a very young team as well, I feel like I could fit in with the up-tempo style. God blessed me with this opportunity and I'm just making the best of it.

Q: On how playing one year at Ohio State helped him improve his game:
Koufos: Coach (Thad) Matta helped me a lot. I got mentally tougher (and) physically tougher. That one year did help me a lot.

http://www.nba.com/timberwolves/news/big_men_make_impression_080617.html
 
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6/19/2008 2:38 PM
 
Re: C Kosta Koufos  (United States)


Did anybody else stay up late last night to watch the Lakers get embarrassed by the Celtics?

I originally said I was going to go to bed at halftime when Boston was up by 23 points. I decided to stay up so that I could see the Big Ticket (Garnett) win his first NBA title. I've always enjoyed watching K.G. play. He plays hard all the time and he knows how to get his teammates to follow his lead.

I remember Minnesota officials telling me that they had force Garnett off the court after practice. He also hated when his squad didn't win scrimmages in practice.

Just think, K.G., Pierce, Allen, Rondo and Perkins will all be back next season. The Celtics will likely be favored to win it all again.

All eyes can shift to the draft now that the season is officially over - two months after the regular season ended.

There's been plenty of talk about the Pacers possibly taking UCLA's Russell Westbrook or Texas' D.J. Augustin with the No. 11 pick.

That got me thinking, what if both players are already gone by the time their selection rolls around?

I've seen Westbrook going as high as No. 6 to Donnie Walsh's New York Knicks and Augustin going in the top 10, too, on some mock drafts.

Without tipping his hand, one Pacers official told me they have a backup plan if both players are gone.

Big men Anthony Randolph, DeAndre Jordan and Kosta Koufos should be available at No. 11. I don't get how a player - Jordan - that averaged 7.9 points, 6.0 rebounds and 44 percent from the free throw line last season is a possible lottery pick.

Should the Pacers look to trade down if they can't get Augustin or Westbrook? Should they keep the pick and go big?

http://blogs.indystar.com/pacersinsider/archives/2008/06/what_if_westbro_1.html
 
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6/27/2008 12:47 AM
 
Re: C Kosta Koufos  (United States)
NBA Draft: Utah Selects Koufos with 23rd Pick
Courtesy: OhioStateBuckeyes.com
          Release: 06/26/2008

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Rookie center becomes fourth Buckeye freshman in two years to go in NBA’s First Round

COLUMBUS, OhioKosta Koufos, a 7-foot center, became the fourth Ohio State freshman to be selected in the opening round of the annual National Basketball Association Draft in the last two seasons when the Utah Jazz selected the Canton, Ohio, native with the 23rd pick Thursday.

The 2008 NBA Draft was held at Madison Square Garden in New York, site of Koufos’ last collegiate game as a Buckeye. He earned MVP honors in helping Ohio State win the 2008 National Invitation Tournament with a 92-85 win over Massachusetts April 3.

Greg Oden, Mike Conley Jr., and Daequan Cook, all freshmen from Ohio State’s 2007 NCAA runner up squad, were taken in the opening round of the 2007 NBA Draft.

Portland, with the first overall pick in 2007, selected Oden. He was the first Buckeye selected with the opening pick. Conley went to the Memphis Grizzlies with the No. 4 pick and Cook was selected by Philadelphia with the 21st pick of the opening round.

Thad Matta, head coach of the Buckeyes, said Koufos was focused on this day.

Kosta Koufos meant a great deal to our program,” Matta said. “We are excited for him because he had a goal to play at the next level and he’ll now have a chance to do so.”

Since 1947, 45 Ohio State basketball players have been drafted by NBA teams, including 20 first round selections.

Koufos joins Oden, Conley, Cook and Michael Redd, now in his ninth year with the Milwaukee Bucks, as former Buckeyes currently active in the NBA. Redd recently was selected to represent the United States on the men’s senior national team in the 2008 Beijing Olympics later this summer.

“We tell our guys to take advantage of the opportunities and resources available in college to reach their goals,” Matta said. “Over the last two years we’ve had four freshmen realize their dreams by being selected in the first round of the NBA Draft. I am proud of the players who have gone on to the next level and look forward to watching them compete for many years to come.”

Koufos topped Ohio State in rebounding (6.7 ppg.) and blocks (67) in 2007-08. He was second in scoring with 14.4 points a game.

Ohio State made its eighth appearance in the postseason NIT and won its second championship after a five-game win streak to end the season. The Buckeyes finished 24-13 overall, the fourth-consecutive season with 20 or more wins and Matta’s eighth-consecutive year with 20-plus wins as a head coach.

Ohio State’s NBA First Round Draft History

Year    Player                                  At OSU            NBA Team                                            Round (pick)

1947    Jack Underman                 1946-47            St. Louis                                               1 (7)

1947    Paul Huston                       1945-47            Chicago                                                1 (8)

1950    Dick Schnittker                  1948-50            Washington Capitols                         1 (5)

1961    Larry Siegfried                   1959-61            Boston Celtics                                     1 (3)

1962    Jerry Lucas                         1960-62            Cincinnati Royals                                1 (6)

1962    John Havlicek                    1960-62            Boston Celtics                                     1 (9)

1964    Gary Bradds                       1962-64            Baltimore Bullets                                 1 (3)

1968    Bill Hosket                          1966-68            New York Knicks                                 1 (10)

1971    Jim Cleamons                    1969-71            Los Angeles                                         1 (13)

1980    Kelvin Ransey                    1977-80            Chicago Bulls                                      1 (4)

1981    Herb Williams                    1978-81            Indiana Pacers                                     1 (14)

1982    Clark Kellogg                      1980-82            Indiana Pacers                                     1 (8)

1984    Tony Campbell                  1981-84            Detroit Pistons                                    1 (20)

1986    Brad Sellers                        1985-86            Chicago Bulls                                      1 (9)

1987    Dennis Hopson                 1984-87            New Jersey Nets                                 1 (3)

1992    Jim Jackson                       1990-92            Atlanta Hawks                                     1 (4)

2007    Greg Oden                         2007                 Portland Trailblazers                          1 (1)

2007    Mike Conley Jr.                  2007                 Memphis Grizzlies                              1 (4)

2007    Daequan Cook                   2007                 Philadelphia 76ers                              1 (21)

2008    Kosta Koufos                     2008                 Utah Jazz                                             1 (23)

 
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