Dennis Nett / The Post-Standard

The NBA draft is undoubtedly packed with talented, young players this year, but one NBA executive told SI's Ian Thomsen he thinks Syracuse's Donte Greene could "turn out to be better than any of them."

Greene worked out for the Toronto Raptors on Thursday.

While in Canada, Greene told the National Post even though he is expected to go before Toronto picks at No. 17, turning down workouts is not an option.

ESPN analyst Jay Bilas says Donte Greene has "all the tools and ability to be a very good player in the NBA", but is "still learning."

Earlier this week, Greene talked to Oregon Live about his workout for Portland:

The NBA draft is being held next Thursday, June 26 in New York City.

Jay Bilas of ESPN has put together a very cool video profile of the top 22 players in this year's NBA draft.

Click here for his breakdown of Syracuse University's Donte Greene.

Mike Waters
mwaters@syracuse.com

I've received a bunch of emails from readers lately asking about Eric Devendorf's appeal for a medical redshirt.

Pete Moore, Syracuse University director of athletic communications, said Thursday that the process for the redshirt is not yet complete.

However, within the last two weeks, a Big East official indicated that Devendorf's appeal for a redshirt would seem to be a slam-dunk and it's just a matter of getting the proper paper-work done. Devendorf played in just 10 games last season. Syracuse wound up playing 35 games. So Devendorf is well under the NCAA limit for the maximum number of games played to still be eligible for a medical redshirt. Expect Devendorf to be listed as a junior with two years of eligibility remaining when the 2008-09 season rolls around.

To answer a few other questions from readers:

1. Unlike Devendorf, Andy Rautins does not need to seek a medical redshirt. Rautins missed the entire 2007-08 season due to a knee injury. But since he didn't play in any games, his redshirt is automatic. He'll be a junior in the fall.

2. Unlike Rautins, Syracuse center Sean Williams cannot get a redshirt year for the 2007-08 season. Williams intended to sit out the entire season, but played in four games when the injury bug ravaged the Syracuse roster. Unfortunately, those four games mean Williams will be a sophomore next fall.

3. Devin Brennan-McBride left Syracuse University after the 2007 fall semester. He is not expected to return to the university. His chronically injured shoulder never responded to multiple surgeries. His basketball career; at least at the major college level, is over.

Mike Waters
mwaters@syracuse.com

Dennis Nett / The Post-Standard, 2007Donte Greene.

With just one week to go before the NBA draft, former Syracuse star Donte Greene continued his pre-draft tour with a workout for the Toronto Raptors on Thursday.

Earlier this week, Greene worked out for Portland and admitted it wasn't his best effort in a News 10 Now video clip.

Back on the East Coast, Brendan Quinn, with The Bulletin in Philadelphia, writes Greene's "versatility and shooting ability" could make him a good fit for the Sixers, a team he worked out for earlier this month.

A recent mock draft on DraftExpress.com has Greene going 14th to the Warriors.

The NBA draft is being held next Thursday, June 26 in New York City.

Andy Rautins isn't the only player with ties to Syracuse University currently working out in Toronto.

Donte Greene continues his pre-NBA draft tour with a workout for the Toronto Raptors today.

I found a note on the workout in Wednesday's editions of the Toronto Star. There's also some news of the Raptors' workouts in this Raptor-oriented blog.

Mike Waters
mwaters@syracuse.com

This one got a lot of SU fans going on my radio show on Wednesday so I wanted to toss it to you, the loyal blog readers, as well to see what you think.

ESPN.com has a fun thing going on here in the college football off season called the "Face of the Program."

SU Athletics Photo

It is exactly what it sounds like. They are determining who, or in some cases what, is the face of each program in Division I Football.

Here is the link to the feature

Some choices are obvious like Joe Paterno at Penn State and Bear Bryant at Alabama.

Some choices are just plain strange...such as Nike executive Phil Knight being the face of Oregon Football.

So, you are probably wondering, who or what won out as the "Face of Syracuse Football"?

Wait for it...wait for it...

*Drumroll*

A number.

Wait, what?...

By Dennis NettAndy Rautins shoots against Drexel in a game in the Carrier Dome on December 16, 2006.

The Syracuse University guard is working out with the Canadian developmental team in Toronto this week. His dad, Leo, is the coach of the senior men's team. He said Andy is working out with the developmental team to get in some extra practice, since he's been out of serious game situations since last summer, when he tore his ACL.

Andy will begin tryouts for the senior men's team on Friday. Those tryouts also take place in Toronto, at the home of the Raptors. The Canadian men's team plays exhibition games starting June 30 in Hamilton, Ontario. By then, Leo Rautins expects to trim his tryout roster to about 15 players.

The Canadian team has yet to qualify for the Beijing Olympic Games. The Canadians will play in a "last chance" tournament in Greece in mid-July. The top three teams from that tournament will advance to the Olympics.

Leo Rautins said his son has benefited physically from all his rehabilitation work in the weight room. Andy now weighs 208, Leo said. He's substituted his desire for McDonald's and pizza for healthier fare. And he's added range to his jumper.

Leo Rautins said Andy's range to the NBA 3-point line has become "effortless." He credits the work Andy did during the offseason with SU athletics trainer Brad Pike and strength and conditioning coach Ryan Cabiles for Andy's increased strength and shooting range.

I'll have more on Andy Rautins at a later date. ...

-Donna
dditota@syracuse.com

I'm getting in touch with my inner-Conrad Dobler, so I'm going to rekindle a little squabble here.

The whole "Syracuse will be better off without Donte Greene'' argument takes a hit with ESPN basketball reporter Andy Katz' updated Top 25.

Syracuse was No. 18 back in April before Greene entered his name in the NBA draft. In the latest version, Katz leaves the Orange out of his Top 25.

Katz' Top 25 is loaded with Big East teams. There are three Big East teams in the top five and none of them are my personal choice to win the conference next year: UConn.

There are five Big East teams among the top 15 and seven all told in the Top 25. Georgetown and Syracuse rated mentions as others receiving consideration. Providence, which has nearly everybody back and should benefit from the return of point guard Sharaud Curry, isn't even mentioned. Neither is Cincinnati, which is my darkhorse pick.

Mike Waters
mwaters@syracuse.com