Jamaree Bouyea, San Francisco
6’2” 180
PG/SG
Senior
Jamaree Bouyea might quietly be the most efficient player in college basketball. He’ll likely be somewhat overlooked playing for a San Francisco team that isn’t typically mentioned among the nation’s top tier, but he has an incredible impact on his teammates and makes them all better.
Bouyea has the best feel of any player I’ve watched this season. He’s lightning quick with a great handle that allows him to get anywhere he wants on the floor, and a nearly perfect ability to change speeds to keep the defense off balance. He uses a deadly hesitation move to lull his defender to sleep, then quickly accelerates to blow by him. He plays the game at his own pace, and he makes the game look very easy even against the highest level of competition.
Bouyea can create his own shot whenever he wants, and he’s a very good shooter capable of making shots from all over the floor. He’s also a great passer with tremendous court vision, and understands the right pace to put on each pass to give his teammates the best opportunity to do something with it.
He typically starts the game looking to get his teammates involved, but he has a great feel for knowing when he needs to take over. He’s an incredibly smart and under control player who nearly always makes the right play, and he manipulates the defense with ease with his pace and subtle use of head and shoulder fakes. He sets great screens for his teammates, is a tremendous finisher around the basket, and makes difficult shots in the mid-range look easy. His deep range on his 3-ball makes him nearly impossible to guard, and he’s proven to be clutch with the game on the line.
Defensively Bouyea is tremendous as well. He uses his length and anticipation to wreak havoc both on the ball and in the passing lanes, and he’s even capable of defending the rim with well-timed blocked shots. While he’s not the tallest guard, he’s still a very good rebounder with his timing and length. He’ll almost certainly be a steal in this draft.
JD Notae, Arkansas
6’2” 190
PG/SG
Senior
Notae is a great ball-handler who can get wherever he wants to go on the floor. He changes pace extremely well to get by his defender and weave through traffic, and he uses his sick array of moves and great body control to get to the rim at will. Notae uses his body and strength very well to seek contact and create space to finish at an elite level around the basket, and he’s not afraid to challenge the bigs or finish over them with a floater.
He’s a very good play-maker and passer with excellent timing on his passes, and he stays on the attack throughout the game and never gives the defense a break. He’s constantly creating shots for himself and his teammates, and his deadly scoring prowess combined with his fantastic court vision makes life very difficult on his opponents.
Notae is a tremendous shooter with extremely deep range. He’s dangerous off the dribble and is able to make difficult step-backs and fadaways from three and in the mid-range. He never loses confidence and always keeps firing away, and he wants the ball and makes big plays with the game on the line. While his low release could be a problem at the next level, Notae is a scoring machine and tremendous competitor who will find a way to impact the game. He’ll likely need to work on getting a little more elevation on his shot, but he has the drive and work ethic to do it.
Notae is extremely good defensively as well. Despite his relatively small size, Notae is tough and strong and plays extremely hard. He’s relentless on the ball and in the passing lanes, and he blocks way more shots than he should at 6’2”. He was also the SEC steals leader. Notae has an incredible all-around game, along with the competitive drive to make his mark in the NBA for a long time.
Payton Willis, Minnesota
6’4” 200
SG/PG
Senior
I’m expecting Payton Willis to be the standout surprise player of Portsmouth this year. He’s a phenomenal three-point shooter with extremely deep range, but he’s also deadly accurate with floaters and mid-range jumpers. He didn’t have much help on a poor Minnesota team, but he did a great job of carrying them and giving them a chance to compete.
Willis is a great ball-handler who can get wherever he wants to go and create shots for himself and his teammates. He changes speeds effectively to easily get by his man, and he doesn’t need much room to get his shot off. He gets great elevation on his jumper, and he shows really good footwork while maneuvering his way around the basket and in the mid-range. Willis is absolutely deadly off the dribble, and he often makes difficult and guarded shots look incredibly easy.
Willis has the size, speed, and quick release to score against anyone, and his accuracy from all over the floor is really impressive. In a situation where there weren’t a whole lot of other offensive options, Willis consistently found ways to create space and score without taking terrible shots. He always plays under control at his own pace, and he’s great at keeping defenders off balance and far enough away where they can’t significantly alter his shots. He also moves really well without the ball, and he makes good decisions and finds the open man when the defense over-helps on him.
Defensively Willis is solid. He doesn’t shy away from contact, and he uses his quick hands and feet to create problems for his opponent. He fought hard despite his team’s struggles on this end, and he rebounds really well at the guard position. Willis has every skill in the book, and I look for him to turn some heads this week.
Jordan Usher, Georgia Tech
6’7” 220
SF
Senior
Jordan Usher is probably under the radar due to the lack of success of his Georgia Tech team, but he quietly showed a high-level game at times without much help this season. Usher has NBA size and athleticism and plays with great energy, activity, and effort. He’s strong, physical, and is capable of doing everything well on both ends of the floor.
Offensively Usher is a playmaker who doesn’t need any plays called for him to make a big impact. He’s a decent ball-handler and great passer who does a nice job creating shots for his teammates. He understands when to deliver a pass and how much pace to put on it, and he sees the court incredibly well.
Usher has great elevation on his shot and is a good shooter capable of making difficult shots from all over the floor. He moves really well without the ball and often finds himself open for threes, which he’s more than capable of knocking down. His shot looks more accurate than his percentages would suggest, and I think on a better team his accuracy would increase. He’s got a good mid-range game and has shown an ability to make tough shots both off the catch and the dribble. He also uses his body and strength well to finish through contact around the basket.
Usher fights hard defensively and is very disruptive both on the ball and in the passing lanes. His length and activity results in lots of deflections and steals, and he also does a good job boxing out and grabbing rebounds. His well-rounded skill-set should give him a great chance for a good showing this year in Portsmouth.
Stanley Umude, Arkansas
6’6” 210
SG/SF
Senior
Umude is an extremely versatile role player who can take on a much bigger scoring load at times. He’s got great size, strength, and athleticism, and he does everything pretty well on both ends of the floor.
Umude is a tough defender who can guard at least three positions. He’s strong, quick, athletic, and aggressive, and he can make life difficult for any opponent. He communicates well to keep his teammates in the right positions defensively, and he gets to more than his fair share of rebounds and loose balls.
Offensively he contributes in all aspects. He moves extremely well without the ball, often finding himself open for easy layups and alley-oops that he usually finishes. He’s a good shooter with three-point range, and he’s capable of making difficult shots, many times off of post-ups. Umude is a decent ball-handler and good passer who can contribute to winning in a lot of ways.
Tyrese Martin, UCONN
6’6” 215
SG/SF
Senior
Tyrese Martin has NBA size, strength, and athleticism, and a skill-set that could certainly make him a good role player at the next level. Martin is a tough defender who can guard three positions, and a great rebounder who snatches up more than his fair share of boards.
Martin is a great three-point shooter who is shot ready off the cut, and finishes well around the basket with put-backs and floaters. He’s a decent ball-handler who doesn’t dribble very often, and he could definitely stand to be more aggressive looking for his shot or creating for his teammates. He doesn’t always impose himself as much as he could, but this isn’t a trait that typically changes a whole lot, so Martin is likely no more than a complimentary piece in the NBA.
Quenton Jackson, Texas A&M
6’5” 173
SG/SF/PG
Senior
Quenton Jackson has great size, speed, length, and freakish athleticism. He’s extremely aggressive and explosive on both ends, and it’s hard to find anyone who plays with more intense effort than he does.
Jackson never seems to tire. He’s extremely quick, physical, and harassing defensively throughout the game, never giving his opponent a second to breathe. He’s extremely good both on the ball and in the passing lanes, and he’s capable of changing the entire momentum of the game with a steal and ferocious dunk on the other end.
Jackson has a really nice handle and great vision. He creates plays for himself and his teammates, and while he can get a little out of control driving the ball at times, I love his passion and aggression and expect him to continue improving year after year.
Koby McEwen, Weber St.
6’4” 195
SG/PG
Senior
Koby McEwen is strong, physical, intense, and extremely athletic. He’s a good ball-handler who’s quick off the dribble and aggressive driving to the rim, where he seeks contact and finishes well through it. He’s also a great shooter with deep range with accuracy both off the dribble and off the catch. He’s a great competitor who can sometimes get a little too fired up and emotional and lose his cool a bit, but I’d much rather have someone I need to reel in a little than someone I’m constantly having to motivate to play hard.
McEwen is also very tough defensively. His strength, quickness, physicality, and aggression make life miserable for his opponent, and he’s dangerous in the passing lanes and can change the momentum of the game with a steal and huge breakaway dunk. He didn’t face the best competition all year, so I’m excited to see what he can do in Portsmouth.
Jamal Cain, Oakland
6’7” 191
SG/SF
Senior
Jamal Cain has great size and length, and he’s shown the ability to do most everything well. He’s a good shooter from all over the floor when he takes smart shots, both off the catch and the dribble, and he’s capable of making difficult step-backs, fadaways, and floaters. He’s deadly from 3-point range when he’s on and taking good shots, he creates his own shot off the dribble, and he can finish around the basket through contact.
Cain is very athletic, and he uses this athleticism well in all aspects of the game. He’s an incredible rebounder and versatile defender capable of guarding at least three positions and maybe even four. He basically played center at Oakland, so he’s had plenty of experience guarding bigger players. His physicality, toughness, and quick feet allow him to match-up with most players. He defends the rim with his length and leaping ability, and also will step in and take a charge.
Jamal Cain certainly has room to improve his ball-handling, passing, and movement without the ball, as well as his general knowledge of the game, but he’s got a lot of tools to work with. There was some selfish play on his team that almost certainly resulted in less than optimal play from everyone at some points, and I’d look for a little more efficient play out of Cain under better circumstances.
RJ Cole, Uconn
6’1” 185
PG/SG
Senior
RJ Cole is a phenomenal competitor who plays with great toughness and physicality. He’s a really good ball-handler and passer who stays on the attack and has a good feel for what his team needs throughout the game.
Cole plays with relentless aggression and sets the tone defensively for his team. His strength, quickness, physicality, and constant effort make him difficult to play against.
Offensively Cole does everything pretty well. He’s a good shooter who wants the big shot with the game on the line, and he’s delivered on plenty of occasions. He creates good looks for himself and his teammates, and can get to the rim and finish, stop short with a floater, or knock down his sweet lefty jump-shot. Cole also moves very well without the ball, and is willing to do whatever it takes to help his team win. He’s a good rebounder for his size, and he projects as a capable backup point guard at the next level.
Charlie Moore, Miami
5’11” 180
PG
Senior
Moore’s small stature will likely lead to him being overlooked, but he’s a phenomenal point guard who led his Miami team on a great run to the elite 8. Moore has a great handle, and he changes speeds really well to get where he wants to go. He does a great job of breaking down the defense, and he’s an excellent passer who finds the open man when the defense collapses on him. He has really good timing and pace on his passes, and his quickness and court vision lead to lots of open looks for his teammates.
Despite his height, Moore is able to get to the rim and finish around taller players. He’s very strong and uses his body well to get his shot off. Moore is also a great three-point shooter with very deep range, and he can get his own shot off the dribble with the ability to make difficult ones. He wants the ball in his hands with the game on the lane, and he’s proven to be clutch under pressure on many occasions.
Moore is a tough defender as well, using his quickness and aggression to cause problems for his opponent. He’s a great competitor who stays on the attack on both ends, and he’s got a ton of experience on the biggest stages in basketball. It won’t be easy, but Charlie Moore could certainly carve out a backup role in the NBA.
Abu Kigab, Boise St.
6’7” 220
SF/PF
Senior
Abu Kigab has great size, length, and toughness, and possesses winning habits on both ends of the floor. He stays dialed in and focused at all times, and he’s an extremely smart player who brings great energy and does all the little things that sets a positive tone for his team.
Defensively Kigab is a beast. While not the fastest or most athletic guy, Kigab always plays extremely hard and physical and fights to make life difficult on his opponent. He moves his feet extremely well to stay in front of his man, and his length, toughness, and high IQ make him very effective on this end. He’s fundamentally sound and rarely fails to box out, and he grabs more than his share of loose balls and rebounds.
Offensively Kigab is efficient. He’s a solid ball-handler and a really good passer with the ability to create for his teammates. He moves extremely well without the ball with a knack for finding the open space, and he never stops setting screens and balancing the floor for his team. Kigab never shies away from contact and is very comfortable playing through it.
Kigab plays at his own pace with a crafty ability to get where he wants to go. His tremendous footwork helps create opportunities to score around the basket. He’s capable of getting to the rim off the dribble, or finishing with a floater or mid-range jumper or fadaway. While he’s not a great 3-point shooter and could certainly improve his ball-handling, Kigab plays to his strengths and makes good decisions.
Kigab is a clutch player who loves the big games and wants the big shot. While he almost certainly won’t be a go-to guy at the next level, Kigab would be a great complimentary piece who can help a team win.
Keve Aluma, Virginia Tech
6’9” 235
SF/PF
Senior
Keve Aluma is a very skilled player who does most everything well, but he likely won’t be able to play quite the same game at the next level. He often dominated with jump hooks with both hands in the post in college, and while he’ll probably be able to do some of that in Portsmouth, those kinds of opportunities will be limited by the size and athleticism in the NBA. Luckily for him he has a lot of other skills to fall back on.
Aluma has great size, length, and coordination. He’s got a good face-up game in the mid-range, where he’s able to knock down the jumper or find open teammates with great passes for a better look. He has a really nice touch around the rim with hooks, layups, and floaters, and he’s a good shooter who can make threes. He handles it well enough to take a few dribbles to create some room for himself, and he’s shown the ability to make difficult step-backs and fadaways.
Aluma is great off the ball, setting tons of screens and staying in constant movement. He makes great cuts, and he’s able to catch in mid-air and adjust for alley-oop finishes. He’s also a very good rebounder.
Defensively Aluma plays with a high IQ. He’s nearly always in the right position, and his length helps him come up with deflections, blocks, and steals. He’s not gonna wow anyone athletically, but he’s solid in all aspects of the game and definitely has a shot to find a role in the NBA.
Darius Days, LSU
6’7” 245
SF/PF
Senior
Darius Days has great size and strength, and a versatile skill-set that could give him a chance to contribute at the next level. He did a lot of his damage in the post and on the boards in college, using his strength to bully defenders around the rim. While his post-up opportunities will likely be much fewer as a professional, he also has the ability to put the ball on the floor and knock down shots from the perimeter.
Days is very active setting screens and moving without the ball, and he’s capable of driving to the basket and finishing through contact. He displayed good footwork and a nice touch around the rim, and he seeks out the body of his opponent to get himself to the free throw line. Days has been a very solid three-point shooter throughout his career, and if he continues improving his ball-handling and passing he could certainly find a role in the NBA.
The LSU program has been a disaster in recent times, making it difficult for many players to truly look good on the offensive side of the ball. Despite this, Days was one of the more efficient players over the course of his time there, and he was a solid team defender as well.
Darryl Morsell, Marquette
6’5” 205
SG/PG
Senior
Morsell is a really tough competitor and well-rounded player who didn’t have a whole lot of help this season. His versatility allows him to play multiple positions on both ends, but he was mostly asked to run the point for Marquette this season.
Morsell is a good ball-handler and passer with a good feel for what his team needs from him at a given time. He was forced to be more of a scorer since the Golden Eagles didn’t have a whole lot of guys who could put the ball in the basket consistently, and while he’s certainly more suited to a complimentary role, he did a great job of keeping his team in games and getting them to the tournament.
Morsell uses his strength well to get to his spots, showing a great ability to finish around the rim through contact or pull-up for a floater or mid-range jumper. He does a great job finding his teammates when the defense collapses on him, and he’s deadly from the elbows when they don’t. Morsell is not a great three-point shooter, but he plays to his strengths and doesn’t shoot a lot of them, and he did improve his percentages significantly this season.
Defensively Morsell can guard at least two positions and probably three. He’s strong and physical, and when he’s not asked to be a primary scorer he can be extremely good on this end. Morsell is certainly capable of contributing in the NBA, but he’ll need to become a better shooter before he can truly take on a big role.
Garrison Brooks, Mississippi St.
6’9” 230
PF
Senior
Garrison Brooks was incredible in his final season at UNC while leading the ACC in scoring, but he just didn’t have the supporting cast to make him look as good at Mississippi State. Brooks has good size, strength, and length, and he gives great effort on both ends of the floor.
Brooks is a tough defender who moves his feet extremely well and is usually in the right position. He stays engaged and communicates well to help his teammates, and he does a good job defending the rim and cleaning up the boards.
Offensively Brooks is always moving setting good screens for his teammates. He’s got a really good mid-range jumper, and he handles the ball well enough to create looks for himself. He’s shown the ability to make difficult fadaways from the post, and he’s good at finding open space and finishing around the rim. Brooks is just a really solid big man who has a chance to carve out a small role in the NBA.
Anthony Duruji, Florida
6’7” 209
SG/SF
Senior
It’s a little head-scratching as to why Duruji wasn’t a more effective offensive player this season. There are times where Duruji looks like a sure-fire NBA player, putting his elite size, length, and athleticism on display to soar above the defense for an explosive dunk, or looking really comfortable knocking down shots from the perimeter. His shot looks really good coming off his hands, and he’s shown a nice floater and the ability to make difficult step-backs and fadaways in the mid-range game. He’s dangerous in transition and sets a lot of good screens, but he doesn’t impose his will nearly enough, and far too often is a non-factor offensively. He needs to work on his handle, his passing, and probably add some strength, but his lack of consistent production is concerning.
Duruji has all the tools to be a great defender, and while he’s pretty good on that end, you’d hope someone with his elite physical tools would be more disruptive. He just doesn’t seem to have the mentality to go out and put his stamp on the game every night, and while he certainly has the potential to contribute in a small role off the bench, chances are you can find someone who will consistently be more aggressive and productive.
Fabian White Jr, Houston
6’8” 230
PF
Senior
Fabian White was fantastic this season in helping his Houston team overcome the losses of two of its best players and make a run to the Elite 8. White is a strong, tough, and physical defender who is rarely out of position. He was one of the leaders on one of the best defensive teams in the country, and his defensive IQ led to plenty of steals and blocks. He fights extremely hard for rebounds and loose balls, and he does all the little things to help his team win.
White took on a much bigger offensive role with the losses of Marcus Sasser and Tramon Mark, where he displayed a well-rounded skill-set that could get him a look at the next level. White shot the ball really well from three-point range, and even showed the ability to put the ball on the floor a little bit. The threat of his long-distance shot opened up the driving lanes, and he was effective using pump fakes to get by his man. He developed a nice floater this season, and he finished well through contact around the basket. However, White struggled late in the season against some of the toughest competition and a few guys with extreme length, so I think he’s probably a guy more suited to the G-League.
Taz Sherman, West Virginia
6’4” 190
SG/PG
Senior
Taz Sherman is quick, aggressive, physical, and gives tremendous effort on both ends of the floor. He’s an extremely disruptive defender who stays locked in throughout the game, and he’s stronger and tougher than he looks.
Offensively he’s a very good shooter with a nice floater. He’s a decent ball-handler who can create his own shot with a step-back or crossover, but he’s a little undersized as a shooting guard and can struggle against bigger defenders. He’s not a great finisher around the basket, and he’s not a great passer or playmaker, but he moves well without the ball and can score from the post or the perimeter.
He’ll have to become a much better ball-handler and playmaker to make it in the NBA.
Nate Watson, Providence
6’10” 260
PF/C
Senior
At his best Watson is a physical force inside with great size and strength. He’s a good on-ball defender with quick hands and feet, as well as a good help defender constantly communicating with his teammates and defending the rim. He boxes out and cleans up the glass, and uses his strength and athleticism to get easy buckets around the basket.
Unfortunately Watson isn’t always focused and engaged, and he can completely disappear at times. He’s very effective when he’s locked in and aggressive, but he doesn’t always impose himself and too often is just a big body out there. Watson isn’t a threat to make shots outside of about five feet, so I’d want to see a much improved jumper and a lot more consistent effort before I’d take a chance on him.
Bryce Hamilton, UNLV
6’4” 205
SG
Senior
Bryce Hamilton has a great handle and can easily create his own shot. He’s an explosive scorer and a really good one-on-one player, but his poor shot selection and decision-making continues to hold him back.
Hamilton can get wherever he wants to go on the floor. He can get all the way to the rim and finish, stop short with a floater or mid-range jumper, or knock down threes off the dribble. He can score against anyone with his wide array of crafty moves, but most of the time he needs the ball to be effective offensively. He needs to move better without the ball, and he has to learn to find open teammates instead of taking low-percentage shots, but throughout college he hasn’t improved much in these areas.
Hamilton has the tools to be a good defender, but he loafs around on that end far too often. He seems to be constantly waiting to get the ball back so he can score, and while he does that very well, the rest of his game is far behind. Hamilton has the ability to do everything well, but he’s confident to a fault, and his teams haven’t been very successful. He’s certainly capable of putting up some big scoring games in Portsmouth, but unless you feel confident you can somehow change his mentality, I’d steer clear of him until I see more improvement.
Terrell Brown Jr., Washington
6’3” 185
PG/SG
Senior
Terrell Brown Jr is a great ball-handler and scorer who can get his shot off the dribble whenever he wants. He’s lightning quick and creative with the ball in his hands, and he displays good footwork and crafty moves to get shots off in a wide variety of ways. He’s really difficult to stop one-on-one, and he’s got a really nice floater and mid-range game. However, he shot the ball terribly from 3-point range this season, and he’ll have to get much better in this area if he wants any chance to make it at the next level. Unfortunately this isn’t the only concern.
Brown has a slight build and doesn’t seem to like contact. He’s not a great passer, and he needs to be a lot better without the ball in his hands. I’ve got some questions defensively as well.
While he was the Pac-12 leader in steals, I don’t think he’s necessarily a great defender. It’s hard to tell sometimes when a team plays zone, but he seemed to get a large amount of his steals by gambling, which often resulted in him taking himself out of the play and putting his team in a difficult position. He was certainly active and appeared to be trying hard defensively, but he’s not physical on that end, and too many times his failed attempts at steals let the opponent have a clear lane to the basket. It wouldn’t shock me to see him be one of the scoring leaders in Portsmouth, but there’s too many holes in his game for my liking right now.
Alex O’Connell, Creighton
6’6” 185
SG/SF
Senior
Alex O’Connell is very athletic with a decent handle and a pretty good jump-shot. He’s capable of knocking down shots off the dribble and the catch, as well as taking it all the way to the basket and finishing above the rim. He moves well without the ball and isn’t afraid of contact, and when he’s confident and staying on the attack he’s a dangerous player.
O’Connell fights hard defensively and does a good job on the boards. He’s a good passer and overall just a really solid contributor in all aspects of the game. He’s got a chance to find a role at the next level if he keeps getting stronger and fine-tuning his game.
Ryan Hawkins, Creighton
6’7” 222
SF/PF
Senior
Ryan Hawkins will be one of the most skilled basketball players in Portsmouth, but his lack of quickness and jumping ability will limit his professional career. His basketball intelligence is about as good as it gets, and he always plays extremely hard with toughness and physicality. He’s locked in and focused throughout every game, and he plays winning basketball everywhere he goes (he won three Division II championships).
Hawkins handles the ball pretty well, and he makes great decisions with the ball in his hands. He sees the floor and finds the open man, but he’s also capable of driving and finishing with great touch around the basket. He has tremendous footwork and is an extremely coordinated athlete, skills he surely honed while playing nearly every sport as a kid.
Hawkins moves extremely well without the ball. He’s always in motion setting screens, and he makes quick sudden movements to create space for himself. He’s a great 3-point shooter who gets his shot off quickly with accuracy and range, and his size allows him to get his shot off against smaller defenders.
The problem is going to come on defense. While Hawkins is a smart team defender in help position, a great communicator and leader, and a tough physical defender, he’s going to struggle guarding the ball one-on-one at the next level. He simply isn’t quick enough to stay with faster opponents, and unfortunately for him the NBA is filled with incredible athletes.
D’Shawn Schwartz, George Mason
6’7” 232
SG/SF
Senior
D’Shawn Schwartz is a great-shooting lefty who can make tough shots from all over the floor, but his lack of speed and athleticism will make it hard to get open at the next level. Schwartz is a decent ball-handler and good passer, but he’s not a great defender, and he’ll need to get much quicker, tougher, and be much more active if he hopes to have a career in the NBA. He seemed to box out more and give better effort earlier this season than he did later on, so it will be interesting to see how he looks in Portsmouth.
Devante Jones, Michigan
6’1” 200
PG
Senior
Devante Jones has a great handle, and he changes speeds really well to get where he wants to go. He makes great decisions with the ball in his hands, and he has a tremendous feel for knowing exactly when to drop the ball off to a teammate. While he’s not very big and can struggle against size and length, he’s strong and tough and doesn’t shy away from contact. He’s a good finisher around the rim, moves well without the ball, and does everything pretty well offensively. While he’s not a great three-point shooter, he takes smart shots and plays to his strengths.
Defensively he fights hard and plays with a high IQ. Unfortunately his lack of size or elite quickness and athleticism will probably keep him from making it in the NBA, but I love his game and think he would make a very good G-League point guard.
Fatts Russell, Maryland
5’11” 165
PG
Senior
Fatts Russell is extremely quick with a great handle, and he’s very aggressive on both ends of the floor. He moves well without the ball, constantly sprinting around and never giving the defense a second to rest. Once he’s got the ball he always attacks, and he’s a good finisher around the rim and shooter in the mid-range. He’s not a great three-point shooter, but he’s good enough to make the defense respect it. He’s a good shooter off the dribble, and he’s also able to find an open teammate when the shot isn’t there.
Russell fights hard defensively. His toughness and quickness can give opponents problems, but he’s very small and can struggle to defend bigger players. He could possibly provide a scoring boost off the bench, but he’ll need to keep improving his three-point shot to really make an impact in the NBA.
Alex Morales, Wagner
6’6” 180
PG/SG
Senior
Alex Morales has great size and length at the point guard position. He’s a good ball-handler and passer, and he shows good leadership by constantly talking and directing his teammates. He’s a high IQ player who put up big numbers in the NEC, but he struggled mightily against Bryant in the conference championship game, going 0-16 from the field in the biggest game of the year. He didn’t have a lot of help and was certainly ganged up on, but he didn’t respond well and never adapted, his shot wasn’t pretty and often missed badly, and I’m concerned how he’ll perform against a higher level of competition.
Morales is a tough defender with his size and length, but he’s not the most physical guy, and again he hasn’t faced the best competition. We’ll learn more about Morales this week than we can from anything he did this season.
Malik Williams, Louisville
6’11” 245
PF/C
Senior
Malik Williams has great size and length that he uses to grab rebounds and cause problems defensively. He moves his feet well and defends the rim, but he needs to add strength to his slender build to truly be able to bang with NBA post players.
Offensively Williams still has a long ways to go. He’s capable of finishing with the jump hook from the post or finding the open man, but he doesn’t have great touch around the basket and often misses from point blank range. He’s shown the ability to make threes, but it’s not really the shot you want him taking. He’s active setting screens but often doesn’t set good ones. He was also suspended late this season for “not meeting the standards of the team,” so there’s a lot of question marks with this particular player.
Jimmy Boeheim, Syracuse
6’8” 225
PG/SG
Senior
Jimmy Boeheim is a very good shooter with great size. He’s good at finding the open space, and his height and quick release allows him to get his shot off. He’s a good ball-handler capable of getting to the rim or finishing with a floater, and he’s able to post-up smaller defenders and score with a nice touch around the basket. He’s also a solid rebounder who’s dangerous scoring on the offensive glass.
The problem for Jimmy is going to be on the defensive end. He lacks quickness or explosive athleticism, and his slow lateral movement will make it tough for him to defend the ball. He doesn’t make much of an impact on this end of the floor, and it will make him too big a liability to have out there at the NBA level.
Paul Atkinson Jr., Notre Dame
6’9” 230
PF
Senior
Paul Atkinson Jr., is a smart player and good passer with great size. He’s active setting screens and grabbing rebounds, and he’s got good footwork and a nice touch in the post. The problem is he’s just way too slow, and he’s not athletic enough to make it in the NBA. He doesn’t elevate much, and he struggles with turnovers and rushed shots against quicker, more athletic players.
Atkinson fights hard defensively, and he’s a good communicator who talks a lot on this end, but his slow feet and lack of elevation make him a liability.
Grant Golden, Richmond
6’10” 255
PF/C
Senior
Golden is a skilled player and extremely talented passer who understands the game. He’s a solid ball-handler who sees the floor well and uses good footwork and pump fakes to score around the basket. He doesn’t really get off the ground or defend the rim, but he’s usually in the right position and makes good decisions on the floor.
Golden often punished smaller defenders in college, but he’s probably not athletic enough to make it in the NBA. He’ll need to look for a spot in the G-League or overseas.
Jacob Gilyard, Richmond
5’9” 160
PG
Senior
Jacob Gilyard is extremely quick with a great-handle, and he can put points on the board in bunches. He’s a smart player who moves well without the ball, finds open teammates, and plays very hard on both ends, but his lack of size can lead to problems against bigger, stronger, and more athletic opponents.
Gilyard can take advantage when he’s up against slower defenders, but unfortunately he won’t run into a whole lot of those at the next level. He’s a tough defender with quick hands and feet who comes up with a lot of steals, but his opponents at the pro ranks will be bigger, stronger, longer, and often just as quick, so he’ll likely struggle to defend and get open against most players.
Justin Bean, Utah St.
6’7” 210
SF
Senior
Justin Bean plays extremely hard and stays locked in and focused on both ends. He moves very well without the ball, sets a lot of screens, and he’s aggressive going after loose balls and rebounds. He’s a good passer with a decent handle who usually makes the right play, but he’s not a great shooter and doesn’t get a lot of elevation on his shot, and his lack of speed and athleticism will be a problem at the next level.
Bean is a tough competitor who fights hard defensively, but he’s just not quick or athletic enough to defend players at the next level.
Others Who Were Announced but Pulled Out or Declined…
Kameron McGusty, Miami
6’5” 190
SG/PG
Senior
McGusty is one of the most skilled offensive players in the country. He’s got great size, length, and athleticism, and plays with a smooth fluidity that’s beautiful to watch. His handle allows him to easily create his own shots, and when he’s dialed in he’s often capable of being the best player on the floor. He’s very difficult to stop one-on-one, and he’s able to get wherever he wants to go and score from anywhere on the court in a wide variety of ways.
When he’s at his best, McGusty can manipulate the defense and make the right play. When he decides to attack the defense is forced to help on him, and he has the ability to find open teammates when the shot isn’t there for him. If no help comes he can get to the rim and finish, stop short with a floater or mid-range jumper, or face-up and knock down the three. He can even score from the post. There’s nothing he can’t do offensively, but he doesn’t always play as hard as I’d like, and he can sometimes get lazy and careless with the ball.
Defensively McGusty has all the tools to be great. His length and athleticism make him a problem both on the ball and in the passing lanes, and when he’s motivated he’s very difficult to play against. He was great in the NCAA Tournament while leading his Miami squad to the Elite 8, and he can certainly provide a big-time scoring punch for an NBA team, but his effort and attention to detail will be the deciding factors in just how good McGusty can be at the next level.
Geo Baker, Rutgers
6’4” 185
PG/SG
Senior
Geo Baker has great size and length, and often plays his best in the biggest games. He’s a clutch player who wants the ball in his hands with the game on the line, and his good handle and ability to change speeds and direction effectively allows him to create shots for himself and his teammates.
His size gives him the ability to get to the rim and finish among the trees, or pull-up and shoot over the defense. His size and court vision make him a good passer and playmaker, and his length results in many steals and deflections on the defensive end.
Baker can be a streaky shooter at times, but we he gets hot he can put up points in a hurry. He’s a good three-point shooter with deep range, and he’s capable of making difficult step-backs and fadaways. He’s got a chance at a backup role in the NBA.
