Lebron James or Carmelo Anthony -- Who goes No. 1?

If you are an NBA scout looking at Carmelo Anthony and Lebron James, you are thinking that the sky is the limit with their talent. Both are strong, tall, incredible athletes. It is almost inevitable that both of them will be in the NBA draft this year. The question is which one will be picked first.

Right now everyone is probably thinking James should be No. 1. If you think about it though, Anthony deserves just as much talk. Anthony has done everything this year for Syracuse and has been carrying them on his back. You'd have to say if he wasn't on their team that Syracuse would have had a horrible year.

Anthony has scored 20-30 points in almost every game this season, while taking a beating from the opposing team. He also has made clutch shot after clutch shot.

Take a look back a week ago when Syracuse was playing at Notre Dame. Syracuse was up big, but slowed down late in the second half allowing Notre Dame to tie it up at 88. Most teams would have folded, especially a team that is made up of three freshman. But then Anthony came back down the floor on the next play and hit a very tough basket driving to the hoop.

Last week against Rutgers, Syracuse was in danger of losing at home for the first time. Anthony had struggled most of the game, and no one else on Syracuse could step up. Finally, Anthony found his rhythm in the middle of the second half and Syracuse won.

March Madness will be starting in the next week, and that is the event that NBA scouts drool over. Anthony's play in the tournament could solidify him as a No. 1 or 2 pick, or just a lottery pick.

Looking at James there are lots of questions to be answered before he should be the No. 1 pick. Everyone knows he is a great athlete -- against High School athletes.

On the high school level, James looks like he is a man playing against boys. His size is definitely NBA material, but the high school kids provide no match to him.

Yes, he has played against a bunch of NBA players that say he is great, but that doesn't mean anything. He is not going to be able to dunk over NBA players like he does in high school, or muscle his way against players. He is 6'7 not 6-10 like Amare Stoudemire.

You also have to look at the fact that James has all the pressure on him. It doesn't help that since he was a junior in high school everyone has hyped him. Everywhere on TV and in magazines, they've talked about how great James is going to be. His team has to play at Akron University's gym, and he has even had two of his games broadcast on ESPN. That's a lot of weight on someone's shoulder who hasn't even stepped on the court for an NBA game yet.

Don't get me wrong, I think James is a great athlete and will succeed in the NBA. But, when you have two players at the same size, strength, and pretty much, ability, there is a big decision to be made.

If I had the No. 1 pick I would choose Anthony. The reason why is because I think he has a better all-around game.

No one in college basketball has had a better inside-outside game then Anthony. He has the ability to break a player down with the dribble, shoot threes, or be a low post player. That is a very strong combination to have.

Right now James only has two of those three abilities. He has had people say that his jump shot needs work for him to be a great player. Eventually, he'll probably become a solid shooter, but he just isn't there yet.

In the end, we all know James will be the No. 1 pick. Just like all the years in the past, NBA teams are picking high school players high because of their raw talent. Often, though, it takes a long time for a high school player to pan out.

In the last three or four years, the only high school athlete that has played great his first year is Amare Stoudemire. Eddy Curry, Tyson Chandler, Kwame Brown, and others are still finding their way and developing.

Expect whichever teams that land James and Anthony to have two very solid players that should be unbelievable to watch the next ten to fifteen years.