Kenny Satterfield. (Craig Ruttle photos) | ZOOM |

        Scouting for the NBA draft is changing. With so many players leaving college early, if not skipping it entirely, teams have to project long-term potential. That's what former Cincinnati player Kenny Satterfield has going for him.

        The 6-foot-1 point guard, who left UC after two years, is expected to be a second-round pick tonight.

        Satterfield, who is from the Bronx, is generally projected as the fourth-best point guard available — behind Jamaal Tinsley (Iowa State), Omar Cook (St. John's) and Tony Parker (France).

        Cook helped himself at the NBA predraft camp in Chicago, where Satterfield was just 5-of-18 shooting with 13 turnovers and 18 assists in three games.

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        Chris Monter, who publishes Monter Draft News, has Satterfield going in the second round, 32nd overall, to Orlando.

        “I really haven't heard much buzz about him, because he didn't do much in Chicago,” Monter said. “He had a chance to solidify himself as a first-rounder and didn't.”

        “I would not expect him to go first-round, but it only takes one team to like him,” said Ryan Blake, NBA assistant director of scouting. “Can he make a team? I'm not sure, either. That'll depend. If he gets in with the right team, he can have a chance.”

        Satterfield has worked out for Boston, Sacramento, Orlando, Indiana, New Jersey, Utah, Vancouver, Toronto and Washington. His best chance of landing in the first round may be the Jazz, at No.24.

        “We know one thing: Kids who come out of the Cincinnati program have been coached,” Utah assistant coach David Fredman said. “We know we can get on them a little bit because they've been gotten on before. And almost all of the guys who come out of that program play hard. That's why we've had some interest in Kenny. We're considering him.”

        Satterfield, who turned 20 in April, is the fourth player to leave UC early.

        • Dontonio Wingfield played one year in college, then was picked in the second round of the 1994 draft; he is out of basketball now.

        • Danny Fortson left UC after his junior season and was the 10th overall pick in the first round by Milwaukee in 1997; he now plays for the Golden State Warriors.

        • DerMarr Johnson left after his freshman season at UC and was selected sixth overall by the Atlanta Hawks a year ago.

        NBA scouts like Satterfield's quickness and his ability to drive to the basket. They are wary of his perimeter shooting and strength.

        Nobody expects him to become an immediate starter or impact player.

        But players now are often drafted for their upsides, their chances to be good in the future. Teams are looking for the next Kobe Bryant, the Los Angeles Lakers star who entered the NBA straight out of high school.

        That's why at least three high school players (Kwame Brown, Tyson Chandler, Eddy Curry) are expected to be among the top picks tonight.

        “Now we're trying to project kids out of high school and after one or two years of college, and it's just a different thing,” Fredman said. “We've got more players to keep track of. You add that, and now you add Europe, because that's a big factor.”

        Said Blake: “We had 14 international players drafted last year. You have to do a little bit more research.”

        Satterfield was a high school McDonald's All-American, and NBA scouts have been tracking him since he arrived at UC. Utah had Satterfield shoot around Monday in Salt Lake City.

        “We've watched this kid play for a couple of years, and we previously interviewed him in Chicago, so from a scouting standpoint, we felt we've had a pretty good handle on him,” Fredman said. “We wanted to introduce him to our coaching staff and get their input.

        “He's a quick guy. We try to look at his upside. Obviously, he's a young kid. Where he fits in, I have no idea.”

Online opinions on Satterfield
Updated draft coverage from Associated Press

Jazz may take first dibs on Satterfield Online opinions on Satterfield Wizards could make history with first pick Firstar might yet host C-USA tourney

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