Updated: July 22, 2011, 12:17 am ET

2011 Draft: 8 Names To Know

By Yannis Koutroupis
Senior NBA Writer & College Basketball Editor

Every year in the draft there are the players who don’t get anywhere near as much recognition as they deserve. Those who are projected to go early in the first round will always get talked about the most, but history has taught us that the players who go beyond then can play too. Earlier in the week Luke Byrnes took a look at eight potential sleepers to remember and here is a look at eight more.

Shelvin Mack, Jr. (Butler) – 6’3, 215 lbs. Point Guard

It’s amazing how little respect Shelvin Mack is getting as an NBA prospect. All he did at Butler over the last two years was lead them to the championship game twice. Although they fell short both times, the fact they managed to get there alone was simply incredible.

As far as NCAA point guards go, there definitely is not five better than Mack. In fact, there’s a good possibility he’s going to handle the transition to the pros much better than the highly-touted Jimmer Fredette out of BYU.

Mack possesses a very high basketball IQ with a knack for the heroics. He also has the ability to knock down the open jump shot all the way out to the NBA three-point line.  His assist-to-turnover ratio is a little bit low, but being surrounded by NBA talent should help with that a good deal. If Mack stays in the draft and slips to the second round, he’ll be an absolute steal there.

Jeremy Tyler (USA) – 6’11, 240 lbs. Power Forward/Center

Two years ago Jeremy Tyler was projected as a potential top-five pick in this year’s draft. He was one of the most talented players that the high school class of 2011 had to offer, but decided high school wasn’t the best place for him. With complaints over the level of competition he was facing and the amount of hacking he was experiencing game in and game out, Tyler opted for a career overseas after his junior year instead.

Originally committed to Louisville, Tyler likely wished he went through on that commitment on several different occasions over the past two years. Much like Brandon Jennings, his venture overseas didn’t consist of becoming the instant star he would have under Cardinals head coach Rick Pitino. It was a learning experience he’s probably glad is over.

It didn’t do much for his stock. Tyler has a lot of work ahead of him to get into the draft’s first round. He’s got a nice feel for the game paired up with great size and athleticism, though. Still very young in age, someone is going to take a gamble on him and hope they can help him max out his potential.

Jon Leuer, Sr. (Wisconsin) – 6’10, 228 lbs. Power Forward
Throughout the season Jon Leuer pretty much flew under the radar. His production at Wisconsin ranked right up with some of the best power forwards in the country, yet he never got the attention of a Marcus Morris or Derrick Williams. His averages of 18 points and seven rebounds make it clear, though, he has next-level talent.

After spending four years playing for Bo Ryan, Leuer understands the importance of defense. He helped anchor one of the nation’s best defenses over the last four years. While he may be athletically limited, he’ll make up for some of that with his understanding of the game and intensity.

Leuer’s ability to stretch the floor with his jump shot is something he’ll need to continue to improve. It’s a weapon of his right now he’s not afraid to use, but it can get even better. Expect him to go early on in the second round.

Scotty Hopson, Jr. (Tennessee) – 6’7, 200 lbs. Shooting Guard

When Scott Hopson committed to Tennessee they were one of the top programs in the country that looked poised to contend for national championships over the next few years. By the end of his junior it was mired in controversy and in need of a completely new direction.

That made it tough for Hopson, but he still showcased all the skills that made him a top recruit coming out of high school. He steadily increased his scoring average from nine to 17 throughout his three years as a Volunteer.

The reason why he isn’t a first round pick is because he lacked consistency and a reliable three-point shot. However, he’s a prospect worth keeping an eye on because he has a way to go before he peaks. He’s long and athletic with a game that would fit perfectly in an up-tempo system.

Demetri McCamey, Sr. (Illinois) – 6’3, 200 lbs. Point Guard

{AUTHOR_BOX}NBA scouts and general managers had interest in Demetri McCamey last year; he could have left school early and it wouldn’t have been looked at as that bad of a decision. He decided to stay, though, and experienced a minor senior-season slump.

McCamey’s numbers dropped almost across the board. His three-point shooting and free throw percentages were the only ones that rose. Because of that his stock has taken a hit, but that doesn’t mean he can’t run an NBA team.

McCamey brings skills to the table a pro point guard needs to have. He’s effective scoring the ball, but looks to create for his teammates first and foremost. He has a nice frame allowing him to absorb contact and not be fazed too much. McCamey will be an ideal fit on a team in the second round that needs some depth at the lead guard spot. 

Ben Hansbrough, Sr. (Notre Dame) – 6’3, 203 lbs. Point Guard

Unlike his brother Tyler who was a superstar at North Carolina from day one, it took Ben Hansbrough some time to make a name for himself at the collegiate level. He started his career off at Mississippi State where he was solid in his role as the floor general, but didn’t like the culture there because he couldn’t put in the amount of work he wanted. Just like his brother, his work ethic is relentless.

It paid off at Notre Dame where he established himself as one of the best guards in the country during his senior year. Hansbrough put up 18 points a night along with three rebounds and four assists. With him leading the way the Fighting Irish won 27 games and finished second in the regular season of the Big East Conference.

Odds are Hansbrough will end up a second-round pick, but he’s going to be the kind of guy that really impresses once he lands on a team. All he does is fight. He has no quit in him and there are room for guys like that in the league, especially with his shooting ability.

Keith Benson, Sr. (Oakland) – 6’11, 230 lbs. Center

Few big man have been as productive as Keith Benson has been over the two years. Had he been playing at a top-tier school like Texas or Kentucky he would have been a hot commodity, but he went largely unrecognized due to playing at Oakland. Averaging a double-double isn’t an easy task no matter where you play as long as you’re D-I and Benson did just that with 17 points and 10 rebounds a game during 2009-2010 and 2010-2011.

At 6’11 Benson has a frame that looks like it can support the additional strength he’ll need to add to hang down low with the big boys in the pros. He’s quite mobile and athletic, making him a force on the defensive end where he averaged 3.6 blocks a contest.

His speed and quickness helps him out on the offensive end as well, but he’s got some strides he needs to make in that area as his performance against Texas in the NCAA tournament showed. In a draft that is lacking quality big men, Benson could see his name called earlier than expect on draft night due to a team drafting for need.

Jimmy Butler, Sr. (Marquette) – 6’7, 220 lbs. Forward

There are specialists in the NBA who are only great at one thing and then there are guys who are solid in most areas and not great in any one in particular. Jimmy Butler is that kind of guy. There are few things he didn’t do for Buzz Williams at Marquette. He was just productive, averaging 15 points, six rebounds and two assists a game.

Butler followed up his strong senior season with a stellar performance at the Portsmouth Invitational in front of scouts from the NBA and overseas, who are really hoping that the NBA sleeps on him so they can scoop him up.

Chances are that isn’t going to happen though. Every team can use a utility player who can be called on in many different situations. There may be some desire to move him to one forward spot exclusively, but his versatility is a major strength. He shouldn’t be locked into just one spot.

Yannis Koutroupis is a senior NCAA and NBA analyst for HOOPSWORLD. You can follow him on twitter.

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