Tyler Zeller: Draft Profile

On to another UNC player. Zeller was the big man on campus this year for the Tar Heels and steped up in games when they needed him most. He averaged 16.5 points per game and 9.3 rebounds per game. He has had 20 games with at least 15 points and 17 games with at leats 10 rebounds. He has had many major games including his 31 point and 10 rebound game against Appalachian State. If I had to chose his best game it would be in the tournament when UNC played Ohio with out star point guard, Kendall Marshall. Zeller was able to literally carry his team to the Elite Eight with 20 points and 22 rebounds. He is projected to go in the early/mid first round to the Trail Blazers of Portland. Although I feel that Portland is a nice fit for Zeller and I think he will go around that same time. I believe that he wi;ll be drafted to a different team that needs him more. I predict that he will be drafted in the early to mid first round but to the Detroit Pistons. Zeller standing at a towering 7 feet tall has an advantage over even most of the NBA players. The Pistons are one of the worst teams in the Eastern Conference and they could use a player that could spark a new franchise for them and Zeller fits that slot. They really have no good post players for example one of thier best forwards is Jonas Jerebko. I am not saying that Zeller will be able to turn around Detroit's sinking franchise but if they continue to recieve good draft picks they could become a decent team in the far future. Zeller is a gifted athlete like most college basketball players but I think he goes above and beyond the standards of the NCAA.

Tyler Zeller, forward for UNC