Though I am a huge college basketball fan, I didn't really see most of the guys projected to be available to us enough times to comment on them at length.

Fortunately, one of the beautiful things about this here Internet is there are many blogs out there that follow these guys all year long and can give insight into what kinds of players they are and what they are capable of becoming.

When you draft at #19, it can be tough to gauge which players will still be available. Therefore, we'll be previewing some players that could be intriguing to the team, even if in the end they end up going much higher or much lower than where the Hawks make their selection.

We continue the series with another raw but skilled big man, Gonzaga sophomore Austin Daye.

Our guest experts today are Zach Bell and Max Mandel from the Gonzaga blog Slipper Still Fits.

Austin Daye:
Draft Express profile
photo by: AP Photo/Ingrid Barrentine

How he got here: Out of Woodbridge High in California, Daye came to Gonzaga as Mark Few's first legit "blue-chip" prospect. He came to Spokane with more hype than any other recruit and, although showing some brilliant flashes, has never fully lived up to it. Averaging 13 points and 7 rebounds a game as a sophomore is a respectable stat line but when you have the skills that Daye does and you combine that with West Coast Conference competition, it's clear to see why Gonzaga fans expected more. He decided to test the waters this summer and maintains that he needs a top-20 guarantee to stay in the draft. (Ed. note: Daye did indeed stay in the draft, though we know of no guarantee)

Strengths: Austin is a 6'11'' walking mismatch. When you watch him play the first thing you'll notice is his jump shot. Much like Dallas Maverick Dirk Nowitzki, Daye posesses one of the most smooth jump shots that a man of his size can have. With such a high point of release, their isn't a player in the NBA that Austin can't elevate over. A guard until the middle of high school, Austin's versatility truly shines. He is most comfortable in transition and when he can make plays on the perimeter. Once the ball is in his hands on offense, their isn't really a limit to the way he can score it. His basketball IQ is also remarkably high and you won't find another player in the draft that has as much innate basketball smarts as Austin does. Watching him for two seasons, he has developed an outstanding sense of when to take the defender to the rack or opt for the jump shot. While he is most effective on the drive, he can still shoot the three-point shot with remarkable efficiency, leading Gonzaga at 43% last season.

Weaknesses: Scanning the players eligible for the NBA Draft this year, it is pretty clear to see that Austin has the highest risk/reward ratio outside of international prospects. He has got so many strengths that will make teams salivate when they watch him workout which is why some feel he could be as high as a lottery pick. A lottery pick to some, there is also a healthy number of people that think he has bust written all over him. His weight is the most pressing weakness to Austin's game and is something he has addressed since his arrival at Gonzaga. He has the tendency to struggle in the post because he lacks the weight to be able to bang around and establish himself. That being said, his main weakness is that he lacked a killer instinct at Gonzaga. He's got the skills to be great but all the stars in the NBA have the attitude and the maturity to keep focus and provide the kill shot. Daye doesn't have that yet and that is one of the major reasons why some are urging him to head back to school for another year. He frustrates very, very easily and against physical and aggressive teams, you can usually bet that he is going to disappear.

Why Hawks fans should want him: Atlanta is the type of team that I think Austin needs if he is going to the NBA Draft this year. Maybe not personnel-wise but with a team like Atlanta that has playoff experience, they can let Daye develop for a year or two. He's going to be an effective professional player at some point. While I don't think he is ready right now, Atlanta is a player or two away from making a deep playoff run and Austin, if he develops into a Tayshaun Prince/Rashard Lewis type player, he can be that one player Atlanta needs.

What might give Hawks fans pause: The bust factor. If Daye stays in the draft, whoever selects him will have a lot on their plate. First, they will have to develop his attitude. He has been labeled a "prima donna" by plenty of Gonzaga fans and scouts and really has a lot of growing up to do. Secondly, they will have to at least try and put some weight on him and toughen him up. He's trying to prove that he is tougher than people think during his workouts but he still has a ways to go. Wherever Austin goes better have one hell of a weight trainer. Take care of those two things and the kid will be a star.

What (if any) current player he reminds you of: This is tough because every comparison to him is so lofty with his body type. He came into Gonzaga being compared to Kevin Durant which is probably why a lot of Gonzaga fans feel let down. He could be a Rashard Lewis type player but the most accurate is probably Tayshaun Prince mainly because of the high point of release and the ability to drive and finish in the middle of the lane. Take all these with a grain of salt because these comparisons are best case scenarios for a few years down the line.