Comparing Some of Cornell's Stars to the NBA Stars

Below, we draw brief comparisons between the skill sets of several current Cornell basketball players with current NBA veterans. Please note, we are not suggesting these Cornell players belong in the NBA or that even have NBA potential. Instead, we are just judging their playing styles against some of the NBA's current stars.

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To some extent, Cornell's 7"0 265 lb. Jeff Foote resembles the Clippers' 6'11" 230 lb. Marcus Camby. Both players are long and rangy, fairly athletic for their size and do a good job of getting up and down the floor. Both players are also defensive stalwarts, winning the defensive player of the year honors in their respective leagues. They differ in that Camby can excel facing the basket, while Foote draws rave reviews for his vision and passing ability out of the low post.

These next two players can be described by the word, "exciting." Chris Paul, the 6'0" 180 lbs. point guard from the New Orleans Hornets is often a comparison point for Cornell's Louis Dale, a similar sized, 5'11" 180 lbs. Both players are lightning quick and fearless point guards who can stuff a stat sheet with points, assists, rebounds and steals. They are also the engines that drive their teams and have the ability to simply take over games.

Like Wally Szczerbiak, Cornell's Ryan Wittman is a scorer, a 6'7" wing who can bury the long ball from deep space or put the ball on the floor and attack the basket. Another fair comparison is Utah's Kyle Korver.

Perhaps the easiest NBA comparison for us to make. When we think of Cornell's Alex Tyler, we think Sacramento's Jon Brockam. Both physical 6'7" 250 lb. forwards like to throw their body around like a wrecking ball in the paint area. Rebounds, defense and garbage points are how these players earn their peers' respect.

Cornell's Geoff Reeves and Philly's (formerly Toronto's) Jason Kapono are both athletic wing guards with offensive killer instincts. They can run the floor and finish above the rim on the break, shoot lofting floaters in the lane or bury the long ball.

At 6'9" and 215 lbs., Detroit's Tayshaun Prince may be the most versatile player in the NBA. He can play out on the perimeter like a guard or up front as a forward. Cornell's Anthony Gatlin has similar perimeter skills and has the same long and wiry frame. Both players are comfortable handling the ball against defensive pressure.

Chris "The Birdman" Anderson may be one of the least skilled players in the NBA, but the 6'10" 230 lb. Nuggets forward has earned a career in "the big show" with his intensity and work effort. Cornell's Mark Coury is a similar type at 6'9" 240 lbs. Coury is also a physical player who will do the unglamorous dirty work inside the paint. Give him too much space, and like Anderson, Coury will flush down a dunk.

Cornell's Adam Wire is three inches smaller than the Knicks' 6'9" David Lee. But both players share great basketball instincts on the defensive end and a "nose for the basketball." They are also very similar in their ability to finish the transition break with thunderous dunks.

Chicago's Kirk Hinrich is a combo-guard at heart, as is Cornell's Chris Wroblewski. Both players can run the halfcourt offense or play off the ball and come off screens for perimeter jump shots. Although neither play is ultra-athletic, their instincts and work ethic makes them very effective team players.

When you think of Golden State's Stephen Curry, you think of a picture perfect jump shot and a player that knows how to get into open space. Like Curry, Cornell's Max Groebe has stellar shooting mechanics and excels in moving without the ball. Both players are capable of getting into deadly shooting rhythms.