The Kings have selected 19-year old Tyreke Evans in the first round of the NBA Draft. Evans is 6′6″, 220 pounds but he’s still a growing man. He will likely play both shooting guard and small forward for the Kings. He only stayed 1 season at Memphis State and he played in 37 games (35 starts) and he averaged 17.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.1 steals per game. Evans is a outstanding athlete who could develop into a star just like Derrick Rose from Memphis did last season when he was Rookie of the Year. This was a good pick for the rebuilding Kings as Evans has potential star power.

The Kings went with name recognition here as Ewing was not much of a player in college. He does have a lot of experience and he is used to coming off of the bench so he might be able to give the Kings some quality minutes off the bench. He is 6′8″, 240 pounds but he’s not really a banger under the boards. Ewing played in 127 games (26 starts) in his career at Georgetown and Indiana and he averaged 4.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game. Don’t expect much out of him.

The Kings wanted a point guard capable of backing up Beno Udrih this season and Singletary could be that guy. Singletary is a little on the small side at 6′0″, 185 pounds but he’s a mature player at 22 years old. Singletary played in 123 games (all starts) at Virginia and he averaged 16.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.6 steals per game. Look for him to be a solid backup as a rookie and maybe more down the road.

The Sacramento Kings might have been reaching a little bit with the selection of Thompson in the first round of the NBA Draft but they needed someone tough around the basket and he fits the bill. Thompson is 6′11″, 250 pounds and he has a lot of college experience to draw on. Thompson played in 122 games (112 starts) at Rider and he averaged 16.7 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.9 blocked shots per game. Thompson’s game is in the paint as he shot 52.6% from the floor in his college years. Thompson has a lot of upside but the Kings will likely be patient with him in 2008-09.

The Kings got the second best center in the NBA Draft last night.  The Kings weren’t sure that he would be available with the #10 pick so they were elated to see him slide.  Hawes is a big guy at 7′0″, 230 pounds and he played a big man’s game at Washington.  He played in 31 games at Washington and he averaged 14.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.7 blocks per game.  He shot 53.2% from the floor as most of his shots were at close range and he hit 75.5% from the free throw line which is really good for a big man.  Look for Hawes to eventually push Brad Miller into either a backup job or out of town soon.