It’s Way Too Early to Tell if the Kids Are All Right

If you were wondering how Kobe Bryant’s college class of 2000 turned out, here it comes--minus Bryant, of course.

Also missing, because they came out earlier too, are Steve Francis, Mike Bibby, Tim Thomas, Shawn Marion and Richard Hamilton, who were all top-10 picks in their respective drafts.

If you think all those departures haven’t left much in this class, you’re getting the picture.

College seniors should take up fewer than half the picks in today’s first round--and only three of the 13 in the lottery as the pros start in on classes as far out as 2004, whether the applicants are ready or not. In the draft these days, all you’re going on is potential.

The first drop-off occurs after No. 1, where Kenyon Martin is a solid favorite. The question is not where he goes but which team will take him, because Orlando is still pursuing this pick, offering two of its three selections--Nos. 5, 10 and 13--and the Nets’ choice of Michael Doleac, Corey Maggette or Matt Harpring.

The next drop-off is at No. 4, after Louisiana State’s Stromile Swift and Iowa State’s Marcus Fizer have gone, presumably to the Vancouver Grizzlies and Clippers, respectively.

The wild card is Darius Miles, a 6-foot-9, 205-pound--”Looks like a spare rib,” said one general manager--high school forward from East St. Louis, Ill., a dazzling ballhandler with a big upside but many questions to answer, such as, we know you can’t shoot now, but do you think you’ll learn how?

Things being what they are, Miles will go no lower than to Chicago at No. 4 or Orlando at 5.

Everyone else is a prospect, however large, talented or underdeveloped. Here’s how it looks, with the usual caveat: We’re comparing these young men to stars only to give you a picture of their games. We’ll have to see how close they get.

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NBA DRAFT

* When: 4:30 p.m. today. TV: TNT

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MARK HEISLER’S MOCK NBA DRAFT

No. 1.

Team: New Jersey

Player: Kenyon Martin

Ht: 6-8 3/4

Wt: 234

Cl: Sr.

From: Cincinnati

Mark Heisler’s Comment: Late-blooming shot blocker with some offensive skills, sort of a smaller version of Alonzo Mourning.

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No. 2.

Team: Vancouver

Player: Stromile Swift

Ht: 6-9 1/2

Wt: 220

Cl: So.

From: Louisiana State

Mark Heisler’s Comment: Short on know-how but long on talent. Huge leaper.

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No. 3

Team: Clippers

Player: Marcus Fizer

Ht: 6-7 1/2

Wt: 262

Cl: Jr.

From: Iowa State

Mark Heisler’s Comment: Shorter version of Mo Taylor. Clippers hope he’ll be harder-nosed and stay longer.

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No. 4.

Team: Chicago

Player: Darius Miles

Ht: 6-8

Wt: 202

From: East St. Louis Lincoln H.S.

Mark Heisler’s Comment: GM Jerry Krause doesn’t like wild youth, but if he took the safe pick, Chris Mihm, and lost Miles, fans would ride him out of town.

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No. 5.

Team: Orlando

Player: Chris Mihm

Ht: 6-11

Wt: 265

Cl: Jr.

From: Texas

Mark Heisler’s Comment: Has size, low-post skills but a reputation as billowy-soft.

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No. 6

Team: Atlanta

Player: Mike Miller

Ht: 6-7 1/2

Wt: 211

Cl: So.

From: Florida

Mark Heisler’s Comment: Can shoot, handle the ball. Some GMs love him; Some say they just don’t get it.

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No. 7

Team: Chicago

Player: Joel Przybilla

Ht: 7-0

Wt: 243

Cl: So.

From: Minnesota

Mark Heisler’s Comment: Krause hopes Mihm drops, but either way, he gets hot prospect and big center.

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No. 8

Team: Cleveland

Player: Courtney Alexander

Ht: 6-4 1/2

Wt: 205

Cl: Sr.

From: Fresno State

Mark Heisler’s Comment: Only interested in scoring, but he can do that.

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No. 9

Team: Houston

Player: DerMarr Johnson

Ht: 6-8 1/4

Wt: 201

Cl: Fr.

From: Cincinnati

Mark Heisler’s Comment: Long, lean, talented, questionable motivation.

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No. 10

Team: Orlando

Player: Jerome Moiso

Ht: 6-11

Wt: 232

Cl: So.

From: UCLA

Mark Heisler’s Comment: Good luck: Tender morsel throws himself to jungle beasts

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No. 11

Team: Boston

Player: Etan Thomas

Ht: 6-9 1/4

Wt: 260

Cl: Sr.

From: Syracuse

Mark Heisler’s Comment: Pitino was hoping for Moiso, settles for bulkier Thomas.

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No. 12

Team: Dallas

Player: Keyon Dooling

Ht: 6-2

Wt: 184

Cl: So.

From: Missouri

Mark Heisler’s Comment: Don Nelson, who’d die before making an ordinary pick, takes a young, athletic point guard.

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No. 13

Team: Orlando

Player: DeShawn Stevenson

Ht: 6-4

Wt: 210

From: Fresno Wash. Union H.S.

Mark Heisler’s Comment: He’s a reach here, but he’s very young, raw and talented.

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No. 14

Team: Detroit

Player: Jamal Crawford

Ht: 6-4 1/2

Wt: 175

Cl: Fr.

From: Michigan

Mark Heisler’s Comment: Jumped onto everyone’s radar screen on the pre-draft circuit.

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No. 15

Team: Milwaukee

Player: Olumide Oyedeji

Ht: 6-9

Wt: 240

From: DJK Wurzburg, Germany

Mark Heisler’s Comment: Big guy for George Karl and the Twelve Dwarfs.

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No. 16

Team: Sacramento

Player: Quentin Richardson

Ht: 6-5 1/2

Wt: 223

Cl: So.

From: DePaul

Mark Heisler’s Comment: With Nick Anderson fading, here’s a newer Nick model.

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No. 17

Team: Seattle

Player: Iakovos Tsakilidis

Ht: 7-1 1/2

Wt: 283

From: AEK, Greece

Mark Heisler’s Comment: Falls out of lottery because he has a year left on his AEK contract.

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No. 18

Team: Clippers

Player: Erick Barkley

Ht: 6-0

Wt: 177

Cl: So.

From: St. John’s

Mark Heisler’s Comment: Not as big as they’d like, but he is a point guard.

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No. 19

Team: Charlotte

Player: Morris Peterson

Ht: 6-6 1/4

Wt: 218

Cl: Sr.

From: Michigan State

Mark Heisler’s Comment: Dropped after poor workouts, but they’re looking for the next Eddie Jones.

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No. 20

Team: Philadelphia

Player: Desmond Mason

Ht: 6-6

Wt: 224

Cl: Sr.

From: Oklahoma State

Mark Heisler’s Comment: Good athlete, defends, made 43% of his three-point shots as a senior.

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No. 21

Team: Toronto

Player: Mateen Cleaves

Ht: 6-1

Wt: 205

Cl: Sr.

From: Michigan State

Mark Heisler’s Comment: When your only point is 5-3, 35-year-old Muggsy Bogues, you don’t have to wonder where you need help.

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No. 22

Team: New York

Player: Jamaal Magloire

Ht: 6-9

Wt: 260

Cl: Sr.

From: Kentucky

Mark Heisler’s Comment: With the Patrick Ewing era ending or over, Knicks need someone besides Chris Dudley.

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No. 23

Team: Utah

Player: Hanno Mottola

Ht: 6-10 1/2

Wt: 247

Cl: Sr.

From: Utah

Mark Heisler’s Comment: No one’s too excited, but Rick Majerus players consistently perform at next level. If Majerus likes him, the Jazz will know about it.

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No. 24

Team: Chicago

Player: Chris Carrawell

Ht: 6-6

Wt: 221

Cl: Sr.

From: Duke

Mark Heisler’s Comment: No star, but he does a little of everything. Bulls are expected to move this pick to save cap room.

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No. 25

Team: Phoenix

Player: Jason Collier

Ht: 6-11

Wt: 260

Cl: Sr.

From: Georgia Tech

Mark Heisler’s Comment: Not exactly the answer to Shaquille O’Neal, but the Suns have to get bigger.

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No.26

Team: Denver

Player: Mamadou N’diaye

Ht: 6-11 1/2

Wt: 246

Cl: Sr.

From: Auburn

Mark Heisler’s Comment: Ditto.

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No. 27

Team: Indiana

Player: Soumaila Samake

Ht: 7-0 1/2

Wt: 224

From: Cincinnati of IBL

Mark Heisler’s Comment: Large reinforcement with Rik Smits on his way out.

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No. 28

Team: Portland

Player: Mark Madsen

Ht: 6-8

Wt: 236

Cl: Sr.

From: Stanford

Mark Heisler’s Comment: Willing banger who provides insurance with Brian Grant opting out of his contract.

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No. 29

Team: Lakers

Player: Hidayet Turkoglu

Ht: 6-7

Wt: 202

From: Efes Pilsen, Turkey

Mark Heisler’s Comment: A shooter for Phil Jackson, in the unlikely event he would play a rookie

ROUND TWO

No. Team

30. Clippers

31. Dallas (from Chicago)

32. Chicago (from Golden State)

33. Chicago (from Vancouver via Houston)

34. Chicago (from Atlanta)

35. Washington

36. New Jersey

37. Miami (from Cleveland)

38. Houston

39. New York (from Boston)

40. Atlanta (from Denver)

41. San Antonio (from Dallas)

42. Seattle (from Orlando)

43. Milwaukee

44. Detroit

45. Sacramento

46. Toronto

47. Seattle

48. Philadelphia

49. Milwaukee (from Charlotte)

50. Utah (from New York)

51. Minnesota

52. Miami

53. Denver (from Phoenix)

54. San Antonio

55. Golden State (from Utah)

56. Indiana

57. Atlanta (from Portland)

58. Dallas (from Lakers)