Future Star
By Patrick Geenen, Grade10

When the NBA draft came last year on June 28, 2008, who was drafted number 1 overall? The answer to that question would be Chicago-native Derrick Rose, who was drafted by the Chicago Bulls. Prior to the draft, the NBA has a lottery where they pick some of the worst teams in the league, and by random draw that team gets the rights to draft players that have established their eligibility for the draft. The Chicago Bulls won the lottery even though they had only a 1.7% chance to get the number 1 pick. The Bulls had dozens of players to choose from, but they went with the talented freshman out of Memphis with the number 1 pick.

Derrick Rose only averaged 15 points per game, and 4.7 assists per game. While in the NCAA Tournament, he was considered a game changer because of his performance against Michigan State University. He scored 27 points in that game, even though he missed most of the second half with a cut over his eye.  When he came back, he changed the whole tempo of the game and vaulted them to a win. He helped the team go to a National Championship, but unfortunately they lost to the Kansas Jayhawks in overtime.

When he was in the NCAA Tournament, Rose showed great teamwork, but he is only 20, so going into the NBA at that age could be a disadvantage for him. Now he is beginning his career with the Bulls as the number 1 draft pick.  Can the pressure for someone as young as Rose be withstood or will he crack?

Sources:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/ncaatourney08/columns/story?id=3319718
http://thehoopdoctors.com/online/?p=47