As an incoming freshman at Kansas last October, Josh Selby was generating an inordinate amount of hype from the Jayhawk faithful.  Entering the 2010-2011 season, expectations for the youngster were sky-high, and for good reason.  In a high school class that included Duke-bound Kyrie Irving, Selby was considered by many to be the top guard prospect in America (Rivals.com had him ranked #1 overall), after averaging 28 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists per game during his senior season for Lake Clifton High School in Baltimore, Maryland.   
 
However, one he arrived on campus, Selby never seemed to settle in at Kansas.  Due to a number of different factors, he never found a true comfort zone.  For starters, Selby’s collegiate career was initially derailed before it even began when the NCAA suspended him for the first nine games of KU’s season after they ruled that he had received "improper benefits" while in high school.
 
Yet, in his first game in a Kansas uniform, Selby made an immediate impact.  He scored 21 points in just 27 minutes during his KU debut, including the game-winner in a 70-68 victory over USC.  Selby showed flashes of brilliance over the following few weeks, scoring in double-figures in nine of his first 13 games as it appeared he was starting to find his role.
 
However, an ankle injury Selby suffered in early February caused him to miss three games, and even after he came back, it appeared he never fully recovered.  After returning on February 14th, Josh played the final 13 games of the Jayhawks season, yet failed to crack double-figures even once.  Over that 13-game stretch, he averaged just 3.8 points per game.            
 
Thus, one of the first questions directed at Selby when he spoke with the media at the Chicago combine was to discuss his current physical health, as compared to his time at KU.
 
"At Kansas I was about 75-80%, right now I’m at 110%.  So it’s a big difference right now," said Selby.

 
Josh was also asked how he felt looking back on the injury and its negative impact on his time at KU.  "I try to forget about what happened at Kansas because if I fall into it then I’m going to think too much."  Selby continued: "I’d always be looking back like, ‘Dag, I couldn’t did this or I could have did that…’ So I just try to wipe that out of my head and just move forward and forget about the past."
 
Nonetheless, Josh is clearly looking forward to the individual workouts that are part of the draft process as a way to clear up some misconceptions about him and his game.  Does he think he’ll have an oppotruinty to do that over the next month?
 
"I don’t know.  I hope so. You know I’d don’t read the blogs and I don’t go in the internet and check what people are saying. I just try to continue to work hard and do what I have to do on the court." said Selby.

And from all reports, including the buzz coming from Selby’s workouts at Impact Basketball in Las Vegas, he is doing just that.  Selby dazzled fellow players and onlookers alike in the weeks leading up the Chicago combine, flashing the athleticism, quickness, scoring ability, and elite skill set that made him a prep phenomenon. 

One issue critics will raise when discussing Selby’s pro potential is which position he’ll play in the NBA.  At a lithe 6’3" (with sneakers on), is he big/strong enough to play shooting guard?  And considering he played off the ball at Kansas, can he develop into a play-making NBA point guard?  

{AUTHOR_BOX}Selby addressed this concern, as he was matched up against other SG’s in Chicago.  "I’m probably the smallest shooting guard here so I just try to compete and win every sprint, make a lot of shots, try to win every one-on-one situation we are doing… Yeah, I just try to compete real hard," said Selby.  As far as how he plans to defend bigger shooting guards in the League, Josh stated: "I think I have to get into them and be more physical with them just because they are so much stronger."

Nonetheless, Selby doesn’t plan be pigeonholed into single position at this early stage of his career.  "Wherever they put m, I’m just gonna play. It doesn’t matter if the coach throws me at power forward, I’m just going to go out there and work my hardest."  

With the NBA draft less than a month away, terrific talent tends to slowly rise to the top.  As GM’s start to get an up close look at this kid, expect Selby’s draft stock to rise.  In today’s NBA, having a guard that can penetrate and create for others is essential.  The current rules heavily favor quick, athletic guards – as it is extremely difficult for even great defenders to stay in front and deny penetration.

Although Selby struggled at Kansas (where the offense was predicated on dumping the ball into the Morris brothers down low), his game would likely translate very well into an up-tempo NBA system.  For instance, consider the Knicks, who pick 17th overall.  It’s safe to assume that Mike D’Antoni could probably find a way to effectively utilize Selby’s superlative skill set.

This is a player that can stroke the three, and is also explosive enough to have won the dunk contest at the 2010 McDonalds All-American Game.

Most mock drafts have him projected to land in the 14-20 neighborhood.  That could turn out to a great value pick for a team in the teens, considering Selby has lottery-type talent.   

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