New CBA squad drafts 6

The Utah Eagles took a big step on Tuesday with the CBA's 2006 draft. The Eagles filled roster spots and, more importantly, with impressive talent.

The Eagles had six picks in the draft, and hand-picked players that will fit nicely into Coach Scott Fields' style of basketball.

"I have a philosophy of up and down, up tempo basketball," said Fields, "and with the athletes that we selected, we feel very good about our squad."

One reason the local fans have to feel very good about the Eagles this season is the third round pick of former Ute Bryant Markson. The Eagles like his versatility and feel he'll blossom in the professional leagues like he did at Utah.

The Eagles' first pick was the seventh overall drafting Steven Smith, a 6-foot-8 forward, and two-time All-American honorable mention winner out of LaSalle. Smith is an athletic, slashing, versatile player that can play from the three-point line to the hoop. Smith was the Eagles' best available player in the draft and they were thrilled when he was still available at the seventh pick.

The second pick was used on a man many feel to be a Carlos Arroyo clone. Jose Juan Barea, a pass first point guard out of Puerto Rico and Northeastern College is a shifty, quick, 6-foot speedster with excellent court vision, something that will benefit the Eagles as they run up and down the court.

Markson was selected third, and then the Eagles took the 6-6 sharp shooter out of UConn, Denham Brown. Denham was huge for the Huskies in the NCAA tournament, hitting timely outside jumpers again and again.

Needing size, the Eagles then took a Big-Ten Conference double-double machine Paul Davis out of Michigan State. Davis had 28 double-doubles his senior season for the Spartans and should provide strength inside for the Eagles. With their final pick, the Eagles selected Antywane Robinson, yet another great athlete out of Temple. With Davis, Brown, Smith and Barea all having been drafted previously by NBA teams, the Eagles will have to wait and see who gets signed during training camps to be sure of their final roster. But the Eagles do have the rights to these players for two years, pending a fall from the NBA ranks.

All in all, it was called a good start for a motivated franchise looking to make a mark in the CBA.

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E-mail: bhedin@desnews.com