Greg Monroe jumps in ESPN rookie rankings

David Thorpe, who keeps an ever-evolving ranking and analysis of the year’s NBA rookies for ESPN.com, has moved Greg Monroe up to the No. 2 slot, just behind the Los Angeles Clippers’ Blake Griffin. He had spent the past week or so ranked in the fourth slot, looking up at Demarcus Cousins and John Wall. While Monroe still doesn’t have better traditional stats than some of the players below him, Thorpe probably sees what all Detroit fans are seeing, a quality big man that seems to be improving night in and night out.

Thorpe’s latest analysis of Monroe reads thus: “Monroe hit for a career-high 20 points against New Jersey, while grabbing 11 rebounds and blocking two shots. It’s a sign that, rather than hitting the rookie wall, he’s starting to hit his stride as a legit big man.”

Can’t argue with that. The piece is part of ESPN Insider, so if you want to read all Thorpe’s scouting reports on Monroe and the other rookies in his draft class, you’ll have to pony up.