Former Colorado talent getting attention

A report from ESPN.com's Insider says a former Colorado prep player might be first-round worthy after this season, his first in college ball.

Chad Ford writes about the type of talent that the Buffs have to keep home in the future.

"(Matt) Bouldin is another big guard who shows exceptional court vision and leadership on the floor for a freshman. Right now, Gonzaga has him playing mostly 2-guard and small forward which has hurt his stock a little. And his play has been pretty up and down. He was great against North Carolina and Washington and then threw up a terrible game against Duke.

Of the Top 13 (freshmen), he's the guy most likely to stay in school for another year or two. But if he comes out, someone will grab him in the late first round."

More Ford..."some scouts feel he might have a little John Stockton in him, too. But the best comparison may be a non-Gonzaga alum -- Deron Williams (Utah Jazz)."

The Black and Gold Truth...Bouldin is a player that should have been convinced to stay in-state but wasn't. That is just one shortcoming in the current state of the program. That said, Ricardo Patton's recruitment of Xavier Silas is looking very promising.

Another player on Ford's Top-13 Freshman list was Texas' Kevin Durant, a surefire NBA star one day soon. The Buffs get an up close look at him on Jan. 6. Ford has him as the best talent in the upcoming draft but likely second pick overall if he declares, behind Ohio State center Greg Oden, another freshman.

Another Big-12 potential lottery pick is Kansas State freshman Bill Walker.

As of now, Ford's analysis has CU's Richard Roby tumbling to the latter part of round 1 (it's still guaranteed money) or into the second round. Picked in the same general area but ahead of Roby is yet another former Colorado high schooler, Nevada center Nick Fazekas.

Recruiting News...Craig Haubert of Scout.com and ESPN's Insider reports that Texas' loss of quarterback John Brantley, a defection to Florida, could have a rippling effect on a Colorado prep.

To replace Brantley, Haubert speculates the Longhorns could look for commits at other schools, including Clint Brewster of Mullen, who has verballed to Illinois.