In some respects, the Turkish center typifies this entire draft class- unlimited potential and huge question marks. Few G.M.’s will be able to sit back after their first-round pick and say, with confidence, that they know they got a guy they can pencil into their starting lineup for the next five years. ·Kanter could be the most extreme example of this uncertainty as his body of work is remarkably limited for someone who could be taken in the first three picks of the draft.Associated Press

As a 16-year old, Kanter logged less than 100 total minutes in his one season with Fenerbache in Turkey in 2008-09. He then moved to Stoneridge Prep in California, where he played well but faced far inferior competition. Kanter was set to play for John Calipari’s Kentucky Wildcats this season; however, the NCAA found that he received enough money while playing for Fenerbache to lose his amateur status so he never stepped foot on the court at Rupp Arena. Kanter did at least perform extremely well at the 2009 FIBA U-18 European Championship, where he averaged 18 points and 16 rebounds and was named the tournament’s MVP.  

Kanter would have undoubtedly been on many teams’ radars thanks to his play in the FIBA championships; however, it is unlikely that he would have been anywhere near the top of this draft class were it not for one extremely impressive game at the Nike Hoops Summit last year. While sharing the court with Kyrie Irving, Jared Sullinger, Brandon Knight, Tristan Thompson, Kendall Marshall, Terrence Jones and Harrison Barnes, Kanter completely stole the show. In 24 minutes, he scored 34 points and grabbed 13 rebounds (8 offensive) and broke Dirk Nowitzki’s scoring record for the annual event.  The range, motor and raw talent that Kanter showed that day vaulted him to the top of the 2011 draft board.

The problem is, that was only one game and had Kanter merely played solid basketball at the Nike Summit, he likely would not even be a part of the conversation this week. G.M.’s across the league are as divided on him as any player in recent history, with some ranking him at the top of their board and others not even considering him a lottery pick. He will, however, be taken in the lottery and it would be a shock to see him slip it past the Wizards at six.

Strengths- At 6-11, Kanter has legitimate center’s size for a 19-year old. He also came in with an impressive 5.9% body fat on his 260-pound frame at the combine. He has great technique on his jump shot and has range out to 20 feet. His rebounding, especially on the offensive glass, looks good enough to land him consistent minutes as a rookie. He has a diverse offensive skill set and can provide a stronger inside presence than the typical Euro big man.

Weaknesses- His lack of competitive experience is alarming at best; there are high school juniors with a more complete body of work.  His defense in prep school games was almost non-existent. His low-post game is raw and his footwork needs a lot of work on both sides of the floor. He has good height and strength but his length and athletic ability are nothing impressive.

Summary- Kanter is one of the most polarizing players in a draft full of them. Depending on who you talk to, he could be the next Kevin Love, the next Spencer Hawes or the next Yi Jianlian. His 34-point performance in the Nike Hoops Summit was unbelievable and showed that he can dominate against good competition, but a G.M. can’t base their top pick in the draft on essentially one game. And for what it’s worth, the last three players to score 30 points at the Nike Hoops Summit were Wayne Ellington, Tyler Hansbrough and Casey Jacobson. The lack of scouting material on Kanter probably helps him, if anything, since his game can’t be dissected and nit-picked the way, say, JaJuan Johnson’s has been. The optimal situation for Kanter as a rookie would be with a team who already has a solid defensive center and some other young talent. The best fits for him would be Utah at #3 or Washington at #6 assuming they keep JaVale Magee this summer.