Celtics Draft Preview: Marshon Brooks

UPDATE: Adrian Wojnarowski reports that Celtics are trading the pick (Brooks) to New Jersey

For the next month, Celticsblog.com is taking a look at potential Celtics draft picks in the 2011 NBA Draft. For a look at previously featured players, click on names: Markieff Morris, Klay Thompson, Justin Harper, and Kenneth Faried. Fifth up in the series, Providence's Marshon Brooks.

His measurements from the Draft Combine:

Birthday: 1/26/1989 Height: 6'5.25" Weight: 194.6 Wingspan: 7'1" Standing Reach: 8'5" Max vert: 38.5" ¾ Court Sprint: 3.09

His per-game stats from his senior season at Morehead State:

Mins: 36.5 Pts: 24.6 FG: 8.6 FGA: 17.8 FG%: 48.3 3P%: 34.0 FT%: 77.2 Rebs: 7.0 Asts: 2.5 Steals: 1.9 Turnovers: 2.5

While UConn's Kemba Walker got most of the attention in the Big East and especially here in New England, another player coming out of the same two places looks to be a pretty good fit here in Boston, among other teams. I'm talking about Providence shooting guard Marshon Brooks - a prospect shooting up the draft charts.

That's right, Boston's potentially newest player was just a quick drive down I-95 from Boston's TD Garden for the past four years.

Brooks, who wasn't considered much of a draft prospect to start the season, put together quite an impressive senior season at Providence. Two games, although both one-possession losses, stand out - a 43-point effort against Georgetown, and a 52-point effort against then No. 9 Notre Dame (11 coming in final 50 seconds), the latter being a Big East single game record. He shot 20-28 against ND, including 6-10 from deep.

Speaking of Big East records, in his last game of the season, Brooks broke the Big East single-season scoring record with 468 points, beating out the 462 points set by UConn's Donyell Marshall in the 1993-94 Big East season.

Needless to say, Brooks can score in bunches, and anyone who followed the Celtics last season knows that there were times when, well, scoring in bunches was exactly what they needed.

To this point, it still looks to be a need, and although Ray Allen has picked up his option for this season - and there's a chance he could even re-sign again at the end of this contract - the Celtics could definitely groom a guy like Marshon Brooks into a stud shooting guard in the NBA.

But they aren't the only team taking notice. As previously noted, Brooks is getting a lot of attention right now, even though he flew under the radar all season.

"I think I've just been able to get exposure," Brooks told DraftExpres.com. "I've been able to be seen. Providence, my team this year, we didn't have many TV games like most of these guys. We didn't have a chance to play in March. I think that I wasn't seen that much. Then once some of the scouts saw me it kind of stood out to them, especially with my long arms and my wingspan."

Listed around 6'5" with shoes on, Brooks is a lot bigger than his height. Check out his freakish measurements listed above - a 7'1" wingspan! That puts him at the biggest wingspan among all guards in this year's draft and bigger than just about every small forward. To further illustrate his unusually big wingspan as a guard, it's bigger than notable PF's like the Morris twins, Kenneth Faried, Justin Harper, Tobias Harris, and tied with Trey Thompkins.

At the recent draft combine, his max vert jump (38.5) was also measured as one of the best among guards. Ditto with the size of his hands. Those features makes him a guy who can not only shoot, but can be active on the glass as a guard (7.0 rebounds per game). There were times last season where the C's guards weren't doing enough on the glass and it hurt the team.

Not sold yet? He's also one of the fasted in this year's draft, as his ¾ court sprint tied for the fasted among SG's at 3.09 (Malcolm Lee), and was second fasted among all guards (Brandon Knight 3.07).

Brooks sees himself slowly working his way into the league, and helping out any way he can at first. Eventually he thinks he can make the leap.

"Early on I can just see me as a rotational player just trying to basically get in where I fit in, just try to make the team better," he told DraftExpress.com. "Be an off the bench buzz and try to create extra opportunities for my team. Just try to do the little things to win. But as I get comfortable, and as I get comfortable with the NBA game I think I can really be a big time scorer in this league."

Here is what NBAdraft.net, who gives Brooks an overall score of 92, says about his weaknesses:

"The ball has the tendency to stick to Brooks' hands, causing teammates to stand around forcing stagnant and one and done offensive possessions ... Doesn't show the best shot selection, and throws up too many unnecessary heat checks ... Physically he lacks the athleticism and explosiveness that most scoring NBA two-guards possess ... He averaged close to 18 field goal attempts per game, so his scoring average could be inflated due to his role in Providence's offense ... He won't have the opportunity to dominate the ball in the pros the way he does in college, so adjusting his spacing and adapting to his teammates could be a challenge for him in a new role ... His body has good length but lacks great bulk/strength ... Needs to put forth more intensity and effort on the defensive end ..."

Like with most rookies coming into the NBA, their roles will be drastically reduced at first. That will obviously be the case with Brooks, and yes his numbers will go down because of it. Is that a "weakness"? I wouldn't go that far. It makes sense that he took such a high number of shots, being essentially the only real dependable scorer on the team this year. And as far as adding bulk/strength, that's something that will come with time.

Brooks went on to say that he played a lot of point guard his whole life, so he considers his ball handling ability to be top notch at the shooting guard position. Also, his fast paced offensive style played at Providence make for an easier transition into the NBA and its 24-second clock.

He also knows that what's asked of him at the NBA level will be a bit different than what was asked of him in college.

"In the NBA they want you to sprint to the corner and try to create space for the (Russell) Westbrook's and the (Rajon) Rondo's so they can do their job and get to the paint."

He's already envisioning playing alongside Rajon Rondo - are you?

MarShon Brooks 2010-11 Highlight Video (via FriarHoops)

Marshon Brooks 52 Points Every Basket and PTI (via PCFriars07)