Here are my scouting reports for many of the players in this year's NBA Draft. Some are written out, while others were left in note form. As usual foreign players aren't included unless I was able to see enough of them in high school or at the NBA Combine to feel comfortable adding them in.
Point Guards
Markelle Fultz, Freshman
PG/SG Washington
Washington
guard Markelle Fultz is probably the most complete player in this year’s draft. Fultz is an elite scorer and competitor who
as a freshman already possesses every skill necessary to succeed at the next
level.
Markelle
Fultz is relentlessly aggressive on both ends of the floor. Offensively
he is constantly putting pressure on the defense, using his tremendous
ball-handling and feel for the game to dissect opponents and make the right
play. Fultz' combination of size, strength, and skill allow him to get
wherever he wants on the floor at any time, and he's smart enough to make the
right decision once he gets there.
Fultz is
an extremely strong finisher at the rim, but he can also kill you from deep and
from mid-range. He can get his own shot whenever he wants it, and he shot
41% from 3-point range and over 48% overall for the season. He can finish
with a wide array of floaters, step-backs, and fadaways, but he's also more
than willing to make a great pass to an open teammate. He sees the floor
incredibly well and nearly always makes the right play, but his teammates at
Washington struggled to take full advantage of it. A coaching
staff that has really under-performed despite some solid talent over the years
certainly didn't help.
Markelle
is a tough defender, but like a lot of his teammates he did slack off at times.
His strength, quickness, and competitive toughness make life difficult on
opponents, and his knowledge of the game results in him knowing where to be in
the team concept. He's a great rebounder as well, and he always imposes
his will on every game in every area. I
don’t like that he seemingly let up at times on the defensive end this season,
but I understand how it can happen to a young player on a bad defensive team.
I
expected Fultz to will his team to a bigger improvement over the course of the
season, but there were many things about his situation that he just couldn't
control. I like that you didn’t hear any negative comments or complaints
from Fultz, and his injury late in the season isn’t much of a concern. If I’m a team in desperate need of scoring
and a point guard, he’d be right there at the top of the list.
De’Aaron Fox, Freshman PG
Kentucky
De'Aaron Fox is an explosive athlete and relentless competitor
who gives all-out effort at all times.
He's an absolute monster on the defensive end, constantly applying
pressure to his opponent without ever tiring.
His tremendous length, speed, and athleticism make him extremely tough
to deal with, and he never gives the opposition a break. His ball pressure makes it very difficult for
the other team to even start their offense.
Fox is always on the attack offensively as well, using his
great handle and elite speed to blow by defenders and break down the defense. Once he does he can get to the rim and finish
with a wide array of layups and floaters, pull up for a jump shot, or use his
court vision to find the open man. He
definitely needs to continue to work on his long-range shot, but I’m confident
he will become a very good shooter with deep range.
Fox is at his best when he’s playing the game at top speed,
so any team he goes to needs to be prepared to play a lightning-quick up-tempo
style. He played UCLA's Lonzo Ball to a
relative draw in their first head-to-head matchup and dominated him in their
NCAA tournament tilt, so it would be hard to take Ball ahead of Fox after
seeing that. Fox has a game much like
Russell Westbrook, but as this point in his career he’s a much smarter player
than Westbrook was at his age. Fox has
superstar potential.
Lonzo Ball, Freshman
PG UCLA
Lonzo Ball has the best court vision in college
basketball. He makes his teammates much
better just by being out there, and he has his UCLA squad playing as well as
anyone this season. No one means more to
their team than Lonzo Ball.
Ball excels in every aspect of the game. He's got great size, length, and athleticism
at the point guard position. He has
tremendous timing on both ends of the floor, and he has a deep understanding of
the game that few players, let alone college freshmen, ever possess. He knows what his team needs at any given
moment, and his diverse skill-set gives him the ability to deliver whatever
that may be.
Lonzo is an elite competitor who never takes a play off. He's a very good shooter with deep
range. He has a great handle, able to
easily get by his man at any time with the ability to make the right decision
once he does. He can take it all the way
to the rim and finish, pull up for a jumper, or deliver a perfect pass to set
up a teammate.
Along with being a nearly perfect offensive player, Lonzo
Ball is also a great defender. His
length and quickness make him a very good on-ball defender, and his instincts
and knowledge of the game make him devastating in help position as well. He blocks shots, wreaks havoc in the passing
lanes, and in general just knows where to be to give his team the best chance
to stop the opponent.
Lonzo Ball is extremely clutch in the big moments. He thrives with the pressure at its most
intense, and you just know something good is going to happen with the game on
the line and the ball in his hands. He's
capable of playing three positions, but there's no doubt he's most valuable as
a point guard.
Dennis Smith Jr., Freshman
PG N.C. State
Dennis Smith is a great
competitor that was stuck on a terrible team.
He’s a phenomenal scorer that can put the ball in the basket from
anywhere on the floor, but he’s also capable of controlling the game and
setting up his teammates. He’s extremely
strong, quick, and explosively athletic with great size at the point guard
position.
Smith has a great
handle, and he combines it with his size and strength to easily beat
defenders. Once he does he can get to
the rim and finish high above it with power, pull up for the jump shot, or find
an open teammate for a better look. He’s
a good shooter with deep range, and I think he’ll continue to get better and
better in this area. He slipped up at
the free throw line late in several games, but I fully expect him to work on
that and improve drastically.
Smith struggled with
his decision-making at times this season, often trying to do too much on a team
that was never able to hit its stride.
He often drove too deep and got caught in the air among the trees, many
times dribbling right into double and triple teams and turning the ball
over. He took too many ill-advised shots
as well, but he’s still very young and will learn from his mistakes.
P.J. Dozier, Sophomore PG/SG/SF South Carolina
P.J. Dozier has tremendous size, length, and quickness. He’s incredibly versatile and can play up to
three positions on both ends of the floor, and he might be a little underrated
nationally.
Dozier is a huge point guard with great athleticism and an
extremely well-rounded skill-set. His
great handle allows him to penetrate the defense at will, and once he does he
has every option at his disposal. Dozier
has a deadly mid-range jumper he can get whenever he wants, and once he gets to
the elbow you’re in trouble. If you
overplay the shot, he can get all the way to the rim and finish or find the
open man. Dozier isn’t a great 3-point
shooter right now, but with his drive and work ethic I think he can develop
into a solid long range shooter.
Dozier is a great passer with the vision and basketball IQ to
make the right play nearly every time. He
is a great rebounder who can attack the boards and start the break. While he’s best with the ball in his hands,
Dozier could also play the 2 or 3.
On the other end of the floor Dozier is a lock-down defender
that can be used to shut down opposing point guards, shooting guards, or small
forwards. His extremely long arms and
quick hands and feet make him a terror in the passing lanes and on the ball,
and his intelligent leadership on this end made his South Carolina teams one of
the best defensive squads in the country.
There’s not much P.J. Dozier can’t do. In addition to all the offensive and
defensive skills he appears to be a great leader and overall good guy. Draft with confidence.
Marcus Keene, Junior PG/SG C. Michigan
Marcus Keene is a tremendous scorer with incredibly deep
range. Keene is always on the attack,
using his extreme quickness and tight handle to get his shot whenever he
wants. He’s a great shooter who can knock
down any kind of shot from any distance, and he doesn’t need much space to get
it off. He’s a great finisher around the
rim, but he’s also deadly accurate from all angles in the mid-range game. He’s got floaters, step-backs, fadaways, and
leaners, and there’s really no shot he can’t make.
Keene is very short but makes up for it with speed, strength
and shooting, much like Isaiah Thomas in Boston. He’s capable of creating for teammates off
the dribble, and while his court vision could certainly improve, it’s pretty
good and will only get better when he plays with better players at a higher
level.
Keene has all the skills to be a very pesky defender as well,
so he’s a guy who could end up making a huge contribution in the NBA. He’ll need the right fit and the right
opportunity, but if used correctly he could end up following in Thomas’
footsteps.
Tyler Dorsey, Sophomore PG Oregon
Great size, solid handle, got extremely hot from 3 on several
occasions this season, showed the ability to step up in big games and make big
plays with the game on the line, was great late in the season and on the
biggest stage in the NCAA tournament, wants the big shot, confident, needs to
work on vision, passing, and defense
Kobi Simmons, Freshman PG/SG Arizona
Extremely quick and athletic, huge vertical, good shooter
with 3-point range, plays very hard, tough defender, needs to get stronger,
needs to continue learning the game but I think he will, might take him a few
years but he has a chance to be good
Jawun Evans, Sophomore PG
Oklahoma St.
Has it all
offensively, can finish at the rim in a wide variety of ways, very good shooter
with 3-point range, floor general who takes care of the ball, controls the
game, and finds the open man, great strength, smart player
Nigel Williams-Goss, Junior PG Gonzaga
good size and basketball IQ, solid finisher at the rim, shot
the 3 very well this year, deadly floater, good competitor, good handle, makes
great decisions, wants the big shot and often delivers
Wesley Iwundu, Senior
PG/SG/SF Kansas St.
extremely versatile on both ends of the floor, underrated PG
skills, runs the team very well and makes the right play, can do it all except
shoot the 3, great size and length, shot is decent but not consistent, fails to
impose himself on the game at times, likely b/c of slender frame, makes great
decisions though and can play several positions, would be a valuable role
player if he can improve his shot a little, 3-point shot needs a lot of work
Frank Mason III, Senior PG Kansas
Great speed, athleticism, and body control, has made himself
into a great 3-point shooter, pulls up at full speed and knocks down the
jumper, great finisher at the rim, gets there at will, much improved passer,
finds the open man, disruptive defender, relentless pest, fiery competitor,
loves the big shot and delivers more often than not
Frank Jackson, Freshman PG Duke
Solid finisher off the drive, plays with passion and energy,
great size, can shoot the deep ball, improved drastically as the season went on,
I think he left too soon though, could be a big mistake, he’s got a chance but
one more year would have done him a lot of good
Romelo Trimble, Junior PG Maryland
very high IQ, controls the game and generally makes the right
play, can take over, gets to the line a lot, can make the 3 and finish at the
rim, lightning quick first step, great decision-maker, knows what his team
needs from him and does it, clutch, lost his confidence for a time last year
but got it back late, maybe something else going on, injury?, such a great
finisher and competitor but didn’t stand out in the combine, could be a steady
backup
Isaiah Briscoe, Sophomore PG/SG Kentucky
extremely tough and physical, finishes well around the rim,
great defender and rebounder for his size, needs to work on his shooting, big
improvement since last season, good leader for a young team,
very strong, elite defender and
finisher, shot getting much better, solid handle too
Edmond Sumner, Sophomore
PG/SG Xavier
great length and athleticism, tremendous defender, very good
handle and gets to the rim at will, pretty good passer, needs to work on his
shot and shooting touch around the rim, injury a concern, high IQ player, could
be a solid backup
JeQuan Lewis, Senior PG VCU
incredible speed and athleticism, relentless defender, very
good shooter from 3-point range when open, always imposes his will on the game,
has a chance to make it in the league, could be a Patrick Beverley type maybe
Derrick Walton Jr., Senior PG Michigan
very good handle, solid shooter and finisher, good vision,
runs a team well, great rebounder for his size, great competitor, wants the big
shot and delivers often, could be a backup
Monte Morris, Senior PG Iowa St.
Great understanding of the game, takes care of the ball and
runs the team, good handle, can get to the rim and finish, solid shooter with
3-point range, needs to get stronger, great floater, makes big plays with the
game on the line, generally makes the right play, lack of size could be a
problem
Jordan Matthews, Senior PG/SG Gonzaga
very tough, good defender and solid 3-point shooter, made
some big shots in his career
Shooting Guards
Malik Monk, Freshman SG Kentucky
Malik Monk is one of the most athletic players in the
country, as well as arguably the best shooter.
He’s a knock-down shooter off the dribble, off a screen, and spotting
up, and his range is as deep as anyone’s.
He’s capable of making all kinds of shots including fadaways, floaters,
and step-backs, and he craves the big shot with the game on the line and
usually delivers.
Monk is a terror in transition, using his exceptional speed,
leaping ability, and body control to finish nearly everything around the
rim. He floats through the air and seems
to be able to hang as long as he needs to, and he’s also capable of getting his
own shot whenever he wants.
Monk has a great feel for the game, but sometimes he focuses
too much on scoring and doesn’t contribute enough in other areas. Monk can definitely become a much better
rebounder, passer, and defender, but he’s already improved a lot in these
categories this season and I look for him to continue getting better and
better. He’s got a superstar mentality, and
if he can maintain focus, put in the work, and avoid getting cocky and making
excuses he could be great.
Dillon Brooks, Junior SG Oregon
Dillon
Brooks is one of the best competitors in college basketball. With the clock winding down and the game on
the line, I’m not sure there’s anyone else I’d rather have with the ball in
their hands than Brooks. He’s an
incredibly clutch performer with great instincts for the game, and the
difference between his Oregon team with him and without him really illustrated
his value and importance.
Brooks’
mentality of toughness and aggression clearly rubs off on his teammates. He brings irreplaceable energy, passion, and
emotion on a nightly basis, and he can do pretty much anything on either end of
the floor.
Brooks
is great with the ball in his hands. He
has a solid handle that’s improving every year, allowing him to create for
himself or his teammates. He’s a strong
driver with the ability to finish with power at the rim. He’s extremely good when pulling-up off the
dribble, especially with the game in the balance. He’s a very good 3-point shooter with deep
range as well, and when his scoring options are covered he uses his court
vision well to create an opportunity for an open teammate.
While
his defense could still improve, Brooks’ strength, toughness and competitive
drive make him a very solid defender. He
knows where to be in the team concept, and I really like Dillon Brooks as a
starting shooting guard in the NBA.
Luke
Kennard, Sophomore SG Duke
Luke Kennard is a
phenomenal competitor who gives everything he has every minute of every
game. He’s one of the best shooters in
the country with extremely deep range, but he’s much more than just a shooter.
This year Kennard developed
a very good handle, allowing him to easily get by his man and break down the
defense. Once there he has the ability
to get to the rim and finish in a variety of ways, pull-up for the mid-range
jumper, or make a pass to an open teammate.
He plays with relentless aggression on both ends of the floor, and he’s
turned himself into a great defender both on the ball and in the team concept.
Kennard is really a complete
player who can do it all. His deadly
3-point shoot and scoring prowess will be a major asset for whatever team he
goes to.
Josh Hart, Senior SG Villanova
Josh Hart has an
amazing work ethic and has done an incredible job improving his game over the
years. He was clearly one of the best
players in college basketball this season.
Hart is extremely
tough and one of the best competitors in the game. He’s a lock-down defender at three positions,
and he does all the little things that win basketball games. Hart is lightning quick to loose balls, and
he’s a great rebounder for his size. He
loves mixing it up inside, but until this year he wasn’t much of a shooter.
Hart obviously spent
tons of time working on his shot in the offseason, and he now has a great
mid-range game with the ability to knock down the three. While I’m skeptical he’ll ever be a great
shooter from NBA range, I wouldn’t put it past him to make it happen. He’ll at least be good enough to keep
defenses honest.
Hart has improved
his handle dramatically and can now penetrate with all the options at his
disposal. He can take it all the way to
the rim and finish, pull-up for the mid-range, or find the open man for a
better look. He’s now a complete player
who has proven himself at a championship level, and I’d be surprised if
whatever team he’s on doesn’t become a winner.
He reminds me of Courtney Lee.
Sindarius Thornwell, Senior SG South Carolina
Sneaky athleticism, explodes to the rim, very
good finisher, very good shooter with deep range, smart player, good defender,
knows how to use his body and strength to gain position, extremely good
rebounder for a 2, nice mid-range game, knows where to be and how to get open,
carried his team deep into the tournament but struggled against Gonzaga, maybe
just worn out, but he may not be big enough to really impose his will on an NBA
team, I love his competitive will and believe it could help him continue to
improve, smart player, could potentially develop into a starter at the 2
Justin Jackson, Junior SF/SG UNC
long and smooth,
finishes everything around the rim, can make shots from everywhere, always
seems to be in the right spot and make the right play, high IQ, needs to get
stronger, great handle for someone that size, just so weak, tentative at times,
great defender for someone so skinny, he could be great if he can put on some
weight, great shooter with deep range, getting more confident and aggressive
looking for his shot, scored at a high clip every game late in the season,
great at finding openings, great vision and passing ability, strength and
toughness are a concern but he has all the skills
Damyean Dotson, Senior SG Houston
Great shooter with deep range, very good off the catch and
dribble, can create his own shot, very athletic, good finisher around the rim,
solid rebounder, needs to work on his vision and being more engaged defensively
Peter Jok, Senior SG Iowa
Peter Jok is a deadly shooter with extremely deep range, but
he didn’t have a whole lot of help in Iowa this year. He’s improved drastically year after year,
and this season he turned himself into more of a complete player.
Jok is an aggressive player who always gives all-out effort. While his shooting is definitely his best
attribute, he’s developed into a player capable of creating his own shot. His basketball IQ has grown tremendously, and
he’s getting increasingly better at making the right pass if he doesn’t have a
good look. He’s improved his
ball-handling and can run the point at times, and he always wants the big shot
with the game on the line.
Jok can make all kinds of shots from deep 3’s to fadaways to
pull-ups, and he’s also a solid finisher at the rim. He’s an elite competitor with great length
and athleticism, traits that make him a great defender as well. It
was slightly concerning how little of an impact he had at the combine. His ball handling was very shaky, and he even
appeared to be slightly out of shape.
His performance there along with the Big 10’s lack of success in the
NCAA tournament definitely caused me to downgrade him. He may be a guy who needs the ball in his
hands a lot to feel confident, and if so that is something he’ll have to
overcome at the next level.
Donovan Mitchell, Sophomore SG Louisville
Extremely athletic,
really good scorer, tough defender and competitor, good shooter with deep
range, explosive, very aggressive and competitive, good handle, great finisher
around the rim, huge vertical, can make all kinds of shots, wants the ball with
the game on the line and delivers more often than not, tough defender with a
lot of fight
Dwyane Bacon, Sophomore SG Florida St.
extremely
skilled player, very good shooter with deep range, can make all kinds of
difficult shots, has all the tools, loves the big shot, not afraid of the
moment, long and athletic, NBA body, finishes well at the rim, solid vision and
passing ability, doesn't seem to have the mentality to dominate all the time
but he’s much improved from last season, doesn't always make great decisions
but again much improved here, makes the game look very easy at times, plays soft
sometimes and may need some help getting motivated at times, spends too much
time half-assing it, he just doesn’t seem to want it that bad
Andrew White III, Senior SG/SF Syracuse
Great size, very
good shooter with deep range, scoring machine, great mid-range game, very
strong, very good rebounder, finishes well around the rim, can get his own
shot, doesn’t need much time or space to get it off, makes all kinds of tough
shots, step backs, pump fake and shot, off the dead run can just pull up, open
shots are usually good, got shut down by Kennard but still very good
Davon Reed, Senior SG/SF Miami
very
good 3-point shooter, NBA body, can get to the rim and finish, has the ability
to find open teammates, very good defender with his length, could be a very
good role player at the next level, the classic 3 and D guy, good facilitator,
was great at the combine and in Portsmouth, not a dominant player during the
season but I like what I saw
L.J. Peak, Sophomore SG/PG Georgetown
strong and athletic, extremely confident, wants the ball and
the big shot, good handle and very strong with the ball, loves to get to the
rim, can hit the 3, mid-range off the dribble, can create plays off the dribble,
his team is garbage though, I have questions about his attitude, reminds me of
Dion Waiters
Rodney Pryor, Senior SG Georgetown
Streaky shooter with deep range, great athleticism and
length, can disappear at times, extremely long and athletic, can be a great
defender when he wants to be, not a very smart player, gives solid effort but
just doesn’t fully get it, starts taking bad shots much too often
Terrance Ferguson, Freshman SG/SF Australia
Great size and length, knock down 3-point shooter with deep
range, very good defender, need to see more, didn’t play against top college
competition so hard to know how he’ll translate straight to the NBA
Zak Irvin, Senior SG/SF Michigan
Irvin is extremely long and athletic
with a very smooth game. He has a great
looking jumpshot, both three and mid-range as well as off the dribble. He's a good defender as well, using his
combination of strength, size, quickness and will lock down an opponent. He usually plays with good effort and
intensity, but he does have the tendency to disappear at times. He needs to work on his ball-handling, but he
has a lot of tools to work with. Needs
to work on decision-making and shot selection.
Has spells where he doesn’t impose himself but he has a lot of ability.
Jamel Artis, Senior SG/SF Pittsburgh
Jamel Artis has great size strength, and athleticism on the
wing, and he’s developed into a very good shooter with deep range. I was looking for Artis to be one of the top
players in Portsmouth, but he never played with a sense of urgency and just
seemed satisfied being out there and taking jumpers. This really hurt his stock in my eyes, but
he’s a very skilled player who can do a lot of things to help his team.
Artis has a good handle that allows him to create for himself
and his teammates, and his high IQ leads to very good decisions. Artis can get to the rim and finish with
power, pull-up from mid-range or knock down the three. He’s also more than capable of finding the
open man for a better shot. He’s proven
his willing and able to take and make the big shot with the game on the line,
and he’s the kind of player that can really help you win games.
Artis has all the skills but doesn’t always impose his will
all game long. He has the makings of a
great role player capable of doing whatever is needed, and he’s versatile
enough to play both wing positions on both ends of the floor. He’s a tough defender as well, but I’m
concerned about his lack of energy and competitive fire. He just seems to be flat-lining out there a
lot of the time, and while he’s very skilled and still manages to make an
impact on the game, I’m not sure if I’d use a draft pick on him.
Jabari Bird, Senior SG California
great 3-point shooter, extremely long and athletic, takes the
ball aggressively to the rim at times, great when he plays with passion,
energy, and intensity, good help side defender, high ceiling but needs more
time, not always as tough as I'd like him to be
Robert Hubbs III, Senior SG Tennessee
Had a couple huge games in big-time games, big numbers
against Kentucky, great size and athleticism, can get hot and score in bunches,
also capable of disappearing at times, didn’t hear much about him until this
year
Antonio Blakeney, Sophomore SG LSU
Great athlete, good shooter but questionable shot selection,
played on a horribly dysfunctional team, can handle a little bit and slash to
the rim, could be a steal, but he needs a lot of work and discipline
Isaac Hamilton, Senior SG UCLA
very good shooter and finisher, it just worries me how often
he can completely disappear, just doesn't impose himself on the game sometimes,
could be a role player and scorer off the bench maybe, more likely a G-league
player
Tahjere McCall, Senior PG/SG Tennessee St.
Extremely athletic and active, great handle and vision, can
play the point or the 2, intense competitor, great defender, vocal leader of
the team, terror on the offensive boards, great understanding of the game on
both ends, always aggressive, nice floater, shot selection is sometimes
suspect, forces it too often when teammates are struggling, needs to work on
his shot but he has all the other skills, extremely good passer, will probably
end up in the G-league b/c of his lack of a three-point shot, but I think he could
dominate there
Charles Cooke, Senior SG/SF Dayton
plays tough and aggressive, very
good rebounder, can hit the turn-around, good shooter, decent ball-handler, I
love his toughness, but he disappears from games at times offensively and didn’t
do much in Portsmouth
Malcolm Hill, Senior SG/SF Illinois
Malcolm Hill was stuck on an incredibly dysfunctional
Illinois team for a long time, but despite this he always managed to play well.
Late in the season they started playing
well together, and Hill certainly deserves a lot of credit.
Hill has great size, strength, and skill at the wing
positions. He has a good handle that
allows him to get his own shot and create for his teammates, and his high
basketball IQ and great vision lead to consistently good decisions with optimal
timing. He’s a great mid-range
jump-shooter with 3-point range, but he’s also capable of getting to the rim
and finishing or finding open teammates for a better look. Unfortunately his teammates didn’t usually
made the most of his good play, and his team really struggled as a result.
Malcolm Hill sees the entire floor and has a knack for being
in the right place on both ends. He’s a
very good rebounder who gets a lot of put-backs. His size, length, and athleticism make him a
good defender as well, but he failed to separate himself in Portsmouth and it
would be tough to take him after such a lackluster performance. I really thought Hill would be one of the
better players in that kind of environment, but he was nearly invisible
throughout the week and really hurt himself in my eyes.
Jared Brownridge, Senior SG Santa Clara
Phenomenal shooter/scorer, only needs a little bit of
daylight, smart player, maybe a little small?, good passer, can make all kinds
of shots, solid handle and makes the right play, not very impactful in
Portsmouth
Small Forwards
Josh Jackson, Freshman SF Kansas
Josh Jackson has elite size, length, and athleticism. He possesses explosive quickness and leaping
ability, and he uses these talents to get wherever he wants on the floor. He has a very good handle for someone his
size, allowing him to easily get by his man.
Once he does he can explode to the rim and finish, pull-up for a
mid-range jumper, or use his tremendous vision to find an open teammate. Jackson sees openings that not many players
see, and he’s not afraid to squeeze a pass to a teammate in traffic.
Jackson finishes with power high above the rim, but he also
has a nice touch in close and finishes well through contact. He’s a decent shooter from mid-range all the way
out to 3-point territory (38%), but I think he will continue improving in this
area. He’s a terrible free throw shooter
at this point, a weakness that will really hurt considering how often he will
be getting to the line. He must get
better to become a great scorer, but he’s a fiery competitor with an incredible
work ethic so I’m sure he will.
Defensively Jackson is an animal. His extreme size, length, and quickness make
him a terror on the ball and in the passing lanes, leading to many steals,
blocks, and deflections. His ability to
turn these plays into immediate offense in transition makes him one of the most
dangerous players in the country, and he’d definitely be in the conversation
for my #1 pick.
Jayson Tatum, Freshman SF/SG Duke
Jayson Tatum has a great skill-set for a player his
size. He has incredibly long arms that
give him a big advantage in several different ways, and he reminds me a lot of
Charlotte’s Nicolas Batum.
Tatum started very slowly this season, oftentimes failing to
impose himself on the game. Whether he
was feeling out his spot on a Duke team with veteran players or it just took
him a while to figure out the college game, Tatum seems to have hit his stride
late in the season.
Tatum is a phenomenal shooter with very deep range. He has a pretty good handle for someone his
size, making him capable of getting his own shot and creating for his
teammates. He’s shown an ability to take
over a game and knock down huge shots in the clutch. While he needs to get a lot tougher, his size
and length make up for a lot of his deficiencies. He rebounds very well despite often shying
away from contact, and his ability to start the break himself makes him a
valuable weapon.
I don’t like the fact that he can sometimes be taken out of
the game by a very physical defender, but his extreme length covers up his lack
of toughness and makes him a difficult matchup on both ends of the floor. He does everything well offensively, and his
effort combined with his length makes it easy for him to recover on defense and
make life difficult on opponents.
While I don’t think Tatum is the kind of player who can carry
a team at the next level, he can certainly be a big part of a winning
organization and a good second or third option.
Jonathan Isaac, Freshman SF Florida St.
Jonathan Isaac is extremely long and athletic. He’s a phenomenal competitor who plays with
great energy and intensity at all times.
Isaac shows glimpses of everything you’d want from an elite small
forward, but he’s still a little raw offensively.
Isaac has a very good handle for his size and sees the floor
extremely well. He’s able to get by his
man and finish at the rim with power, pull-up for the jumper, or find an open
teammate for an open look. Even though
he’s still very thin, Isaac plays much stronger than his frame and has the
mentality to dominate opponents. His
toughness makes him a great rebounder and results in much more physical play
than you would expect.
While he’s capable of doing all these things, he’s still not
ready for the next level. He’s a decent
shooter from mid-range and can make the 3, but he’s not consistent with either
one. Sometimes he’ll show a nice touch
around the rim, then other times he’ll completely miss the basket.
Issac is an elite athlete who can finish high above the
rim. He’s an extremely good defender,
able to guard almost anyone and stop them with his length and athleticism. He’s tenacious both on the ball and in the
passing lanes, and with a little more development he could be a star.
He’s a high IQ player who knows where to be on the floor,
but he can be a little sloppy at times.
Isaac has huge potential, and I would have loved to have seen him stay
in school to add more muscle and fine-tune his immense skill-set. Unfortunately with his NBA draft projections
he had to leave, and while I think it will take him a few years to make a big
impact in the league, he has one of the highest ceilings of any player in this
draft. He’s a high risk/high reward prospect, but
with his intense competitive drive I think he’ll figure it out eventually.
Johnathan Motley, Junior SF/PF Baylor
Johnathan Motley is
incredibly long and athletic, and this season he was clearly one of the more
dominant players in college basketball.
He was a man among boys in the post all season, using his length and
aggression to clean up the boards and finish with both power and finesse around
the rim.
Motley is a great
competitor who brings passion, energy, and intensity to every game. Two year ago he wasn’t always strong enough
to impose his will, but he added a lot of muscle last offseason and he played
with much more aggression and power as a result. Motley plays extremely hard at all times, and
his will to win is often the greatest on the floor.
On top of being a
dominant post player, Motley is very skilled in the other areas of the game as
well. He’s a good mid-range shooter, has
a solid handle for a big man, and sees the floor well to find open
teammates. He really improved his vision
and basketball IQ this season, and while he’s not the most intelligent player,
he’s continuing to show improvement.
Motley’s great length, aggression, and motor make him a very good defender
as well, so anyone that takes him will have a lot to work with.
I think Semi Ojeleye could have been one of
the more undervalued players in college basketball this season. He’s extremely strong and incredibly
versatile on both ends of the floor.
Ojeleye uses his strength and extensive skill-set efficiently to make a
huge impact in nearly every aspect of the game.
Ojeleye is a great shooter and scorer from
all over the floor. He shot 42% from 3-point
range, consistently knocked down the mid-range jumper, and used his strength to
rebound and finish inside. He always
plays tough and aggressive and generally makes the right play in most every
situation. Ojeleye is a gifted passer
and solid defender as well.
Semi plays with great energy, passion, and
competitive fire. This along with his
size, strength, and considerable skill make him an overall great addition to
any team he plays on. It seems like he
could be under the radar after transferring from Duke and playing for SMU. I am a little
concerned that a lot of his baskets came from bullying weaker players around the
rim, something he won't be able to do nearly as much at the next level, but I
still think he can be a valuable contributor to any team he joins.
Jaron Blossomgame, Senior SF Clemson
Jaron Blossomgame is very strong and athletic and possesses
prototypical size, quickness, and jumping ability for a small forward in the
NBA. He shot the three extremely well two
years ago but struggled a bit this year.
His shot looked really good at the combine however, and I do believe he’ll
continue to get more consistent with it.
He showed the ability to get to the rim and
finish or pull up and make the mid-range jumper or floater. When the
defense collapsed on him he nearly always found the open man, but unfortunately
his teammates usually struggled to take advantage.
I don't think Blossomgame has the mentality to be the go-to
guy at the next level, but he had no choice this season at Clemson and did a
great job of carrying the team.
Blossomgame is also a great defender, both on the ball and in the team
concept.
He plays with an extremely high basketball IQ, and the only
complaint I'd have is that he isn't always aggressive enough. He has the ability to attack and force
defensive breakdowns, but sometimes he's too content to pass the ball around
early in games. He could also rebound
better with a little more aggression, but if it hasn't happened by now it
probably won't. There's a slight injury
concern with his leg, but he looked great this season and I wouldn't factor it
in too much.
Tyler Lydon, Sophomore SF Syracuse
very good shooter,
high IQ player, great competitor, great length and anticipation, very good
defender and shotblocker, does everything well, wasn’t always able to impose
his will offensively, not quite good enough or athletic enough but could be a
really good role player
OG Anunoby, Sophomore SF Indiana
extremely long and
athletic, phenomenal defender, can defend 4 positions, very strong, huge
potential, finishes with power at the rim, huge elevation, needs to work on his
shot, injury a concern, aggressive player with great effort and intensity
T.J. Cline, Senior SF Richmond
Sky-high IQ, great
passer, very good finisher around the rim and shooter, knows where to be on
both ends of the floor, very slow and can’t jump over a phone book though,
could be like a Joe Ingles type, makes great decisions and is a phenomenal
competitor, wants it bad
Zach LeDay, Senior SF/SG Virginia Tech
Great scorer, has a strong frame and knows how to use it,
very good rebounder, needs to get in a little better shape, great competitor,
gives maximum effort, animal on the offensive boards
Nigel Hayes, Senior SF Wisconsin
great mid-range J, smart player,
good rebounder, turning himself into a SF, can hit the 3 but really struggled
with his shot last year, good post game, great team player and passer, needs to
work on defense and shooting, needs to get quicker to succeed at the 3, solid
handle, makes pretty good decisions but he’s just a step slow
Alec Peters, Senior SF Valpo
great shooter, smart player, usually makes the right play,
very good passer, tough inside but won’t get much of that at the next level,
not sure if he’s quick enough to play the 3 and too small to play the 4, may be
able to be a Korver type but need to see more before I would draft
V.J. Beachem, Senior SF Notre Dame
Great length and athleticism, very good shooter with deep
range, good defender, doesn’t always impose himself on the game, has hit some
huge shots in his career, picked it up late in the season, would be hard to
trust that he would bring enough intensity all season
Ben Moore, Senior SF SMU
very long and athletic, solid finisher around the rim, runs
the court well, has a knack for being in the right spot, needs to get stronger
and work on his shooting, very good rebounder and passer, sees the floor well
Rashawn Thomas, Senior SF/PF Texas A&M-CC
Great mid-range J, long and athletic, can run the floor and
handle a little bit, not a great handle though, very good rebounder, great
competitor, has a big impact on the game, good finisher around the rim, maybe
too small to play the 4 though, likely a very good G-leaguer
Jaylen Johnson, Junior PF Louisville
Great size, plays hard, good finisher inside, decent shooter,
needs to improve in all areas
Michael Young, Senior PF Pittsburgh
Size in between a 3 and a 4, nice mid-range game, tough
competitor, great rebounder and finisher around the rim, very good shooter with
deep range, smart player, not really big enough to play the 4 but he’s very versatile
Devin Robinson, Junior SF Florida
long and athletic, makes all the hustle plays, very good
rebounder, good looking shot with 3-point range, gets most of his other scoring
from put backs and tip ins, great defender, could be a decent role player
Xavier Johnson, Senior SF Colorado
Great size and athleticism, very good rebounder, good scorer
and finisher inside when he’s motivated, disappears at times, which is weird
b/c he has a great motor and is a tough competitor, seems to be more problems
in Colorado?, was ok in Portsmouth but nothing special
Power Forwards
Caleb Swanigan, Sophomore PF Purdue
Caleb Swanigan is an absolute
monster. He plays with great energy and
passion and never takes a play off.
Swanigan is a phenomenal rebounder, grabbing more than 20 in a game
several times this season. He’s
extremely physical down low, and he uses his big frame to carve out space and
finish nearly everything around the rim.
Swanigan has a solid handle for a
big, and he has the great vision and passing ability to go with it. He’s a good shooter with 3-point range, and
there’s really nothing Swanigan can’t do offensively.
Defensively Swanigan is a very hard
worker who knows where to be. Right now
he’s still a little slow rotating and moving his feet defensively, but he’s
lost a ton of weight and improved tremendously since enrolling at Purdue and I
expect him to continue getting better year after year.
Swanigan is one of the most
competitive players I’ve ever seen, and because of that I think he’ll
eventually develop into an all-star.
He’s relentless and plays as hard as anyone at any level, and for these
reasons Swanigan should definitely be one of the top two power forwards off the
board. He reminds me of Zach Randolph
with a better jump-shot at this point in his career, and the farther he drops
down the draft list, the more motivated he’s going to be to punish the teams that
passed on him.
Lauri Markkanen, Freshman PF/C Arizona
Lauri Markkanen is an extremely coordinated big man with a
high IQ. He’s a great shooter with deep
range and a nice touch around the basket, and he nearly always makes the right
play. At 7’0” he has the ability to
create his own shot off the dribble. He
can take it all the way to the rim and finish, pull-up or step-back for a
jumper, or find the open man for a better look.
Markkanen runs the court extremely well, and he plays the game with
energy, passion, and intensity at all times.
Markkanen has a Dirk-like game but seems to move better than
Dirk ever did. He’s a solid rebounder
with great timing when contesting shots, and he’s especially good at getting
help-side blocks.
Markkanen is stronger and more coordinated than most bigs in
their freshman year of college, and he’s a guy we might end up saying was one
of the best from this class when it’s all said and done.
John Collins, Sophomore PF Wake Forest
John Collins is an excellent rebounder with phenomenal timing
and great instincts for the game. He has
a knack for moving to open space on the floor, and he often finds himself left
alone for easy looks around the basket.
He finishes above the rim with power, but he’s also shown a nice touch
when he can’t get all the way to the basket.
Collins has a nice mid-range game to compliment his play down
low, so offensively he has most everything you’d want from your power
forward. I expect him to continue
extending his range all the way out to the 3-point line, as well as improving
his vision to make the right pass when the shot isn’t there for him.
I do have a few issues with Collins defensively. While he does fight hard for loose balls and
often comes up with them, the rest of his defense leaves a lot to be
desired. He isn’t great defending
one-on-one or in the team concept, and he isn’t very long in relation to many
NBA power forwards. He often got in foul
trouble at Wake Forest, partly because he was often out of position but other
times because his teammates put him in bad spots. I think sometimes he wasn’t playing as hard
defensively because he was scared of foul trouble, but overall I just wasn’t
happy with how little resistance he was for his opponents.
Despite his defensive shortcomings, Collins is a complete
offensive player who will be a great rebounder and likely long-time starter in
the NBA. He’s an intelligent player so I
do expect his defense to improve drastically at the next level.
Kyle Kuzma, Junior PF Utah
Extremely high
basketball IQ, great rebounder, solid handle for a big, very good mid-range and
3-point shooter, was one of the best players at the NBA Combine, makes great
decisions with the basketball, great length, good defender, all-around player,
very good facilitator for a big
T.J. Leaf, Freshman PF UCLA
long with sneaky
athleticism, often comes flying in from nowhere for rebounds, fundamentally
sound, great feel for the game, great shooter with deep range, knows where to
be and how to use his body when rebounding, almost always in the right position,
great hands, good passer, can handle and make moves off the dribble, makes the
right play
D.J. Wilson, Junior PF Michigan
Long and very
athletic, can handle and create a little bit as a big, has a pretty good jumper
all the way out to 3-point range as well, very good rebounder, plays with great
energy, makes some bad decisions sometimes but he has a lot to work with,
versatile defender who can really guard all 5 positions, maybe not quite
big enough for NBA centers yet
Cameron Oliver, Sophomore PF/SF Nevada
Great athlete,
incredibly strong, very good shooter with 3 point range, very strong inside and
on the boards, finishes well around the rim, tough defender, very aggressive on
both ends, tough competitor most of the time but did show periods of laziness
at the combine, great length and jumping ability and uses it well, good vision
and understands the importance of timing on his passes
Ivan Rabb, Sophomore PF/SF California
great skill-set, finishes very well
around the rim, long and athletic so rebounds well and gets in the way, lacks
toughness but he does compete, needs to get stronger, didn't seem to want it
that bad early in the season but his confidence grew late, can knock down the
jumper, great length, started defending well too, high IQ, knows where to be on
the floor, good passer, has all the skills but his toughness and aggression are
big question marks for me
Edrice Adebayo, Freshman PF Kentucky
huge vertical,
strength, length, and athleticism inside, tries to dunk everything, great
rebounder, getting better finishing around the rim, still has a lot to learn,
needs to work on shot and nuances of the game, like a mini version of Dwight
Howard right now
Jordan Bell, Junior PF Oregon
Extremely strong and athletic, great defender, finishes well
around the rim with power, great shot blocker, rebounder, makes all the hustle
plays, he’s everywhere, needs to get a jumpshot and work on his touch, may be a
little undersized but his aggression and toughness make up for it
Kennedy Meeks, Senior PF UNC
very good finisher inside, struggles
with length though, gobbles up rebounds, uses his body well, has mastered the
tip in, great hands, good footwork in the post, nice mid-range jumper,
dominated late in the season and at the combine, high IQ player, very good
passer
Chris Boucher, Senior PF/C Oregon
long and extremely athletic, very good shooter from 3-point
range, finishes high above the rim, very good rim defender, quick with solid
handles for a big, needs to gain muscle and work on his touch inside and in the
mid-range, injury late in the year a concern
Sebastian Saiz, Senior PF Ole Miss
very long and athletic, beast on the boards, relentless
effort, nice mid-range jumper, needs to get stronger, runs the floor well, nice
mid-range jumper
Hassan Martin, Senior PF/SF Rhode Island
Beast rebounder, great defender, extremely tough and aggressive,
quick to loose balls, works very hard inside, strong and very athletic, can
knock down the mid-range J, undersized for the NBA
Tim Williams, Senior PF New Mexico
Very good finisher around the rim, great mid-range jumper,
tough inside, a little undersized but a good rebounder and intelligent team
player, doesn’t have a whole lot of help, didn’t do much in Portsmouth
Derek Willis, Senior SF Kentucky
very good outside shooter, very long, showed the ability to
make great passes in Portsmouth, smart player, big-time shooter with great
height
Isaiah Hicks, Senior PF UNC
Solid rebounder, good finisher around the rim, much improved
mid-range game, long and athletic, good defender, fouls too much, not the
smartest guy in the world
Eric Mika, Sophomore PF/C BYU
Tough physical
player, very good rebounder, has a nice fadaway jumper, finishes extremely well
around the rim, can finish above the rim, probably a little undersized, like a
Tyler Hansbrough
Austin Nichols, Junior PF Virginia (ineligble)
Showed a lot of promise a couple years ago but has obviously
caused a lot of problems, talented guy, might be worth a flyer late in the
draft
Darryl Reynolds, Senior PF Villanova
Tough competitor, not
the most skilled guy though, likely G-leaguer
Centers
Zach Collins, Freshman PF/C Gonzaga
Zach Collins didn’t play a whole lot this season, so he’s a
little more difficult to get a read on than many of the players in this
draft. He put up pretty big numbers in
his limited time on the floor, including some major contributions on the game’s
biggest stage in the Final 4.
Collins’ great instincts and high basketball IQ result in
being in the right position nearly all the time on both ends of the floor. Combine that with his tremendous size and
length and you’ve got a great rebounder and shot-blocker who makes life
difficult on the opponent in many different ways.
Collins is a great shooter with 3-point range, and he also
has a nice touch around the basket. He
has great post moves, is fundamentally sound, and is capable of making the
right pass when the shot isn’t there for him.
He plays with a lot of toughness and fight, and once he gets a little
stronger he could be a monster.
He’s
going to need a few years to grow into his body and put on enough weight to
bang with NBA players in the post, but once he does he’s going to be a force to
be reckoned with.
Jarrett Allen, Freshman PF/C Texas
Jarrett Allen could eventually develop into one of the best
big men in the NBA. He’s extremely long
and athletic and shows flashes of every skill you’d want. He needs to add muscle and get tougher, and I
think after a few years he will do that.
The problem is I’m not sure many GM’s can afford to wait on him with a
high pick.
Allen is a very good rebounder, shot blocker and rim
defender. He could be a monster once he
gets stronger, but right now he can get overpowered and sometimes looks
lost. He has exceptional length and
jumping ability, and he uses it to attack the rim and isn’t afraid to dunk on
people.
He showed a nice touch around the rim and a solid mid-range
jumper, and I just have a feeling this guy is going to be really good. He’s still a few years away, but with some
added strength and with it more confidence he has all the tools to develop into
an all-star. Selecting him top 10 is
probably a bit of a reach right now, but offensively talented big men that also
defend the rim are hard to come by. I
wouldn’t hate taking a chance on him in the lottery, but you have to know you’ll
be waiting for a couple years.
Thomas Bryant, Sophomore
C/PF Indiana
Thomas Bryant is extremely
aggressive, physical, and plays with passion every second of every game. He has NBA size and strength, but he has a
long way to go before he’s ready to play with the top centers at the next
level. Bryant shows flashes of every
skill you’d want from your starting center, but he just needs to keep learning
the game and get more efficient with his movements.
Bryant works extremely hard and
finishes well around the rim, but he has a lot to learn when it comes to being
in the right position and simply understanding the game. His tremendous energy sometimes results in
him playing too fast, so he oftentimes looks goofy and out of position on the
floor.
He’s a very good shooter for someone
his size, but he often falls in love with the 3 and little too much. Bryant is a very good passer and team player,
and with a little more time he could become a dominant player.
There’s a similar story with Bryant
defensively. He gives it everything he
has and you know he has the will to be great, but his lateral movement and
court positioning just aren’t where they need to be. He contests shots at the rim and meets
defenders with tenacity, but he’s easy to get by on the perimeter and he’s
rarely in optimal position for rebounds.
Right now Bryant is raw with big
time potential, and I really wish he would have stayed in school another year
to work on his game. Despite this I’d
still take a chance on him late in the first round if I was in need of a big
man.
Tony
Bradley Jr., Freshman PF/C UNC
great hands, great
size with an ability to defend the rim, very long, very good rebounder, needs
to get stronger and work on finishing through contact, has the tools to be
great eventually, just needs more experience and strength, has the base and
body to add muscle, has a nice mid-range game, hook shots with either hand,
didn’t get tons of playing time but showed glimpses of what he could do
Justin Patton, Freshman C/PF Creighton
Justin Patton is extremely tall and athletic with great
length. He runs the floor like a deer,
often beating everyone down the floor for easy dunks in transition. He finishes well around the basket with
either hand, usually releasing his half-hooks above the rim. Patton is also a great passer and shooter
with 3-point range.
Patton is a true rim defender with a great understanding of
his rotations defensively. He’s a decent
rebounder right now, but he’ll get much better once he adds some more
muscle. He definitely needs to get a lot
stronger, but he’s an extremely hard worker and I fully expect him to get it
done. He played the end of the season
without his point guard, something that really hurt his game and the way he was
likely perceived. Because of this he
might be undervalued.
Przemec Karnowski, Senior C Gonzaga
Huge, great size and strength, nice touch around the rim,
very difficult to stop if he catches it deep, very good passer with the vision
to see the floor, makes good decisions out of double teams, decent rebounder,
has trouble running the floor, has had lots of injuries as well, he’s a big
obstacle defensively but maybe too slow for the NBA
Amida Brimah, Senior C UCONN
great size and athleticism, poor man’s
Mutombo-like game, tremendous defender, plays extremely hard, offense still
very raw, not a good sign for a Senior
Mangok Mathiang, Senior C Louisville
great size and athleicism, very good defensively, extremely
long, plays hard but hasn’t really developed offensively
