Jacob Pullen

Jacob Pullen - All attempts to turn Pullen into a real point guard ended in failure. He doesn't get the position, and he's never going to. The reason he makes the point guard list anyway is the same reason Randy Culpepper did - Pullen is only 6'0, and you are who you defend in this business. A good if somewhat streaky outside shooter, Pullen scores 20 points per game despite his size through a medley of catch-and-shoots, shots off the dribble, long range J's, mid-range J's, transition attempts, and some forays to the basket. His shot selection improved, and he got to the line 7 times a game, an impressive number for a lead guard. The effort was never in question.

What Pullen doesn't have is Culpepper's athleticism - he couldn't finish at the basket even in college, and this will be magnified in the pro game. Pullen defends the point guard spot fairly well and has good hands, but he's overmatched sizewhere even there, let alone at the two guard spot. And given that Pullen was suspended in the midst of his senior season - one in which a young, depleted and wobbling Kansas State team was crying out for upperclassman leadership - Pullen put up another strike against himself. It is highly likely, then, that he never plays in the NBA, despite the calibre of his jumpshot.

Clemente was even less easily replaced. The initial decision to move Jacob Pullen to point guard didn't work out, because, despite his size and his defensive effectiveness at the position, Pullen just isn't a point guard. He is a secondary ball handler at best, and just not a natural passer like that. He's a scorer. He just is. If he's to e'er play point guard, it would have to be in the same way that Eddie House does it, and this wasn't that. (Pullen then suffered the same leadership/suspension problems as Kelly, which didn't help anybody.) Freshman Will Spradling then got a chance at it, and had some initial success - he shot the ball well, made solid decisions, and took a ton of charges, the best way to defend if you're a small unathletic guard. But then he hit the freshman wall early, and stopped making said decisions. He has nevertheless again become a big minute player for the team, mainly on account of the fact he's one of the few good ball handlers and shooters.