In the days leading up to the NBA's May 20 Draft Lottery, NYKnicks.com will look at the top-rated players potentially available to teams with lottery picks in the 2008 NBA Draft. We offer these profiles for fans to familiarize themselves with some of the biggest names in the draft. A player's inclusion in this series of articles is based purely on his rankings in the scouting services and mainstream media and does not necessarily reflect the Knicks organization's preferences for the June 26 Draft at the WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden.

We continue our series with a profile of Louisiana State's Anthony Randolph, a projected first-round pick, according to major scouting services and numerous publications.

The 2008 college basketball landscape had no shortage of highly-publicized freshman who led prominent programs to big seasons. Perhaps it was for this reason that 18-year-old Anthony Randolph of LSU managed to largely avoid the media spotlight while playing for a middling Tigers team.

While the press might not have been all over him, NBA scouts were well aware of the 6-foot-11, 220-pound Randolph's talents. As a result, he is already a household name when it comes to draft pundits and hardcore hoops fans.

Scouts project Randolph as an ideal NBA forward in an up-tempo offensive scheme, thanks to his remarkable athleticism. A great leaper with a long wingspan, Randolph is known for running the floor exceptionally well, having a tremendous handle for a player his size and understanding how to finish around the rim.

Born in Germany but raised in Dallas, Randolph is recognized as much more than a runner and gunner, as he is praised for having a very reliable mid-range game and can score with his back to the basket. The southpaw has also shown his strength on the boards and can play either the three or four position, providing a potential mismatch whenever he takes the floor.

One of the youngest players in the nation in the competitive SEC, Randolph averaged 15.6 points, 8.5 boards, 1.1 steals and 2.3 blocks per game. He finished in double figures in 27 games and recorded nine double-doubles. He saved his best for conference play, averaging over 16 points and nine rebounds. Randolph finished with 20-plus points on nine occasions, and was a four-time SEC Freshman of the Week.

His biggest game of the season came against Kentucky, as he recorded 24 points and 14 rebounds in addition to four steals and one blocked shot. Randolph also impressed in an 80-74 win over Alabama, notching 29 points and blocking five shots.

That defensive performance vs. the Crimson Tide was hardly a rarity for the Tigers freshman. He is widely regarded as a dynamic defensive presence in the low post and an expert shot-blocker -- evidenced by his 2.3 rejections a game. He recorded five or more blocks on three occasions, maxing out at six swats in his first collegiate game against Southeastern Louisiana. Randolph finished the season with 70 blocks and 35 steals.

Despite his statistics in the college ranks, scouts express concern that Randolph, who doesn't turn 19 until July, is still among the rawest prospects in the draft. He would need to significantly bulk up to produce similar numbers in the NBA, and his critics say he must show a greater commitment to solid basketball fundamentals. Nevertheless, most scouts and scouting services anticipate he will be able to pick up the mental side of the game with time, especially under the correct NBA tutelage.

Given what he has already done at a young age, scouts say Randolph has as great an upside as any of this year's draft-eligible prospects. With a skill set that reminds some of NBA star Shawn Marion, Randolph might end up being an exciting pro for years to come.