Assessing Landesberg’s NBA potential

Virginia freshman Sylven Landesberg has never openly talked about leaving school early for the NBA or given any hints to the local media that he might be exploring the option.
(Wahoo Nation, that’s your cue to exhale.)
However, if Landesberg did declare for the draft, he would have a chance of getting selected in the first round, according to one NBA scout.
“I think he could be [a first-rounder],” said the scout, who was granted anonymity because he isn’t permitted to talk about players, “but he’s going to have to make himself a little more well-known to the general managers and have good individual workouts.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a lock at all.”
Speculation as to Landesberg’s intentions first surfaced on ESPN.com last week when Chad Ford called Landesberg his “Top Sleeper” of the 2009 NBA Draft. Ford also said sources had told him that Landesberg was thinking about going to the NBA.
Landesberg, following last weekend’s loss to Wake Forest, said he had not seen Ford’s report.
“I haven’t really talked about that [with my family],” Landesberg told The Daily Progress, when asked about whether he had thought of declaring for the draft. “I just want to finish out the season — focus on the season.”
As a freshman, Landesberg has established himself as one of the best offensive players in the ACC. The former McDonald’s All-American has been even better than advertised.
While Landesberg wasn’t exactly in the mood to discuss the NBA rumors, he admitted that attention from an ESPN draft guru was flattering.
“I guess I’ve been having an OK season,” Landesberg said, “but I don’t feel like I’ve accomplished anything. I want to be able to go to the NCAAs, make it far in there, have a successful ACC season. I don’t feel like I’ve accomplished anything yet.”
Landesberg is the leading freshmen scorer in the ACC. Only North Carolina’s Tyler Hansbrough has more 20-point games among conference freshmen in the past decade.
Landesberg is averaging a team-leading 16.9 points and is second in rebounds and assists.
The scout warned that Landesberg has put those numbers up on one of the weaker teams in the country, but on the flip side he cited plenty of players who didn’t put up statistics nearly as impressive as Landesberg who went on to be first-round picks. The scout used current New York Knick Wilson Chandler – a player whom Virginia coach Dave Leitao actually recruited when he was at DePaul — as an example.
“Most of us thought that he was drafted way too high,” the scout said, “but he’s worked very hard and done well.”
Of course, declaring for the draft and actually staying in the draft are very different things.
A player may declare for the draft, get an evaluation from NBA personnel about his status and then return to school — a path that Virginia star Sean Singletary took following his junior season. That could be an option that Landesberg looks into.
A new twist to the NBA predraft camps this season may help keep players like Landesberg in school. Instead of playing in 5-on-5 games, prospects will be put through a series of drills. “There’s no place to shine or really stand out in front of the decision makers,” the scout said.
The scout’s biggest concern about Landesberg on the pro level is his perimeter game. Landesberg is shooting just 31 percent from behind the college 3-point line.
“If you don’t have to respect his ability to shoot [the 3-pointer], then how is he going to get that first step on guys who are bigger, stronger, quicker — NBA-type two-guards,” he said.
Right now, Landesberg’s best attribute is his ability to get to the rim and score, although “he drives right every single time,” the scout said.
Landesberg scored just three points in the loss to Clemson on Tuesday night. Recently, opposing defenses have figured out that the 6-foot-6 Queens, N.Y. native is the Cavaliers’ only offensive weapon and have made stopping him their top priority.
This year’s draft is not considered as deep as last year’s, but there is still a ton of talent. Hansbrough being talked about as a late first-round pick is certainly testament to that.
“I think he’s a kid with a future,” the scout said, referring to Landesberg, “but I wouldn’t say him being a first-rounder is a slam dunk.”