Jim Calhoun is working on developing yet another first round caliber big man at UConn in Hilton Armstrong; The top all-around freshman in the country statistically, Tyler Hansbrough, finally gets some love from DraftExpress; The most prolific scorer in the country over the past 4 years in Keydren Clark showed us his all-around game with an impressive triple-double; and Guillermo Diaz scores in bunches as usual but shows that he can move the rock around as well.
Hilton Armstrong, 6-11, center, senior, Connecticut
14 points, 10 rebounds (7 offensive), 6 blocks, 7-10 FG, 0-0 FT, 33 minutes
Rodger Bohn
UConns Hilton Armstrong has been one of the more pleasant surprises this season, especially lately, continuing to show scouts and fans alike what he had the potential to do if he was only given the chance over the past four years.
So far this year, Armstrong is averaging a solid but unspectacular 9.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game in a shade over 24 minutes per contest. While these numbers may seem a bit modest, it is the way that the UConn senior obtains them that is the most impressive. Hilton is a very raw and athletic big man that is just beginning to tap into his potential as a senior in college who is still very young for his class. He has basically all of the tools that NBA scouts are looking for in a role playing big man: superb athleticism, decent hands, excellent shot blocking skills, consistent rebounding ability, and a motor that when turned on, is superb. If you combine that with his great size (legit 611) and wingspan (somewhere in the area of 73), you understand why he is quickly rising up the draft charts as his game continues to evolve.
Against Cincinnati on Monday, Armstrong gave draft fans a little peak of those evolving skills, looking like the best draft prospect on the floor. Offensively, he was very assertive, looking to score virtually every time he touched the ball. Hilton showed off a nice baby jump hook with his left hand, had a few thunderous dunks, and showed remarkable athleticism for a player his size on an up and under reverse layup. He ran the floor well, crashed the glass hard on every single play and battled with undersized Cincinnati monster Eric Hicks down low. On the defensive end, the active Armstrong was able to give Hicks and the rest of the Bearcats fits with his length and timing when it came to shot blocking. There was not a whole lot you could have asked for out of a role playing big man, and Armstrong showed some potential to be more then that this year for the Huskies.
Hilton Armstrong has been one of the fastest rising players in terms of draft stock of the 2006 senior prospects. He has all of the physical traits that scouts are looking for in a big man and his skills are finally beginning to mature. DraftExpress has had Armstrong in the second round of our mock draft since last season, but have quickly been forced to move him into the mid-late first round seeing how much of an impact on the game he has been able to make lately. If Armstrong can find a way to maintain a consistent level of intensity and continue to make his presence felt on both ends of the floor with his outstanding physical gifts, he could even potentially put himself in a position to rise into the late lottery after private workouts begin, where he will undoubtedly test well. Despite not being the most polished big man in the world, particularly with his back to the basket, the biggest question marks around Armstrong were never about his physical characteristics or natural talent, but rather about his mental and physical toughness and just how good of a player he wanted to become. Armstrong has been doing a great job of shedding that tag lately, and UConn coach Jim Calhoun is ecstatic about it.