Former Michigan State standout Morris Peterson sang the praises of Draymond Green in an interview with DetroitSports360.com.
Green, a 2012 All-American, averaged 16.2 points and a Big Ten-best 10.6 boards last season.
Peterson, a first-round draft pick in 2000 who went on to have an 11-year NBA career, said that despite concerns about Green's 6-7 height, he'll be an asset in the NBA:
"You know what? Draymond has his head on straight," Peterson said by phone Friday. "He's one of those kids who won state championships (back-to-back with Saginaw High in 2007 and 2008). He understands what it takes to win. You can't teach that.
"He just has that in him," Peterson said. "Doesn't matter how high you jump, how fast you run. You have to use your mind....
"Well, I think he does a lot of stuff that doesn't end up on paper or in the stat sheet," Peterson said. "That's big for a guy like him. He does so many different things; he's a great passer, a rebounder. Just that leadership man, a guy like him... I watched his career, I watched him grow. You can see that work ethic. Every time I see him, he's picking my brain and asking what he can do to get better."
Praise from Peterson carries some weight. The Flint native averaged 16.8 points per game during the Spartans' run to the 2000 national title. That season he shot 46.5 percent from the floor and 42.5 percent from downtown and was named a second-team All-American.
According to DraftExpress.com's most recent mock, Green is slated to go No. 28 overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder.
For more on the Detroit Pistons, check out Detroit Bad Boys. You can also check out professional basketball news from around the league over at SB Nation's NBA page, or watch SB Nation's YouTube channel: