Scouting reports for top players at their position...
Point
Guards
Jamal
Murray, Freshman PG/SG Kentucky
Jamal
Murray is a great shooter with deep range. He showed the ability to
make shots from all different angles and when off-balance, and he
attacks aggressively at all times. Murray has a very good handle and
finishes well around the rim. He's a scoring machine who also has
great vision and has no problem finding the open man when the defense
collapses on him. He didn't play a lot of point guard this season
alongside Tyler Ulis, but he has the ability to run the show.
Murray
is a phenomenal competitor who raises his game in the biggest
moments. He thrives where most others shrink, and because of this
trait he has star potential. He's not the most explosive athlete,
but he's extremely aggressive and plays with intelligence on both
ends. He's still very young, and if he continues to improve he's got
a chance to be one of the best guards in the league.
Isaiah
Whitehead, Sophomore PG/SG Seton Hall
Isaiah Whitehead is a big point guard with all the
skills to be great. He possesses great confidence, which at this
point in his career is a good and a bad thing. He truly believes he
can make every shot and every play, and while he does make a lot of
them, this mentality sometimes leads him to terrible shots and bad
decisions.
Whitehead has great size and strength and has the
ability to do everything on the basketball court. He has a great
handle, tremendous vision, and an accurate outside shot. He's quick
and athletic and can easily get by his man, and once he does he can
get to the rim and finish, pull-up for the mid-range jumper, or find
the open man. He's capable of making all kinds of shots and floaters
from different angles and off-balance, but he needs to improve his
shot selection and with it his percentage.
Whitehead started playing at an extremely high level
late in the season and led his team to the Big East tournament
championship. He then reverted back to the poor decision-making and
shot selection that often plagued him in his two years at Seton Hall,
resulting in a first round exit for his team at the hands of a more
experienced Gonzaga squad. Much like Kris Dunn of Providence, he'll
have to continue to improve his decision-making if he hopes to become
a great player at the next level.
The fact that Whitehead is a cutthroat competitor who
craves the big moment makes me believe that he will put in the work
necessary to star at the next level. It may take him several years,
but he already has all the skills he needs.
Hopefully playing with better players will translate to
smarter play, and studying the game under a few great players will be
extremely valuable for Isaiah's growth. In my eyes the decision
between he and Dunn would be very difficult, and both would greatly
benefit from another year in college.
Kris
Dunn, Junior PG Providence
Kris
Dunn seems to be most team's #1 point guard, but I'm a little
concerned by his team's lack of success over his career. His
Providence squad had a lot of talent, but they always seemed to
underachieve. While this certainly wasn't totally his fault, it does
make me question his ability to lead his team to wins.
Dunn
has great size, length, and athleticism, and his game compares
similarly to Russell Westbrook. He's fearless and is constantly on
the attack. He's capable of doing everything, whether it's getting
to the rim, pulling up for a mid-range jumper, or knocking down the
three. His size and length make him a terror on the defensive end as
well, and he's definitely not afraid of the big moments.
However,
his decision-making needs a lot of work and he turns it over way too
much right now. His outside shot is very inconsistent, and his shot
selection is extremely questionable. I love his confidence, but it
sometimes got him in very bad spots. He often tried to do too much,
resulting in terrible turnovers and being out of position. It will
take several years for Dunn to get under control and improve his
shooting, but he certainly has the drive to work on his game.
I
love his extreme competitive nature and his ability to fill up the
stat sheet. He displayed great vision at times, and he certainly has
many impressive tools that could place him among the game's elite if
he continuously improves. With some great coaching and savvy
veterans to learn from, Kris Dunn has the potential to be great.
Having a mentor will be very important for him.
Denzel
Valentine, Senior PG/SG Michigan St.
Denzel
Valentine is a great competitor who was arguably the Most Valuable
Player in college basketball this season. He was a triple-double
threat every night, and his Michigan State team was lost when he
missed games due to injury.
Valentine
had the highest basketball IQ of any player in college this season.,
He possesses great vision and passing ability and has an innate feel
for the game. He sees the game several plays ahead of everyone else,
and because of this he's easily able to manipulate defenses to make
easy plays for himself and his teammates. He makes everyone on his
team better just by being out there.
Valentine
is an extremely versatile player. He has a very good handle, changes
speeds effectively, and developed a deadly 3-point stroke this
season. He can play both the point and shooting guard positions, and
he has the size and mind to be a good defensive player in the team
concept. He's not the quickest or most athletic player around, but
he knows what it takes to win and simply understands the game better
than most.
Valentine's
lack of quickness is a slight concern because of all the lightning
quick point guards in the NBA, but there is certainly a place for his
well-rounded skill-set at the next level. He made huge plays all
season and showed the ability to take over against even the best
opponents. He can get to the rim and score, make shots from all over
the floor, and nearly always makes the best play available. He's a
unique player without a close NBA comparison, but he's got starter
ability.
Dejounte
Murray, Freshman PG Washington
Dejounte
Murray is one of the best competitor's in this year's NBA Draft. He
plays with maximum effort on both ends of the floor, an attribute
that will help him continuously improve and become a force in the
league. Murray has a very high basketball IQ, and his tremendous
size at the point guard position allows him to see over the defense
and make the right play.
Murray
has a great handle and is a very gifted passer. He possesses a
deadly floater in the lane and finishes well around the basket. His
outside shot needs some work, but with his mentality I have no doubt
he will do what's necessary to improve in this area. Murray also
rebounds very well at his position, and once he adds a little more
muscle to his slender frame he should become a starter and
triple-double threat.
Defensively
Murray is great. He's an extremely aggressive, high-energy defender
who never gives his man a break. He's also an intelligent team
defender with an understanding for help defense. He played on a
young team that struggled for much of the season, but despite this I
still love this kid's game.
Michael
Gbinije, Senior SG/PG Syracuse
Michael Gbinije has tremendous size and versatility at
the guard position. He can play both the point and shooting guard
positions, and he may even be able to spend some time at the small
forward spot as well. Gbinije was a late bloomer who developed into
a great scorer and team leader. He has a very good handle with the
ability to get to the rim and finish, pull up for the mid-range
jumper, or knock down the deep three.
Gbinije's size and length make him a very good defender
as well. He will be able to defend three positions in the NBA,
making him a valuable asset for whichever team selects him. He's a
tough competitor with an all-around game, and with the direction the
NBA is moving his value may continue to rise.
Demetrius
Jackson, Junior PG/SG Notre Dame
Demetrius
Jackson is an explosive athlete and a great leader. He's lightning
quick off the dribble, and once by his man he has every option at
this disposal. He has a very high basketball IQ and nearly always
makes the right play. He can get to the rim and finish with power
and strength, pull-up for the mid-range jumper, or find the open man.
He has deep range past the 3-point line and he's capable of making
all types of shots.
At
6'1” Jackson isn't very tall, but he has a huge vertical and is
incredibly strong. He's a great rebounder for his size, and he loves
taking over the game in crunch time. He's one of the best
competitors in the game, a trait which makes him a great defender as
well. Good comparisons would be Eric Bledsoe and Kyle Lowry.
Patrick
McCaw, Sophomore PG/SG UNLV
Patrick
McCaw is extremely long and athletic and showed glimpses of every
skill you'd want from a point guard. Although he played on a very
poor UNLV team, for the most part he avoided falling into the bad
habits that his teammates showed pretty consistently all season.
McCaw's
combination of size and quickness allowed him to easily get by his
man, and once he did he was capable of executing all the options at
his disposal. He's very good at getting to the rim and finishing,
but he can also pull-up and finish with a floater. He has good
vision and can find the open man, but his teammates usually failed to
capitalize when he did. McCaw showed the ability to knock down shots
when open, but his shooting off the dribble needs some work.
Defensively
McCaw has the potential to be great. His length and quickness help
him to wreak havoc in the passing lanes, and once he gets some
experience with a team that has a clue how to defend he will
certainly get even better. He has a lot of room to get stronger and
improve in every aspect of his game, and he may be the player in this
draft with the most upside.
I see
a lot of things I like in the game of Patrick McCaw, and if he was
playing at a different school I would say he really could have
benefited from another year of college. He has a solid feel for the
game, but he didn't always make great decisions this season. I'm
sure the poor play of his team had a lot to do with it sometimes, and
I'd expect him to improve quickly in a disciplined NBA system. I
think he's several years away so I probably wouldn't draft him in the
lottery, but he would be a great value pick late in the first round.
Tyler
Ulis, Sophomore PG Kentucky
Tyler
Ulis is probably my favorite player in this draft. He's basically a
perfect player on both sides of the floor except for the fact that
he's only 5'10”. He was arguably the best leader in college
basketball this year and one of it's most cutthroat competitors. His
game is complete and polished both offensively and defensively.
Ulis
plays with an extremely high IQ, and he nearly always makes the right
play. He's lightning quick and can easily get by his man, and once
he does he can get to the rim and finish, knock down the mid-range
jumper, or find the open man. He has a great floater and a deadly
3-point shot, and he rises to the occasion in the biggest moments.
Ulis
is also a lockdown defender. He's extremely tough despite his
slender frame, and I wouldn't put it past him to become one of the
game's best. Despite weighing only 150 pounds, Ulis is fearless and
plays with strength far beyond his weight. He will likely fall in
the draft because of his size, but this will only serve to motivate
him even further. Isaiah Thomas has proven that players this size
can succeed, and I think Ulis is a better player overall.
Gary
Payton II, Senior PG Oregon St.
Gary
Payton II is extremely long and explosively athletic. His quickness
and jumping ability are on par with Russell Westbrook, but the major
difference is that Westbrook has a cutthroat competitive drive.
Where as Westbrook always looks to attack and wants to destroy his
opponent, Payton is too often satisfied with going through the
motions and passing the ball around.
When
he gets in attack mode he's nearly impossible to stop, as he can
easily get by his man and he finishes most everything at the rim. He
can make all kinds of difficult shots in the mid-range game and in,
but the problem is he just doesn't look to do it enough. Payton II
is usually too unselfish and prefers to set up his teammates, but
unfortunately at Oregon State they weren't very good. The players
he'll be passing to will be much better in the NBA, but I just
question if Payton has the mentality to thrive at the next level.
Defensively
Payton is incredible. His great anticipation combines with his
explosive quickness to create a dominant defensive player. He's a
phenomenal rebounder for his size, and his length and timing result
in lots of blocks, steal, and deflections.
Payton
II has a great handle and a very high basketball IQ, but he just
doesn't appear to be a super competitive guy. He often sits back for
long stretches, and he'll need to be more aggressive offensively to
reach his potential. His 3-point shooting really needs work as well.
Shooting
Guards
Buddy
Hield, Senior SG Oklahoma
Buddy
Hield was absolutely incredible this season in leading his Oklahoma
Sooners to the Final Four. He improved drastically during his time
in Norman, and he's developing a game that's starting to resemble
that of Steph Curry at his age. While I think Curry was a better
ball-handler and passer his senior year at Davidson, it's hard to
have a much better outside shot than Buddy Hield did this season.
Curry
obviously continued to make huge improvements in his game after
making the jump to the NBA, and Buddy Hield has the work ethic to
follow that same path. Hield is a phenomenal competitor who
dominated college basketball in his senior season. He usually raised
his level in the biggest games and the biggest moments, the kind of
response you often get from a star player. He's already proven he's
a player that will give it his all every second of every game, and
he'll put in the work to improve on his own.
Hield
plays high IQ basketball and stays within himself. He's nearly
always in the right spot, and he typically makes the optimal play.
He has the ability to drive and finish with accuracy, and he's
capable of making extremely difficult shots. He hardly needs any
time to get his shot off, and he's deadly accurate spotting up,
coming off screens, and off the dribble. His handle has plenty of
room for improvement, but I look for that to be the next focus of his
intense practice sessions. Developing the skills to play the point
guard position is what could make Buddy Hield the best player in this
draft.
As a
shooting guard Hield has mediocre size and length. His strength,
competitive spirit, and high-level athleticism allowed him to be a
very good defender in college, but he'll often be guarding bigger,
longer players in the NBA. I really think he needs to focus on
improving his vision and ball-handling so he can play both guard
positions and basically model his game after Curry. Chances are
he'll never get there, but with his work ethic the sky's the limit.
While
it's generally accepted that Brandon Ingram and Ben Simmons will be
the top two players selected in this year's draft, I couldn't fault a
team for taking a chance on Buddy Hield as high as #1 overall. Steph
Curry was drafted #7 for some of the same shortcomings teams will
point to with Hield, and we all know how that's played out. Hield
and Ben Bentil are the players in this draft most ready to play right
away, and whichever team picks this guy will get a great player for
years to come.
DeAndre
Bembry, Junior SG/SF St. Joe's
DeAndre Bembry is one of the most offensively gifted
players in this draft. He has an extremely high basketball IQ, and
he possesses most every skill you'd want from a wing in the NBA.
He's a very good ball-handler with tremendous vision. His laid-back
demeanor combines with his expert ability to change speeds to make
him deceivingly explosive, and once he gets by his man he nearly
always makes the right decision.
Bembry is a very good shooter and scorer, and he can
pretty much get whatever he wants offensively. He can make shots
from all over the floor from all angles, but he also knows where to
go with the ball if he's double-teamed.
His size and length make him a pretty good defender, but
he could stand to be a little tougher at times. He doesn't always
come out of the gate with the mentality to dominate his opponent, and
it often takes something to bring out the fierce competitor in him.
Simply based on skills he'd be one of the top picks in this draft,
but he slips a little for me because I'm not sure he has the drive to
be the best.
Malachi
Richardson, Freshman SG/SF Syracuse
Malachi
Richardson was a little inconsistent at times in his freshman
campaign, but he showed glimpses of greatness. He's a great shooter
with deep range, and he's got prototypical size and length for an NBA
2-guard. He displayed an under control and very high IQ game for a
freshman, and it often seemed like he was holding something back and
deferring to older teammates. However, he showed the ability to take
over late in a few big games, including Syracuse's Elite Eight game
against Virginia in the NCAA tournament.
Richardson
can spot up or shoot off the dribble, and he has a sneaky good handle
as well. He finishes well around the rim, and he just has a knack
for being in the right place and knowing how to get his shot off in
all kinds of situations. It's always hard to measure a Syracuse
player's defensive ability since they always play zone, but I think
Richardson's size, length, and competitive drive will make him a very
good defender in the NBA.
He's
still very young and could stand to improve in all areas, but he's
shown every skill necessary to succeed as a starting shooting guard
in the NBA. He's got the competitive drive to excel and continue to
get better. He's the kind of player that could really benefit from
another year of college as the go-to guy, but I can't fault him for
wanting to make the jump now.
Caris
LeVert, Senior SG Michigan,
I love Caris LeVert's game, but injuries are a MAJOR
concern. When healthy LeVert is extremely long and athletic, and he
uses his quickness to easily get by his man. Once he does he can
drive to the rim and finish, pull-up for the mid-range jumper, or
find the open man. He has a very good handle with the size to get
his shot off over most opponents. He's a very good shooter with deep
range, making him a very difficult cover when he's playing
confidently and being aggressive. He's extremely versatile, capable
of playing both guard positions as well as small forward.
LeVert's size, length, and athleticism make him a very
good defender as well. He can guard three positions, but he needs to
get stronger and more durable to be great on this end in the NBA.
Caris LeVert has star potential if he can stay healthy, but that's
looking like a big IF.
A.J.
English, Senior SG Iona
A.J. English is a great shooter and scorer who dominated
his league for Iona. He has a great handle with tremendous vision,
and he's very good at breaking down a defense and finding the open
man. He's got great size and athleticism at the point guard
position, and he showed the ability to get just about anywhere he
wants on the court. He's very bouncy and extremely quick, and he
uses change of speeds to keep his opponents off balance.
Offensively English really understands the game. He
moves the ball quickly and usually makes the optimal play. He's able
to put points on the board in a hurry, and he can score in just about
every way imaginable. He's a great teammate and really showed his
full skill-set in Portsmouth on his way to the MVP award.
The only thing that concerns me about A.J. English is
his lack of physicality. He seems to shy away from contact,
something that could be a big problem in a league where toughness is
often the difference between a star and a mediocre player. This
trait only seemed to hurt him offensively when he didn't have the
ball, but defensively it was more of a problem.
His length and quickness make up for some flaws
defensively, but his hesitancy to get up into his man and box out on
the boards are areas of concern. His Iona squad was always one of
the best offensive teams but also one of the worst defensively, so
maybe he would improve with more emphasis on the defensive end. He
certainly has all the skills and abilities to be a good defender, but
I noticed that his defense could be adversely affected by his offense
if his shot wasn't falling.
Malik
Beasley, Freshman SG Florida St.
Malik
Beasley is a phenomenal competitor who plays extremely hard with
great toughness at all times. He seems to know what his team needs
from him at any given time, and he has the ability to deliver. He's
a great shooter with deep range, but he can also get by his man and
finish with a floater in the lane. He's a little undersized and
struggled to finish around the rim at times, but he makes up for that
lack of size with toughness and heart.
Beasley
is a lock-down defender. He's a relentless competitor that just
keeps coming at his opponent, and he bring a great physicality to the
game. He's a guy that can change the whole mentality of a team,
setting the tone for the rest of his teammates to follow. I love
this kid's game, and I expect him to continue working hard to
improve.
Malcolm
Brogdon, Senior SG Virginia
Malcolm Brogdon had an incredible senior season. He's a
lock-down defender who can guard multiple positions. He's a high IQ
player who understands the team concept and just knows where to be on
the floor. His teams were some of the best defensive teams college
basketball has seen in awhile.
Offensively Brogdon was great this year as well. He's
pretty quick and can drive and finish with strength and toughness at
the rim. He's got a very solid mid-range game, and while he shot
pretty well from 3-point range this season, I think he will struggle
with the NBA 3-point line.
Brogdon is extremely smart and usually makes the right
play. He's physically and mentally tough, and he showed a clutch
ability at the end of games. He's got NBA strength and is ready to
play a role right away.
Sheldon
McClellan, Senior SG Miami
This
guy reminds me of J.R. Smith. He's a great shooter with deep range,
and he'll drive you mad at times when he reverts to poor
decision-making and just watches off the ball. He's a tremendous
athlete with big-time elevation, and when he's dialed in he can be
great.
He's
capable of easily getting by his man to get to the rim and finish
with authority. He's got a nice mid-range game and can finish in all
sorts of different ways. He can be a great defender when he wants to
be, as he possesses the quickness and length to lock down an
opponent.
He
made big strides this season with his decision-making and effort, and
I believe he has starter potential at the shooting guard position.
While he does have a propensity to finish a game with nearly no
rebounds or assists, something that should never happen with his size
and athleticism, I think McClellan will be worth a pick for a team
looking for a shooting guard that could help fairly soon.
Wayne
Selden, Junior SG Kansas
Wayne Selden is very strong with an NBA-ready body.
He's got a solid handle, and is capable of getting by his man off the
dribble. He can finish strong in all kinds of ways around the rim
with explosive elevation. He also has a nice mid-range game and is
capable of making all kinds of difficult shots, including floaters.
Selden has great value as a starter and role player who
can make all the plays at the shooting guard position. I think he's
proven he's not a go-to guy and doesn't respond real well in the
biggest moments, but he's a very good shooter with deep range who can
also defend multiple positions. He's a gifted passer who has a high
basketball IQ,
While I do think Selden's confidence is a little
fragile, he's got a lot of talent can do a lot of good things for a
team.
Small
Forwards
Ben
Simmons, Freshman SF/PG/PF LSU
Early
in the year Ben Simmons looked like a lock for the #1 pick. His
size, athleticism, and skill-set are LeBron-like, and typically with
a statement like that comes the top selection. However, his team had
a horrible season and missed the tournament, and it became obvious
that Simmons was very uncomfortable shooting from past the free throw
line. LSU had some disastrous chemistry issues, as well as a
struggling coach that has proven over the past few years that he
knows how to recruit talent, but has no clue what to do with it.
The
incredibly quick improvement of Brandon Ingram has made the first
pick a close call, but it would be pretty tough to pass on a physical
specimen like Simmons. At 6'10” he's a tremendous rebounder who's
capable of playing all five positions on the floor. Like LeBron he
has incredible vision and is a little too unselfish most of the time.
He seems to enjoy passing more than anything else, but his teammates
at LSU just weren't able to take advantage of the good positions he
often put them in.
Simmons
is a great finisher around the rim with either hand, and he has the
size, speed, and athleticism to get to the rim at will. However, he
doesn't seem to have a drive to constantly impose his will on the
game physically and offensively. This is a major concern, as I'd
always want a ruthless competitor with a high draft selection. It's
possible that the chemistry issues on his team took some of the fire
out of his game, but I noticed his lack of a killer instinct when he
was in high school as well.
Defensively
Simmons is a monster. His instincts are amazing, and his size and
quickness allow him to be just about anywhere he wants to be. He's
constantly in the passing lanes, he can stay in front of just about
anyone, and he absolutely dominates the boards. His only real
weakness is his outside shooting. He pretty much never even thought
about taking an outside jumper all season long, and it was clear he
didn't have a lot of confidence outside the paint. Despite this,
Simmons is such a versatile weapon that I'd probably just have to
take him and hope he develops a shot.
Brandon
Ingram, Freshman SF Duke
Just
a couple weeks into the season it looked like Brandon Ingram was just
a skinny, overhyped kid who would need several years in college. He
looked lost and overpowered, but boy did that change quickly. By the
end of the season he was clearly one of the best players in college
basketball, showing every skill in the book while dominating his
opponents.
Ingram
has tremendous size and length for a player with guard skills. He
has a good handle with the ability to get by his man, and once he
does he has every tool at his disposal. He can get to the rim and
finish with either hand, pull-up for the jumper, or find the open
man. He's a great shooter from everywhere on the floor, and his
length allows him to finish very well at the rim and get his shot off
over most anyone. He has great vision and nearly always makes the
right decision.
His
length makes him a tough defender, as his extremely long arms always
seem to be in the way of the opposition. However, he needs to get a
lot stronger to deal with the physicality he'll face at the next
level. He's a tough competitor with the mindset to attack
relentlessly, but he'll need to add strength to impose his will in
the NBA. He'll no doubt draw Durant comparisons, but Durant was much
more dominant in his freshman campaign at Texas.
Jaylen
Brown, Freshman SF California
Jaylen Brown is very strong and super athletic. He
plays extremely hard and aggressively and has a huge impact on the
game. I love his competitive drive and relentless motor, and
defensively he's an absolute monster.
For most of the season Brown was very good, but his game
really fell off toward the end of the season. He started turning the
ball over way too much and taking ill-advised shots. He seemed to
miss nearly every outside shot he took, and he was often completely
out of control with the ball in his hands. Over-driving and
aggressive defense landed him in foul trouble nearly every game,
minimizing his impact and eventually getting in his head.
Despite all the negatives I still love Brown's explosive
game and cutthroat mentality. He's an incredible athlete who's
constantly on the attack, and he finishes at the rim with power.
He's an extremely intelligent and hard-working kid, and I know he
will continue to work on every aspect of his game. I get the feeling
he'll be a lot like Kawhi Leonard, entering the league as a defensive
stopper who can't shoot and quickly improving after a couple years.
There's no doubt he has a long way to go, but I'm confident he'll get
there eventually.
Brown is a kid that could really benefit from another
year in college. His shooting and decision-making need a lot of
work, and landing on the wrong team could be a huge setback for him.
Right now he's a great defender with good instincts, but he has a
long way to go offensively before he's ready to play for a
championship-caliber team.
Taurean
Waller-Prince, Senior SF/SG Baylor
Taurean Waller-Prince could be a steal in this year's
NBA draft. I haven't heard a whole lot of chatter about him, but he
has all the skills you'd want from a wing player in the NBA. Prince
possesses great length and athleticism, and he's a deadly shooter
from everywhere on the floor. He's an intense competitor that plays
with aggression and toughness on both ends, and while he doesn't
really have star potential, he could certainly be a second or third
option on a very good team.
Prince is a great defender that can guard multiple
positions. He's a very good passer and rebounder and understands
where to be on the floor. He's a high IQ player that's ready to step
in immediately and play a role. He needs to work on his
ball-handling and could stand to impose himself offensively more
often, but he's a a great teammate and should certainly be taken in
the first round.
Daniel
Hamilton, Sophomore SF/SG UCONN
Daniel Hamilton is a kid that could really benefit from
another year of college ball, but he's an extremely talented player
and could eventually become great. He has every skill in the book
with great size and athleticism, but his shot needs a lot of work.
Hamilton has the ability to play three positions on both
ends of the floor. He has a solid handle, great vision and passing
ability, and a good mid-range game. At 6'8” he can easily see over
the defense and make plays off the dribble for teammates, and he's
pretty good at finding the open man. He's a tremendous competitor
who's usually the first to a rebound or loose ball, and he's
definitely not afraid of the big moment.
Defensively Hamilton is incredibly versatile. His
length and quickness allow him to guard smaller players, and his
toughness and physicality make him a problem for guys his size. He
understands help defense and always seems to be in the middle of
every play.
My main concerns with Daniel Hamilton are his long-range
shooting and his tendency to be a little out of control. His
shooting was downright bad for much of the season, and his shot
selection wasn't the best either. I do think he has the ability to
become a good shooter, but at this point he's just not there yet. He
also tried to do too much way too often this season at UCONN,
resulting in lots of careless turnovers. I have no doubt he'll
improve in both these areas, but because of these I think he's still
several years away from becoming a starter in the NBA.
Georges
Niang, Senior SF/PF Iowa St.
Georges Niang plays with an extremely high IQ and a
fierce competitive drive. He understands all the little intricacies
of the game, and he's very good at exploiting his opponents when they
don't. He possesses nearly every skill offensively, and he nearly
always makes the right play. He's also extremely clutch in the
biggest moments.
Niang has a sneaky good handle and can get to the rim
and finish. He's a great shooter with deep range, and he uses his
big body effectively to create space for himself. He has tremendous
vision, and with his size he's able to see over the defense and make
the optimal play.
He's an effective rebounder, and while he's pretty slow
and lacks explosiveness, he finds a way to get it done. His lack of
speed hurts his on ball defending, but he makes up for it with a
great understanding of defending in the team concept. His game is
closely comparable to Boris Diaw.
Power
Forwards
Ben
Bentil, Sophomore PF/SF Providence
It
seems like Ben Bentil is one of the more underrated players in this
year's NBA draft. Bentil has great size and versatility and can play
both forward positions. He's a good shooter from all over the floor
all the way out to 3-point range, and he's extremely strong posting
up inside and on the boards as well.
Bentil
is a great competitor who plays with maximum effort at all times.
He's a physical presence who poses a mismatch for most every team he
goes up against, and once he gets a few years to improve his
basketball IQ under a good coaching staff he could become an all-star
caliber player.
Bentil's
size and strength make him a solid defender, but I think as he keeps
learning the intricacies of the game he has a chance to become great
in this area. His off the ball defensive awareness and help
positioning needs significant improvement.
Cheick
Diallo, Freshman PF Kansas
Diallo's lack of playing time at Kansas makes him a
little bit of a mystery in this year's draft, a position that could
end up working out extremely well for him. In past years there has
always been at least one player who gets drafted in the first few
picks that no one knows much about, and Diallo could very well be
that guy this year.
Bill Self decided to stick with his veteran big guys
instead of Diallo and Carlton Bragg Jr., a decision that likely cost
him a National Championship this season. Both players showed flashes
of brilliance in their limited minutes, but with so little exposure
it's tough to really gauge how their games' stack up.
Diallo dominated inside at the NBA Combine, using his
extreme length and athleticism to control the games in the paint. He
showed a nice touch around the rim with both hands, an unexpected
face-up game, and an aggressive mentality to impose his will on the
game.
Defensively he was even better. Diallo is not only an
explosive athlete, but he's also a phenomenal competitor. He
tenaciously defends the rim and controls the boards, and if you're
looking for a big man he's probably your guy.
Domantas
Sabonis, Sophomore PF Gonzaga
The
son of former NBA star Arvydas Sabonis is one of the most aggressive
players in the country, and he nearly always comes up with any loose
balls in his vicinity. He's extremely tough inside and on the
boards, and he has a basketball IQ far beyond his years. He makes
great decisions and simply wants it more than his opponent.
Sabonis
has tremendous footwork in the post, and great touch around the rim.
He's a master at establishing position on both offense and defense,
which usually puts him in excellent spots to grab rebounds. It also
regularly results in him sealing his man and creating extremely easy
opportunities at the rim. His relentless aggression will no doubt
make him very successful on both sides of the floor for a long time,
and his work ethic will ensure that he'll continue to improve every
year.
Sabonis
didn't take a lot of jump shots this season, but when he did they
looked good and I think he'll be a great mid-range shooter and
potentially even extend his range out to the 3-point line. He'll
also need to get stronger, but he's still very young and that will
come.
Domantas
reminds me of a bigger more coordinated Tyler Hansbrough, and if I'm
looking to fill the power forward position I'm taking a hard look at
Sabonis. Like Hansbrough I worry about his ability to do what he
does at the next level because of his lack of length and athleticism,
but I'd take my chances. A good comparison is Enes Kanter.
Henry
Ellenson, Freshman PF Marquette
Henry
Ellenson has an incredibly high IQ for a freshman. He understands
where to be on both ends of the court, and he sees the game a couple
steps ahead of most players. He's got a very good post-up game and
great touch around the rim, and while he didn't shoot a very good
percentage this season, I think he's actually a great shooter. He
can make all kinds of difficult shots in the mid-range game, and I
really believe he'll be a very good 3-point shooter in the NBA.
I
love Ellenson's competitive drive. You can tell he desperately wants
to win and wants the big shot with the game on the line. Ellenson is
an extremely skilled player, but he needs to get stronger and quicker
to deal with NBA bigs. I believe he'll do that, but he's got a ways
to go. He's got a Dirk Nowitzki-like game, and if he turns out to be
anywhere near that good he's obviously a player you'd want.
Brice
Johnson, Senior PF UNC
I love Brice Johnson's tenacity and aggression. He's a
very emotional player with a fiery competitive drive, a trait that's
mostly a positive but did hurt him at times at UNC. He still doesn't
have total control of his emotions, but I'd rather have a player with
his mentality then one that doesn't seem to care.
Offensively Brice Johnson is great. He's got a very
reliable mid-range jumper and deft touch around the rim. He's
incredibly athletic and finishes with power high above the rim. He
dominated the boards in his senior season, and I think he'll do the
same in the NBA once he adds a little weight. Right now he's got the
right mentality and toughness to fight with NBA bigs, but he needs to
add strength and weight to handle the more physical play at the next
level.
Johnson plays hard on defense but needs to be more
disciplined and improve his IQ. His length and explosive jumping
ability make him a good shot blocker, but he often finds himself out
of position. Overall I like Brice's game, and he should eventually
develop into a starter in the NBA.
Deyonta
Davis, Freshman PF Michigan
Let
me start by saying I don't like Davis' decision to turn pro this
season. He's got great size and athleticism and bears some
similarities to Anthony Davis, so I'm sure someone is going to take
him in the lottery thinking they're getting something similar. While
I do think Deyonta could become a good player in the NBA, I think
he's a long way from making a big contribution on a contending team.
He'll probably be drafted higher than I'd be willing to take him.
Davis has great length and will be able to block shots
and rebound at the next level. He's got to get a lot stronger, and
his offensive game is still very raw. He seemed to be a pretty good
defensive player in his limited minutes at Michigan State, and he
definitely has a very high ceiling. However, he's likely several
years away from really helping a team, just a little too far away for
me to draft him. Maybe look to trade for him later.
Devin
Williams, Junior PF West Virginia
Devin
Williams is a professional rebounder and tough guy inside. He's
extremely strong, and he uses his body well to carve out space around
the basket. He plays solid defense and brings aggression and
toughness to his team.
Williams
has a decent mid-range jumpshot and is obviously in great physical
condition. However, he has a lot to improve on if he's going to be a
big contributor to an NBA team. He's got to improve his dexterity
around the rim and ability to pass out of a double team. He needs to
continue working on his shot, and he'll have to get used to playing a
normal style of defense after transitioning from West Virginia's
full-court press.
If he
continues to work hard on his game Williams could potentially become
a decent power forward in the league. This draft is thin on bigs, so
if I'm in desperate need of rebounding help I may take a look at him
late in the 2nd round.
Diamond
Stone, Freshman PF Maryland
Diamond
Stone is another player who's decision to turn pro I don't like at
all. Stone has a good skill-set and certainly showed some promise
for the future, but he's nowhere near ready to contribute at the NBA
level.
His
effort was questionable at times during his freshman campaign, and he
often failed to leave his mark on the game. While he has good size
and touch around the rim, he didn't improve his athleticism over the
course of the year and he never dominated in any aspect of the game.
He didn't take a whole lot of jumpshots, but I actually think he will
become a good shooter.
Stone
showed a good feel for the game, but it was obvious he still has some
growing to do before he's a force in the NBA. I just think it's
going to take him several years before he's ready to contribute to a
winning team, and when that's the case I think you'd be better off
trading for him down the line and using the current draft pick on
someone else. I'd start considering him in the second round.
Centers
Jakob
Poeltl, Sophomore C Utah
Jakob Poeltl is very skilled with a high IQ. He's got a
great post-up game, and he's especially good at finding the open man
out of a double team. He's very competitive and plays with toughness
despite his slender frame. He understands position on offense and
defense, and he's typically in the right spot on both ends.
His height is something you can't teach, but he needs to
add weight and strength to deal with the physical play of the NBA. He
was a dominant rebounder and shot-blocker in college, and once he
bulks up he should be able to do the same in the NBA. Once he gets
stronger his finishing through contact should improve drastically.
A.J.
Hammonds, Senior C Purdue
A.J. Hammonds showed the ability to dominate at times
this season. When motivated he owns the paint, making it hard nearly
impossible for opponents to score inside. He has the ability to
gobble up rebounds in bunches, and he can score both inside and out.
The problem is he doesn't always seem to be interested in playing.
It's amazing that someone so big can disappear as often
as he does, but it seems like he just isn't much of a competitor.
There were long stretches where he would just jog up and down the
court, seemingly uninterested in the game. Other times you would see
Hammonds blocking tons of shots, knocking down long range jump-shots
all the way out to 3-point range, and dominating the boards.
Inconsistency like this scares me, but he is a huge body that can
have an impact.
Chinanu
Onuaku, Sophomore C Louisville
Onuaku has NBA size and strength, but his skill-set is
far beyond his physical stature. He's just a decent finisher at the
rim, and he hasn't shown any glimpses of having a mid-range jumper.
He's a terrible free throw shooter who has resorted to shooting
underhanded, so he obviously has a lot of work to do in that area.
He is a dominant rebounder and solid shot blocker, attributes that
should translate, but he's several years away from being a legitimate
option for a winning team.
He's recently undergone a heart procedure, obviously a
major red flag.
