The Top 10 names in the 2011 PBA Draft

While some fans have bought into the Media hype that this is the deepest draft in recent memory, I choose to argue otherwise and that only about 10 to 12 guys will make it as rotation players in the PBA and about three to four as legit, potential PBA superstars.

That being said, you might raise an eyebrow or two with the names that I'm going to throw out there, but you never know in this league. Not when teams draft Jai Reyes and groom him as a future Johnny Abarrientos or Joseph Yeo is picked before Gabby Espinas in one of the draft history's biggest blunders/travesties.

1 JAYVEE CASIO

There's no other player in the country at present who has made a better argument for himself or raised his value draft-wise as Casio. Be it as a clutch shooter for San Beda and De La Salle or more recently, as SMART Gilas' go-to-guy and heady point guard with nerves of steel and balls the size of grapefruits.
2 PAUL LEE

Lee lost some steam by opting out of the SMART Gilas program (probably because he didn't want to play behind lesser talent *cough* Chris Tiu *cough* before wanting in late and finally settling in the PBA's Developmental League. But make no mistake about it, of all the names on the table, Lee is arguably the best and proven player pound for pound on both ends of the court. Everyone knows he can score, but then he went out of his way to learn how to play team ball at UE and later on, adding man-to-man defense as well as how to transition from SG to PG when needed. There's not a doubt in my mind that if given the right opportunities, Lee will blossom into a PBA superstar.

3 ANDY BARROCA
Another FEU point-god who was burning players in the international level before Casio's ascension, Barroca is that rare combination of speed and intelligence lost in today's flashier point guards. Think UAAP L.A. Tenorio (he slowed down a bit in the PBA), minus the step back three ball and that's pretty much how Barroca is as a point guard (and taller). One thing going for him is that, he doesn't mind coming off the bench and always follows his coaches to the "T."

4 MARCIO LASSITER

There's a lot going for Lassiter in the draft, one of which is his US pedigree. Another thing I've grown to like about the Fil-Am wing is that he seems to play with a lot of intensity and is fearless. He's hit big shots for SMART Gilas before, and he plays the type of pesky defense that old school coaches like Yeng Guiao, Jong Uichico and Ato Agustin love.

5 MAC BARACAEL
The only positions that Baracael can't play, or at least we haven't seen him as, are shooting guard and center. Other than that, Baracael follows in that new line of Filipino wings who can play defense, shoot, run and jump out of the gym (okay, maybe not so much). At the moment, Baracael is the only player other than Paul Lee who may be considered as "PBA big minutes" ready.

6 ERIC SALAMAT
Here's the thing with Ateneans and other champion UAAP players: you can't really tell how good they are because of their school's systems. Salamat, who's known as a key contributor off the bench, is exactly that. In short minutes, his passion and tenacity often lights up his teammates, the crowd as well as the scoreboard. In instances where he's asked to player longer, he shows that he is prone to fouls and turnovers as well as some bone headed plays here and there. Can he be a starter at SG? For lower seeded teams yes, but he is a back-up PG at best.
7 CHRIS LUTZ
Another SMART Gilas Fil-Am wing who appears to be a solid system player who can shoot and defend. The only thing that bothers me really and has left me unconvinced is that, he doesn't seem to have that same fire as his teammates Casio, Lassiter, Barroca and Baracael. Almost like he's going through the motions and is content to be a solid rotation player-- not a star.

8 DYLAN ABABOU
People will sleep on Ababou because, quite frankly, he's been sleeping on us the entire time with Smart Gilas. He wasn't able to win over Rajko Toroman and land a spot on the regular rotation, so why would PBA teams take a chance on the former UAAP MVP other than his affiliation? Personally, I want Ababou to end up with a losing team, just so he can be thrown out there in an instant, get his confidence up and show that old MVP form of his as the closest thing we have to a Jun Limpot (big man with legit skills and a high basketball IQ).

9 REIL CERVANTES

He's big, he can bang and he has legit, back-to-the-basket moves. In a UAAP dream world without Jhervy Cruz, Rabah Al Hussaini or Ford Arao, Cervantes could be the best slotman coming out of college. Right now, his game is more polished than that of Alaska's Sonny Thoss. Hopefuly, his fire can make up for his lack of height.
10 ALLEN MALIKSI
No one knows about Maliksi other than his recent stint as PBA D-League MVP (which I feel should've gone to Calvin "The Beast" Abueva). I've seen a few of his games and yes, he can definitely shoot the ball with the best of them. But his lack in heft might hold him back and probably earn him a sure tryout spot for an ABL team (if Patrick Cabahug couldn't make it, then all bets are off unless this guy has great backers/handlers).

KKS SLEEPER: KEN ACIBAR
A.K.A. Paul Lee's favorite drop-to guy in the UAAP. This kid can play and already has the body of a young Danny Ildefonso. Hopefully he doesn't drop the ball and continues to build around a solid inside-out, Kerby-ish game.

Who's your Top 10 for this Sunday's draft?