Disappointment for Blalock and Stinson in NBA Draft

Jeremy · 06-29-2006, 07:37 AM

Disappointment for Blalock and Stinson in NBA Draft
Jeremy
CycloneFanatic.com

It turned out to be a disappointing night in the NBA Draft for former Cyclone starters Will Blalock and Curtis Stinson.

While both players have seen dramatic swings in the mock drafts over the past few weeks, both were still projected by many to go in the second round. Will has seen his stock rise consistently over the past two or three weeks and Stinson has seen his fall, albeit slowly.

As the night went on with more and more picks being announced, it was clear to both players that even though they didn't go early in the draft, they still made the right choices for themselves. While many, including myself, would have loved to see them back for their senior season at Iowa State, in the end it was up to them to decide their fate. Neither player had their heart in college basketball for most of the past season and it was clear to them what the right decision was, regardless of what the fans wanted.

Will Blalock was drafted in the final spot of the 2006 NBA Draft, with the 60th pick going to Detroit. Blalock should fit in nicely with what Detroit is trying to do in the off season and it will be interesting to see how he develops and if he ends up playing for the Pistons or if he's trading before the season starts.

Curtis Stinson went undrafted and will continue to pursue professional basketball either by working out with some teams or by going overseas. It has always been clear that Curtis had the potential to be a great college star, he just has some questions to answer about how well he fits into a NBA roster.

Regardless of what we as fans may have liked to see Will and Curtis do, it's clear they weren't going to be happy staying around another season. This past season was tough on them mentally and with the draft being somewhat weak, who can say that we wouldn't have done the same thing in their shoes?

ISU Press Release:

Detroit Pistons Pick Will Blalock In The Second Round

Blalock is the 31st Cyclone to be drafted in the NBA.
June 28, 2006

AMES, Iowa - Former Iowa State point guard Will Blalock was selected as the final pick (No. 60) of the 2006 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons.

Blalock, a native of Boston, Mass., is the first Cyclone to be drafted since Jackson Vroman in 2004 and is the 31st player in school history to be picked in the draft.

Blalock was a third-team all-Big 12 pick in 2006, averaging 15.4 points and 6.1 assists. He ranked second in the Big 12 and 10th nationally in assists in his final season with the Cyclones. A three-year starter, Blalock amassed 1,078 points, 464 assists and 177 steals in his career. His career assist and steal totals rank in ISU's top-six.

JCloned · 06-29-2006, 08:26 AM

Well said Jeremy. I don't think that the arguments that are sure to arise that they should have stayed another year hold up either. Next year will be a much more talented draft pool with this years HS seniors eligible as freshman and the knocks on these guys were not likely to change with one more year - even with GMacs coaching. I wish each of them the best and thank them for three exciting years. I hope that they both look back on their ISU days fondly. Both will play professionally even if they don't stick in the NBA and will be pulling down 6 figure salaries that exceed all but a rare few ISU grads initial salaries.

Good Luck Will & Curtis

Wesley · 06-29-2006, 08:31 AM

If Curtis plays overseas at first, maybe he can hook up and get info from Paul Shirley. I bet Curtis will steal the ball about 4.0 times per game against the European methodical players.

ISUFan22 · 06-29-2006, 06:05 PM

The Stinson/Blalock era in Ames ended in disappointment. Ended meaning with the draft - we'll of course continue to follow them through their careers, yet the draft does signify an end to the collegiate career.

Anywho, I recall Curtis receiving comments that he could leave after his freshman season, and that we may be luck to have him back after his sophomore season. Last night he goes undrafted. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif[/img]

We all watched as Will dazzled us and the country with his spectacular passes and ball handling - yet he's drafted last. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif[/img]

I can only wonder what...

A. Another year would have done for their status

B. More disciplined coaching would have done for their status this year.

In any event, I'm unfortunately disappointed. Not really at Will and Curtis, but at how things turn out - with all the hype they received while in Ames.

Best of luck to both of them.

Jeremy · 06-29-2006, 06:18 PM

I agree with you, I think they could have benefited greatly by returning for their senior seasons. I don't think there was any chance they were returning, even if Morgan had been kept for another season.

I'm one of those that thinks Will has more potential just because of his work ethic and his style of play. I think Curtis came to ISU showing more promise but he just never seemed to get to the next level that I thought he could have achieved.

While I wish they would have returned, I can't say that I'm not just as excited about our new guards. I think Will could have really been great in the more upright style of play we're likely to see this fall but I really don't know that Curtis would have done a whole lot to advance the team just because of his comfort level in certain types of offense. He likes the dirty, gritty, and extreme style of play that we are not likely to see a ton of this coming season.

I wish both the best of luck and hope they can continue to follow their dreams to the highest of levels.

BryceC · 06-29-2006, 10:14 PM

I really don't think they would have been any better served staying another year. Clearly NBA GM's have lost their mind, they apparently want to treat European leagues like a farm system for the NBA. I'd be willing to bet that 3/4 of the players selected in the second round don't play a minute of time next year. Honestly, they really need to get the NBDL going so there is a place for American players to play so they don't have to leave our country. I'm going off on a tangent here though.

I don't think them coming back would have helped them at all. They were old already entering the draft, especially Stinson. And his numbers have been virtually identical every year he's been here. There still would have been a knock on Stinson not having a position and not being as athletic as most other guards. Will perhaps could have helped his stock, but if he was the last pick in this draft after hearing so much good about him going into it, what's one more year going to do?

I feel really sad for Curtis, but I always doubted his chances to get drafted. I was full of hope about it, and I sincerely hope that he can find a spot in a summer camp and get signed. I don't know how well they would have fit into GMac's system, and it's not like the frontcourt is going to be vastly improved this season anyway. They'll be better, but they won't be showstoppers yet.

Unfortunately these are all hypotheticals. I am grateful for their time here, but that time is over and there really is a new era starting in Ames.

ppclone · 06-30-2006, 12:19 AM

Okay. I get the high-road "we wish Will and Curtis the best of luck" feel. Hey, if we think kids are playing college basketball so they can get their Sociology degree and have a 'fall back' career....well then, I wanna pull of what you're drinking, cowboy.

That said, i'll be the voice of the shy majority.

I don't feel bad for Will and Curtis (all personal family reasons aside). They didn't come to campus b/c they were in awe of the view from the top of Beardshear's steps. They came to play And-1 ball for Captain Morgan.

Unfortunately, they could've benefitted from another year. But i'm here to cry selfishly that we coulda used one or both, under G-Mac, at a higher level to have one heck of a run over the near future. I can afford to feel this way. I'm an alum with irrational expectations and memories of going to Hilton stone arse sober (no official tailgating when its 10 below) and living and dying with Cyclone basketball.

I feal cheated, and in a way that i'm not proud of - happy. That their phenomenally misguided delusion that they could be drafted this year was shot down uncerimoniously. Yeah. I'm delusional too and believe in old-school college basketball. Like Freddie going 4 years old-school.

But it goes deeper than that. W & C looked lazy all year - like Jeremy and other said.....their hearts weren't in it. Which makes me wanna puke. Don't come here and play if your heart isn't in it. You're tearing the beer-soaked soul of mine by having that much talent and not caring about the logo on your jersey. I hate that. We all could see it this year - and if you didn't..;...then you need to check your Cyclone Fan Badge in, b/c it was as clear as day. Last year's team had no heart. Zero. Most of it was coaching and the rest was b/c of the players that coach recruited...hired guns. Ack - i'm gonna hemorrage just thinking about last year's team. Must. Stop. Thinking. About it.

So yeah. I'm not unhappy at all that they didn't get drafted. let me wake up tomorrow and focus on the types of players and teams - the kind that McDermott will create - that will bring the amount of freakishly unbridled joy that the Freddie and Fizer teams brought to me over the years. The kind that Johnny, Larry and even, to an extent, Timmy used to bring to the table.

goonies_89 · 06-30-2006, 12:24 AM

I dont know, this draft was full of good players. Plus there was a lot of international players taken. Gotta beat out the man next to you to get the promotion....

troyrew · 07-01-2006, 06:35 PM

They got kids to pay for

bluehooper · 07-01-2006, 09:38 PM

Pete Taylor, I couldn't agree with you more. I still get physically sick thinking about some of the apathetic performances by last year's team. Great post!! I cannot wait to see the team the McDermott puts on the floor. Seeing a team that plays hard and together, how refreshing is that going to be!! Good bye and Will and Curtis!!