Brandon Wood Update

Wood on the drive

Disclaimer: I will do my best to stay objective in writing any updates regarding Wood's future.  I do wish him the best with whatever decision he arrives at.  Much of what you are about to read comes from message board posts and personal messages I have received from Anthony Wood, Brandon's father, who has graciously given me permission to write about Brandon and the process he is currently going through.

The odds of Brandon returning to Valpo are quite bleak at the moment for several reasons.  There is no question about Brandon's offensive capabilities.  He has led Valpo in scoring the past two years, he was tied for the team lead in assist this past year, and is clearly capable of scoring from anywhere on the court.  He has proved those things and, according to Anthony Wood, these are not qualities that are in question about Brandon by the NBA people.  What they want to see is how Brandon is at "matching up defensively against bigger, stronger and NBA ready players is the number one concern along with the ability to play with and against other NBA ready players on a night in and night out basis."

What the scouts want to see

This is red flag number one.  I don't really see how this is possible in the Horizon League next season.  With Norris Cole being gone and the possibility of Shelvin Mack leaving Butler that really only leaves a guy like Ray McCullum Jr. as the best player at Brandon's position.  Playing in a major conference like the Big Ten would put Brandon up against these bigger, stronger, more NBA ready guards on a more consistent basis.  Valpo and the Horizon League just can't offer the same competition next season.

Ready for red flag number 2?  It's a big one.  In a message from Anthony Wood received late Monday (4/25) evening, Brandon is in the process of scheduling "Official Visits" with both Purdue University and Michigan State University to take place in the next week or so.  For this to happen, it tells me that there is mutual interest from all parties.  I'm told the visit with Purdue will probably happen first this week, and the visit with MSU will most likely take place next week.

The Valparaiso coaching staff has not issued Brandon any kind of deadline for making his decision on whether or not he will transfer, but I'm told Brandon is taking this is into consideration and will not drag things out longer then need be.

My two sense.  The NBA is full of guys who only have one job, score points (Kyle Korver, Mike Bibby, Eddie House, Mike Miller these are just the first few that came to mind that would play a similar position as Brandon).  There aren't many guys in the league outside of a few big men who are in the Association because they can defend.  With that being said, Brandon can prove to the NBA scouts that he is an offensive force by staying at Valpo.  He would be the focus of every team's defense that VU would go up against, and if he could score 20-25ppg that would mean more to me (the furthest person from an NBA scout) then would scoring say 8-10ppg at a Big Ten school where everything will be new (again trying hard not to be too biased).

Whatever decision he comes to, I do wish Brandon the best and would like to thank him for the couple years he spent at Valpo helping this program succeed in the Horizon League.  Please feel free to leave any comments, and if you'd like an email alert when a new post is made at sectionee.blogspot.com please put your email address in the space provided above this post and click submit.

Wood to test NBA waters

http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/valparaiso/article_367beda8-2716-56ef-8244-aaeed006eebe.html

Another article from the Post, http://posttrib.suntimes.com/sports/4580225-556/vus-wood-to-test-nba-waters.html.
Brandon Wood will apparently declare for the NBA draft but not hire an agent.  This leaves open the possibility to return to VU in the fall.  I fully suspect him to return.

I understand Brandon's thought process here.  Get to the NBA, make some money, and live out a boyhood dream.  I'd love to see him succeed at the NBA as that would greatly benefit the VU recruiting process.  With that said, I fully believe he will return to the Crusaders for his final year of eligibility after these few workouts he attends.  Wood had a breakout year this past season for the Crusaders on the offensive end.  However, when I look at Brandon Wood and look at other NBA players.  Brandon is a bit undersized for an NBA shooting guard at 6'2''.  Wood also hasn't shown the ability to consistantly create his own open shot off the dribble.  His defense is probably a bit above average, but does anybody outside of the Bulls really play defense in the NBA?  Lets take a look at another college player entering the draft who is of similar size and plays the same position in E'twaun Moore of Purdue.  Mock Drafts don't even have Moore being drafted in the first two rounds.  Does anyone put Wood ahead of Moore? 

Here's to hoping Brandon comes back, leads Valpo to a good postseason run in 2011-2012, and improves his draft odds that way.