By Joe Kaiser

Remember when it meant something to be a No.1 draft choice in the NBA?

The days when players were chosen based on what they had done in college rather than what their potential was for the future are long gone.

Early impressions of the 2002 class of NBA first-rounders are downright depressing. Only about a half-dozen have had any positive impact.

The class is mostly made up of a bunch of youngsters who should be in the early stages of college. Instead, they find themselves trying to keep their heads above water and their butts out of trouble, under the bright lights of the NBA.

Look at these ugly figures through the first three weeks of the NBA season:

-Only three first-rounders are currently averaging over 10 points per game: Jay Williams, Drew Gooden, and Caron Butler.

-Of draftees taken from picks 18-28, only one player is averaging over three points per game – Casey Jacobsen of the Suns.

-In the entire first round, 16 players are averaging less than three points per contest. (Four of those players haven’t played yet, for various reasons).

-Three players are averaging less than one point per game, and one is right at one, Milwaukee’s Marcus Haislip.

-Two of the first five picks of the draft, Dunleavy Jr. and Tskitishvili, are averaging less than four points, three rebounds, and two assists per game.

Plenty of guys have potential. But potential doesn't help a team. Development and production, those things matter.

If the early results are any indication, there are only five players who have any shot at all at the Rookie of the Year award: Jay Williams, Drew Gooden, Nene Hilario, Amare Stoudemire, and Caron Butler. Yao Ming is a wildcard.

Here are the stats of each of the first-rounders through Nov. 17:

1. Yao Ming, C, Houston
PPG 6.2
RPG 3.8
APG 0.5
SPG 0.1
BLG 0.4

2. Jay Williams, PG, Chicago
PPG 11.7
RPG 4.9
APG 6.1
SPG 1.4
BLG 0.0

3. Mike Dunleavy Jr., G/F, Golden State
PPG 3.6
RPG 2.5
APG 1.1
SPG 0.6
BLG 0.5

4. Drew Gooden, F, Memphis
PPG 15.8
RPG 6.8
APG 1.7
SPG 0.9
BLG 0.6

5. Nikoloz Tskitishvili, F, Denver
PPG 2.7
RPG 1.3
APG 1.0
SPG 0.1
BLG 0.2

6 DaJuan Wagner, G, Cleveland (Has yet to play due to injury)
PPG n/a
RPG n/a
APG n/a
SPG n/a
BLG n/a

7. “Nene” Hilario, F/C, Denver
PPG 8.7
RPG 6.1
APG 1.9
SPG 1,3
BLG 1.0

8. Chris Wilcox, F, Los Angeles Clippers
PPG 2.0
RPG 1.3
APG 0.2
SPG 0.3
BLG 0.0

9. Amare Stoudemire, F/C, Phoenix
PPG 8.4
RPG 7.4
APG 0.6
SPG 0.4
BLG 2.0

10. Caron Butler, F, Miami
PPG 12.1
RPG 5.1
APG 2.2
SPG 0.8
BLG 0.1

11. Jared Jeffries, F, Washington
PPG 5.2
RPG 4.0
APG 0.7
SPG 0.4
BLG 0.3

12. Melvin Ely, F/C, Los Angeles Clippers (On IL with sprained left foot)
PPG n/a
RPG n/a
APG n/a
SPG n/a
BLG n/a

13. Marcus Haislip, F, Milwaukee
PPG 1.0
RPG 0.0
APG 0.0
SPG 0.0
BLG 0.0

14. Fred Jones, G, Indiana
PPG 0.4
RPG 0.2
APG 0.0
SPG 0.2
BLG 0.0

15. Bostjan Nachbar, F, Houston
PPG 2.5
RPG 2.0
APG 0.5
SPG 0.0
BLG 0.0

16. Jiri Welsch, G, Golden State
PPG 3.4
RPG 0.5
APG 0.8
SPG 0.4
BLG 0.1

17. Juan Dixon, PG, Washington
PPG 4.4
RPG 1.2
APG 0.4
SPG 0.4
BLG 0.0

18. Curtis Borchardt, C, Utah (On IL with broken foot)
PPG n/a
RPG n/a
APG n/a
SPG n/a
BLG n/a

19. Ryan Humphrey, F, Orlando
PPG 2.7
RPG 2.0
APG 0.2
SPG 0.1
BLG 0.0

20. Kareem Rush, G, Los Angeles Lakers
PPG 2.2
RPG 0.5
APG 0.8
SPG 0.0
BLG 0.0

21. Qyntel Woods, G/F, Portland
PPG 2.7
RPG 0.6
APG 0.1
SPG 0.0
BLG 0.0

22. Casey Jacobsen, G/F, Phoenix
PPG 5.0
RPG 0.9
APG 0.7
SPG 0.4
BLG 0.0

23. Tayshaun Prince, F, Detroit
PPG 1.8
RPG 0.6
APG 0.4
SPG 0.0
BLG 0.1

24. Nenad Krstic, F/C, New Jersey (Did not sign with the team, still in Europe)
PPG n/a
RPG n/a
APG n/a
SPG n/a
BLG n/a

25. Frank Williams, PG, New York
PPG 0.2
RPG 0.2
APG 0.5
SPG 0.8
BLG 0.2

26. John Salmons, G/F, Philadephia
PPG 1.6
RPG 0.9
APG 0.8
SPG 0.4
BLG 0.5

27. Chris Jefferies, F, Toronto
PPG 2.6
RPG 1.4
APG 0.1
SPG 0.2
BLG 0.1

28. Dan Dickau, PG, Atlanta
PPG 0.8
RPG 0.2
APG 0.8
SPG 0.4
BLG 0.0

Joe Kaiser is an aspiring sports journalist from Seattle, WA. He enjoys your thoughts, suggestions and opinions. He can be reached at joe-kaiser@excite.com