High School: Lawrence North
Hometown: Indianapolis, IN
College: Ohio State University
Position: Point Guard
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 180 lbs.
Class: Freshman
Positives:
Conley is as quick as they come and could probably matchup right now with some of the speedsters in the NBA, such as Chris Paul. He has a solid feel for the game, including excellent court vision and looks to pass every time. However, he has the ability to take it to the hoop and score almost ceaselessly as displayed during the NCAA Tournment when OSU teammate Greg Oden was out of a game because of foul trouble. Defensively, he uses his speed to his advantage and can defend both on the ball and the passing lanes. Conley is a super athlete and shows excellent leadership ability.
Negatives:Conley is a young kid and will probably take a little time before starting to pay dividends on his upside. The point guard position is not an easy one for a rookie to grasp right away, although there are obvious exceptions and rarities, such as the aformentioned Paul. Conley will also need to work on shooting more consistently from the outside and more accurately at the line.
Overview:How quickly can Conley adapt to the NBA game and how much will expectations affect his development? The position of point guard is basically that of being an extra coach on the court. In the past, Conley has proven that he can not only adapt, but excel as well. But, the NBA is a whole other story. Point guards that come out of high school or after one year in college do not have the best of records. However, if anyone can prove otherwise, it very well could be Conley.
