Name:  Mike Conley Jr.
Age:  19
Height:  6-1
Weight:  175
College:  Ohio State (Fr.)

Strengths/Weaknesses:

Mike is clearly the best point guard prospect available in this year?s Draft. It?s not likely that his stock could have gotten much higher after leading the Buckeyes to the National Title game with childhood friend and consensus top pick, Greg Oden. He started all thirty-nine of the games he played for OSU last season, finishing with nice averages (11.3 points, 6.4 assists, and 2.2 steals per game).

He?s not only the best passer in this year?s class, but quite possibly the quickest player in the field as well. He also showed tremendous penetrating ability in the NCAA Tournament, which might as well have been dubbed ?Mike Conley?s Coming Out Party.? When most people heard of Ohio State this season they immediate thought of Oden, Conley?s play in the Tournament averted some of the attention from the big fella.

Conley does a terrific job of knowing when to pass and when to put it up himself, which is rare these days. His father (and agent), Mike Conley Sr. was an Olympic Gold Medalist in the triple jump, so you know he comes from solid stock. It?s incredibly hard to find a flaw in Conley?s game ? if anything he?ll need to improve his perimeter and free throw shooting in order to be mentioned in the same sentence as young guns like Chris Paul and Deron Williams.

Marquee Performances:

He was solid for the Buckeyes all year, but it was his performance this March that turned the heads of NBA GMs from Boston to Portland. He averaged 16.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 2.0 steals in six NCAA Tournament games. Countless times it seemed as though OSU was on the verge of elimination, but it was Conley (not always Oden) that led them all the way to the Title game.

With the Buckeyes reeling against Xavier, Conley helped Ohio State force overtime and then scored eleven points in the extra period as they cruised to a 78-71 victory (all of this with Oden glued to the bench). Mike finished the game with twenty-one points on 7-for-15 shooting from the field and 6-for-6 from the charity stripe. He also added five rebounds and four assists in the game that opened my eyes to his ability.

Ideal Fit:

I?d absolutely love to say that he?d be an ideal fit for my Indiana Pacers, but that?s just not a realistic thought. Not only are my Pacers void of a pick, but while he does currently call Indiana home, there?s no need for a young player of his caliber to have to endure what?s been going on there as of late.

He?d be a perfect fit in Atlanta, but Lord knows if they?ll reach for him with the third pick. In my opinion, any of the next four teams (Memphis, Boston, Milwaukee, and Minnesota) could use his services as well. Historically he?s exactly the kind of player Atlanta would pass up on, see: Paul, Chris. I don?t know if they?ve been blasted hard enough to take a flyer on Conley at the three, but ultimately I think he?ll fit in wherever he ends up.

Best Case:

Chris Paul, New Orleans: I couldn?t list Deron Williams here because he?s much bigger (physically) than Conley will seemingly ever become. Williams is two inches taller and about thirty pounds heavier than Conley, and could post him up with great success (excuse the Borat reference). Paul?s body is similar to Conley?s, and I think their games will parallel one another?s as well. I have come pretty close to saying that Conley is a sure-fire star in this league, but I bit my tongue (maybe keyboard applies better here).

Worst Case:

Earl Watson, Seattle: Watson isn?t a bad player, he?s actually far from it, but I don?t see Conley enjoying anything less than what Earl has done in his six NBA seasons. They are similar in body-type, although Conley shoots the ball much better. Watson owns career averages of 6.8 points and 4.1 assists per game, that?s on the very low end of what I expect from MCJ.

Do you want Mike Conley on your team? Feel free to let Andrew in on your thoughts? Andrew.Perna@RealGM.com