Prospect Profile

Prospect Profile: Karl-Anthony Towns

May 8th, 2015 at 4:45pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Kentucky freshman forward/center Karl-Anthony Towns enters the pre-draft process as the likely No. 1 overall pick after spending much of the season being ranked behind Duke big man Jahlil Okafor. While Towns would hardly be considered an under-the-radar recruit, he wasn’t projected to be a potential NBA franchise-changer upon graduating from high school. In fact, Towns was ranked as only the ninth best prospect in his class according to ESPN.com, and seventh in the RSCI overall. But what a difference one nearly undefeated NCAA season can make.

In 39 games for the Wildcats as a freshman, Towns averaged 10.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks in 21.1 minutes per contest. His slash line was .566/.250/.813. But Towns’ stats can be somewhat misleading since his overall numbers were muted by Kentucky coach John Calipari‘s platoon system, as well as the Wildcats’ ridiculous frontcourt depth this past season. “You put Towns on any other team in college basketball, maybe with the exception of Duke, and everyone is talking about him as a legitimate player of the year candidate,” one NBA GM told Chad Ford of ESPN.com (Insider subscription required). “His stats, or lack thereof, aren’t an issue of talent, it’s an issue of so much talent on the floor that he can take a back seat.”

Towns possesses outstanding physical attributes for a big man, measuring 7’0″ in shoes with a 7’3 ½” wingspan, and his frame is NBA-ready. While he may not be a freak athletically, Towns is extremely agile, and shows remarkable coordination and dexterity for a still-developing player of his ample proportions. He also has demonstrated solid versatility on the floor, and is able to play both the center and power forward positions effectively, though he projects more as an NBA power forward than at the five spot.

Of course, it is almost impossible to discuss Towns without comparing him against Okafor. While the former Duke big man is by far the more polished of the two players offensively, Towns is the superior defender, has a much higher upside athletically, and is also a more versatile player on the offensive end of the hardwood. It is Towns’ sky-high upside and lock down defensive ability that has enabled him to leapfrog Okafor and take over the top spot in the prospect rankings, with both ESPN.com and DraftExpress slotting Towns as the alpha of the 2015 draft class.

Offensively, Towns was most frequently utilized in the paint while at Kentucky, with 43% of his touches coming with his back to the basket. Towns connected on 51% of his shots from the post area, and he proved himself adept at establishing and holding his position down low. He’ll need to bulk up to be able to match up against some of the stronger big men in the NBA, but Towns is still young, and should mature into an absolute beast physically in just a few seasons. “He’s huge and so skilled,” one GM told Ford. “I think he’s got a chance to be a more mature version of DeMarcus Cousins.”

Towns has shown himself to be comfortable operating from the high post and beyond, and has a high basketball IQ, which shows in his ability to execute in half court sets. His athleticism should allow him to become a force in the pick-and-roll, and his versatility and shooting range will allow him to play effectively alongside an interior-oriented center.

The 19-year-old Towns grew up as a perimeter oriented power forward who had no fear of firing away from beyond the three-point line, Givony notes. In fact, Towns led his high school team in 3-pointers made, and he drained 46% of his attempts as a 15-year old on the Dominican Republic under-17 team while attempting 5.5 threes per game, the DraftExpress scribe adds. Though Towns didn’t show his range that often while at Kentucky, only attempting eight three-pointers for the season, the big man has solid mechanics, and his outside game should travel along with him to the NBA.

The freshman’s post game needs improvement, especially in his footwork, which can be a tad awkward and predictable at times. Towns was prone to turnovers while operating in the paint area, giving away the ball on roughly 18% of his low post possessions. He also eschewed contact far too often for a player of his size and free throw prowess, though he did demonstrate more willingness to mix it up down low as the season wore on. Towns will need to be more aggressive with the ball in his hands in the NBA, as he won’t be able to solely rely on his athletic ability to carry him against the pros.

While Towns remains a work in progress on the offensive end of the court, his defensive ability is what separates him from the rest of the big men in this year’s NBA draft. He has the size and necessary strength to defend NBA centers, but Towns also possesses the mobility to guard most power forwards, which increases his overall value as a player.

Towns is a talented and instinctual shot-blocker, and his 4.4 blocks per-40 minutes ranks fifth amongst the top-100 prospects. His agility allows him to roam on defense, as well as to recover from mistakes. Towns is also athletic enough to stay with most wing players on switches, which is paramount in today’s NBA. The big man is also a solid rebounder, though he’ll need to improve upon his positioning in the NBA since his athleticism won’t be as pronounced against professional opponents. Towns also has a propensity for foul trouble, which will likely be his Achilles heel during his rookie campaign.

The 19-year-old is one of the more exciting big men to come out of the college ranks in quite some time. If NBA scouts and GMs wanted to create the prototypical power forward for today’s game, Towns would certainly be the model off which that player was based. He isn’t a complete player yet, and will certainly have his growing pains during his rookie campaign. Towns isn’t the type of player who will set the league on fire during his rookie season, but out of all the prospects in the 2015 NBA draft, he has the highest probability of turning into a superstar. It will take quite a showing in the pre-draft workouts from Okafor, Emmanuel Mudiay, or D’Angelo Russell to unseat Towns from being the first name called by commissioner Adam Silver on draft night.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Prospect Profile: Sam Dekker

May 4th, 2015 at 9:00pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Sam Dekker emerged as one of the stars of this spring’s NCAA Tournament but NBA general managers and scouts knew all about him before Wisconsin’s run to the title game. The 6’9” Dekker was considered a first-round prospect heading into his junior season with the Badgers and he moved up the draft board with his tournament performances. Dekker dropped as low as No. 25 on Chad Ford’s ESPN Insider Big Board but now sits on the fringes of the lottery at No. 14 overall and No. 5 among small forwards. Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress has Dekker, who declared for the draft after three seasons with the Badgers, rated one spot higher at No. 13 in his first-round mock draft. Dekker also sits at No. 13 on Hoops Rumors’ latest 2015 NBA Draft Prospect Power Rankings.

Dekker does not have one particular talent that makes him stand out from the pack but he has plenty of attributes that translate to the next level. Offensively, he’s a versatile player who can be used in a variety of ways. He’s an efficient scorer, particularly inside the 3-point arc, converting 52.5% of his field-goal attempts in his junior year.

Playing in Wisconsin’s patient system based on ball movement, Dekker was adept at moving without the ball and finding open areas for catch-and-shoot situations or making smooth cuts to the basket. He also possesses the footwork, moves and strength needed to convert on postups against smaller players. He’s athletic and quick enough to finish in transition, though he’s not a premier ball-handler. He’s also not a prolific rebounder for someone of his size but has a knack for slipping into the paint for second-chance opportunities, as evidenced by his team-high 29 putbacks in his final season.

He has shown he can slash to the basket on straight-line drives and score at the rim, though that ability will be tested when he’s faced with taller, quicker defenders than he saw in college. He’ll also have to be craftier at the rim when shot blockers come over to help on those drives.

Combining all of those strengths, Dekker delivered an unusually high 63.9% shooting percentage on his two-point attempts this season. The biggest issue for Dekker is his spotty shooting from long range, which he’ll need to improve to become a starter-quality NBA player.

Dekker’s 3-point shooting in his final two seasons with the Badgers was troubling. He knocked down just 32.6% of his long-range shots as a sophomore and improved only slightly as a junior (33.1). He shot 39.3% on threes during this year’s tournament but his streakiness was evident. He made 5-of-6 against Arizona in the regional semifinals and buried a couple more in clutch situations against Kentucky in the Final Four, then laid an 0-for-6 egg against Duke in the championship game.

With NBA teams basing their offensive strategies on pick-and-rolls and penetrating guards, Dekker must show he can make those shots when kickout passes come his way. Dekker’s shooting inconsistency might be a correctable flaw. He has some mechanical issues, according to Givony, which at times cause him to release his shot with poor balance and excessive arc. His free throw shooting is also subpar for a wing player. He converted 69.5% from the line during his college career with no noticeable improvement from year to year.

There are no questions about his basketball IQ or toughness. Dekker makes smart decisions with the ball and doesn’t get sloppy with his dribble. Dekker turned the ball over on just 7.3% of his possessions as a junior, making him the least turnover-prone player among this year’s draft prospects. That’s an underrated skill which is highly valued among NBA coaches, since games are often decided by a few crucial possessions.

Playing in the open floor more often could accentuate Dekker’s ability. He was a standout in last summer’s LeBron James camp, which led to the first-round projection for him prior to last season. Breaking free from Wisconsin’s system could turn Dekker into an even more dangerous offensive threat.

“I saw him at LeBron and I thought he was the best kid out there,” an unnamed scout told Ford. “That kid you saw in the tournament? That’s the kid we saw at LeBron and I think it’s who he is. I like him better than Kelly Oubre Jr. or Stanley Johnson. I’d take him in the lottery for sure. Maybe the top 10.”

Dekker is also a willing defender who has the build (230 pounds) and lateral quickness to match up with players at his position. Moreover, he has the height and strength to defend most stretch fours and enough foot speed to handle some shooting guards. With many NBA teams using smaller lineups, Dekker’s ability to guard three positions increases his value. He’ll be able to make switches on pick-and-rolls and acquit himself reasonably well on postups.

That emphasis on going small could mean that Dekker will see action at both forward spots, provided he doesn’t have to defend some of the more rugged and taller power forwards in the league.

Intangibles make Dekker all the more attractive. He plays with confidence and fire which turns into swagger when he’s making his outside shots. He comes from a winning, team-oriented program where he learned to make sacrifices and get the best out of his ability in Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan’s system. He loves the spotlight and isn’t afraid to take the big shot, make the extra pass or defend the opponent’s best player in crunch-time situations. With three years at a top-level program under his belt, he’s also more ready to contribute right away than most of the players in this year’s draft.

It would be an unreasonable to expect Dekker to develop into an All-Star caliber player unless he turns himself into a more prolific long-range shooter. He’s still worthy of being taken in the middle of the first round. He’s got enough talent to be a starter or, at the very least, a reliable rotation player off the bench.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Prospect Profile: Tyus Jones

May 1st, 2015 at 7:15pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Tyus Jones‘ decision to leave Duke after a single season is a move that should pay off for the young point guard. The freshman’s stock isn’t likely to rise much higher than it is right now, with Jones having been part of Duke’s National Championship squad this season, as well as being named as the Most Outstanding Player of the 2014/15 NCAA Final Four in the process. With NBA scouts already divided in their opinions of Jones, returning to Durham would have been a big risk for the 18-year-old. His stock could have only fallen by spending another season at the collegiate level, so making the jump to the NBA at this time is firmly in Jones’ best interests.

Jones is quite possibly the best pure point guard in this year’s draft. He possesses remarkable floor vision, is a reliable and consistent performer, and has all of the leadership qualities that a coach could desire from a floor general. But it is Jones’ size, 6’1″, and lack of elite athleticism that have his doubters unconvinced that he can make a successful transition to the NBA.

The point guard is currently ranked as the No. 19 overall prospect by Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress, while Chad Ford of ESPN.com (Insider subscription required) slots Jones 21st amongst his top-100 prospects. If you added another two inches to Jones’ frame, or if he was just a bit faster, then the player would likely be thrust into the discussion when debating the potential top five picks in June’s draft.

“I want to love him [Jones],” one NBA GM told Ford. “He’s really, really good. His feel for the game is tremendous and now that his jump shot is falling, he’s very difficult to guard. I’m just worried that given the size of so many elite point guards in our league and how great so many of them are athletically, whether he can keep up on either end of the floor. That was my concern last year with Tyler Ennis and he was bigger and more athletic. I just don’t know when you take him.”

While his athleticism might not be on par with the upper echelon of point guards in the NBA, Jones has all of the intangibles you could hope for, and also demonstrated that he can perform when the lights are at their brightest. In 39 games with the Blue Devils, Jones averaged 11.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 1.5 steals in 33.9 minutes per contest. His shooting numbers were .417/.379/.889. In his six NCAA tournament appearances, Jones committed only eight turnovers in total, including just one in his 37 minutes of action versus Wisconsin in the title game.

The 18-year-old possesses outstanding ball-handling skills, and is a dynamic passer who sees the floor and reads defenses incredibly well for a player with his limited experience. The combination of Jones’ floor vision, ball distribution, and his ability to consistently sink jump shots off the dribble make him a handful in pick-and-roll sets, Givony notes. Jones also demonstrated good accuracy from beyond the three-point line, with nearly 38% of his deep balls finding their mark. This is a very important aspect of Jones’ game going forward, since he won’t be able to make a living in the NBA without being able to keep defenders honest with his shooting.

If Jones is to find any success at the next level, he’ll have to continue to improve on his outside game, since he doesn’t have the speed necessary to blow by most NBA guards. The freshman also isn’t especially adept at creating his own shot with any level of consistency. However, this is an area I think the young guard will improve upon as he gains more playing experience. Jones also needs to become more effective when he is able to take it to the rim, having converted just 44% of his shots in the paint while at Duke. Thankfully, Jones is quite adept at creating contact on his drives, and is a sharpshooter from the charity stripe, nailing nearly 89% of his free throws during the 2014/15 campaign.

The young point guard’s lack of explosiveness also impacts him while on defense. To put it bluntly, Jones was not a good defender during his time at Duke. His lack of lateral quickness and strength will certainly be exploited at the NBA level, though with his high basketball IQ, Jones might be able to compensate after a time. What will require immediate adjustment is Jones’ overall defensive intensity and dedication to becoming a ball-stopper. If he hopes to earn regular rotation minutes at the pro level, some serious defensive improvement will be required on Jones’ part.

Despite all of the knocks against his athleticism, Jones is quite simply a winner. One who plays his best ball when the stakes are high and the intensity is at its peak. He is also a player who can make his teammates around him better. Some serious D-League time will be required during his rookie campaign, but for a patient team Jones could be a worthwhile investment. Unless he surprises NBA scouts and executives during his pre-draft workouts, expect Jones to have his name called somewhere in the 17-25 range this June.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Prospect Profile: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson

April 24th, 2015 at 4:45pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Arizona sophomore Rondae Hollis-Jefferson‘s decision to enter this year’s NBA draft is one that is open for second-guessing. While the forward is perhaps the best wing defender in this year’s draft, serious questions abound regarding Hollis-Jefferson’s offensive skills, or lack thereof. The player certainly has lottery pick potential, but in a draft peppered with talented wings, Hollis-Jefferson may have been better served to spend one more season with the Wildcats.

The 6’7″, 220-pounder is currently ranked as the No. 23 overall prospect by Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress, while Chad Ford of ESPN.com (Insider subscription required) places him 24th overall. With 2016’s NBA draft class projected to be much weaker than this year’s, Hollis-Jefferson, barring an unforeseen regression in 2015/16, would likely have been a top-15 pick, though that is merely my speculation.

Hollis-Jefferson is an extremely athletic player who is a monster in transition, and is an elite finisher at the rim. The sophomore is also adept at absorbing contact when attacking the basket, and his 7.1 free throw attempts per 40 minutes pace adjusted ranking is the most of any small forward in this year’s draft. The rest of his numbers are quite solid, with Hollis-Jefferson averaging 11.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.2 steals in 28.7 minutes per contest as a sophomore. His career numbers are 10.2 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 1.5 APG, and 0.9 SPG, and a career slash line of .496/.205/.697.

But it’s the Hollis-Jefferson’s jump shot that is his Achilles heel, and what is relegating him to the bottom half of the first round this year. With the NBA placing more and more value on “3-and-D” players, Hollis-Jefferson’s anemic 20.7% shooting from beyond the arc does him no favors in the eyes of talent evaluators. While some players can “fix” their outside shooting form, it’s not necessarily something that can be counted on. Plus, it would likely take a number of seasons for the team drafting Hollis-Jefferson to see any repair efforts bear fruit on the hardwood. With patience not a staple amongst NBA teams, talent evaluators aren’t likely to be very forgiving in their pre-draft assessments of Hollis-Jefferson’s game.

The 20-year-old will be able to match up athletically with most wing NBA players, as his combination of strength, quickness and explosiveness is difficult to find, Givony notes. Hollis-Jefferson is a solid rebounder for his position, though he will need to bulk up to continue that trend in the NBA, since his athleticism will be somewhat neutralized when he is surrounded by the abundance of talent in the league. The player also needs to improve his ball-handling, since he doesn’t handle heavy ball pressure as well as he should.

Offensive woes aside, Hollis-Jefferson’s true value is on the defensive end of the court. The forward is second all time in the Pac-12 for career defensive rating (88.6) and fifth in the conference this past season in defensive win shares (2.9). He is capable of guarding four positions, which makes Hollis-Jefferson especially valuable with the league’s increasing focus on pick and roll offense, and the switches that defenses are required to make on the fly in order to counter those attacks.

Hollis-Jefferson can certainly contribute as a role-player in an NBA rotation, perhaps as early as next season. But unless he can make himself a passable threat on offense, he is looking at a career as a role-player. The young wing reminds me quite a bit of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, and not just because of the hyphenated last name. Both players are high-energy defenders who can dominate in transition, but hamper their teams in half court sets with their offensive limitations. The best case scenario for Hollis-Jefferson is that he can carve out a career similar to that of Gerald Wallace. For a team selecting toward the end of the first round that potential should be enough to make drafting Hollis-Jefferson worthwhile, but teams picking in the top 20 should pause before nabbing him that high.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Prospect Profile: Kelly Oubre

April 15th, 2015 at 6:00pm CST by Eddie Scarito

When Kelly Oubre committed to attend Kansas last year he was following hot on the heels of Andrew Wiggins, the No. 1 overall selection in the 2014 NBA draft. While Oubre’s arrival in Lawrence didn’t have quite the same amount of hype that accompanied Wiggins’, the expectations for the young wing were high, nevertheless. Unfortunately for the player and the Jayhawks, Oubre never quite lived up to his billing as the No. 8 player in the Recruiting Services Consensus Index coming out of high school last year. It was a roller coaster season for the 6’7″ forward, and one that culminated with Oubre declaring that he was leaving Kansas and entering the 2015 draft.

It’s not a surprise that Oubre decided to end his collegiate career after a lone season since prospects of his particular talent level don’t tend to become sophomores very often these days. But the 19-year-old would have benefited immensely from another season under coach Bill Self‘s tutelage, as well as improved his likely draft position in the process. Oubre’s stats on the season were hardly eye-popping, with the player appearing in 36 contests and averaging 9.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 0.8 assists, and 1.1 steals in 21.0 minutes per game. His slash line for the campaign was .444/.358/.718.

The wing’s numbers weren’t diminished by playing in a platoon system like that of Kentucky’s, but rather because Self made Oubre earn his way onto the court at the beginning of the season. Oubre only logged in excess of 10 minutes in a game twice during his first seven contests, averaging a paltry 2.1 points per game during those cameo appearances. But Self’s reticence to play his young player appeared quite justified since Oubre looked lost on both ends of the court more often than not during this stretch. While he eventually showed flashes of the talent that had him projected as a top five pick prior to the season, Oubre didn’t have a great campaign overall, and ended it with a nine point effort in Kansas’ NCAA tournament loss to Wichita State.

Oubre possesses the prototypical tools for a NBA wing player, opines Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress.com. The swingman’s measurements have him listed as standing 6’7″ in shoes, with a wingspan measuring between 7’1″ and 7’2″, Givony notes. While Oubre isn’t quite an elite athlete, he is a quick and fluid player who moves extremely well without the ball and in transition. He possesses a sweet 3-point stroke and is a strong perimeter defender, a skill that should translate well to the NBA, Chad Ford of ESPN.com (Insider subscription required) writes.

Offensively, Oubre’s most NBA-ready attribute is likely his jump-shot, as he has soft touch, natural scoring instincts, a nice follow through, and smooth mechanics when in rhythm, Givony adds. The lefty is bit of a gunner though, and he has a tendency to fire away with ill-advised jump shots instead of trying to beat his man off of the dribble. Oubre doesn’t have a solid midrange game, and he is the kind of player who’s either launching a 3 or dunking at the rim, Ford notes. The ESPN scribe also adds that Oubre’s personality can be polarizing, and he resembles the Cavs’ J.R. Smith in game as well as demeanor.

The 19-year-old isn’t a strong ball-handler yet, and he has a fairly high dribble that slows him down off the bounce and works against his athleticism, Givony notes. Oubre has difficulty driving and finishing with his right hand, which hinders him in half court sets when he tries to get to the rim, the DraftExpress scribe adds. Givony also notes that Oubre is just an average finisher when he does venture into the paint, making only 53% of his shots when around the basket.

While he may have entered college a potential top five pick, Oubre is no longer expected to be taken quite that high come June. ESPN.com (Insider subscription required) ranks him as the No. 12 overall prospect while DraftExpress.com slots Oubre at No. 13. It’s the swingman’s distinct lack of consistency which characterized Oubre’s season, which led to the slide, not a lack of talent. That is a commodity the young player happens to possesses an abundance of, though it will require a patient NBA team to maximize.

In a draft that currently has Justise Winslow, Stanley Johnson, and Mario Hezonja ranked ahead of him at the wing, Oubre may have been better served to bide his time in school until 2016, which is currently projected to be a weaker draft than this year’s. The pre-draft workouts will be vital for Oubre, especially when he goes head to head with some of the other wings also vying for draft position. Oubre’s ceiling might just be the highest out of any of the rookie small forwards entering the league, but it will likely take Oubre a number of seasons to reach that level. My prediction is that Oubre’s the third wing taken off the board after Winslow and Johnson, and that he’ll hear his name called toward the end of the lottery.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Prospect Profile: Myles Turner

April 8th, 2015 at 9:28pm CST by Eddie Scarito

It’s been a “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” sort of season for Texas big man Myles Turner, who officially announced that he’ll be entering this year’s NBA draft. Turner’s play this season helped the Longhorns lock down an 11th seed in the 2015 NCAA Tournament. But unfortunately in Texas’ first round contest it was one of those nights when the meeker Dr. Jekyll version of the center showed up, and Turner had just two lonely points to go along with 10 rebounds in the Longhorns’ loss to Butler.

The Texas native was ranked No. 6 overall in the Recruiting Services Consensus Index coming out of high school, but he didn’t quite live up to the hype during what will be his sole college season in the Lone Star state. In a draft rich with talented big men, Turner’s stats this season don’t necessarily rate him as a lottery pick. If a team selects Turner in the top 10 it will be more about his long-term potential than the player he is right now. Chad Ford of ESPN.com (Insider subscription required) ranks Turner as the No. 10 overall prospect, and Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress rates him the No. 12 overall player in this year’s NBA draft.

Turner’s overall numbers for the season weren’t eye-popping, with averages of 10.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, 0.6 assists, and 2.6 blocks in 22.2 minutes per night. His shooting numbers in 34 appearances were .455/.274/.839. Turner was 1st in the Big 12 Conference in blocks, 1st in defensive rating (86.3), and 3rd in free throw percentage.

There was a large discrepancy between Turner’s performances against lesser competition and what he logged against the bigger, more talented schools. The 19-year-old failed to score in double figures in 20 of the 34 games he played in, and he only reached double digit rebounds in a total of seven contests. It’s unclear how much of Turner’s struggles with consistency can be placed upon the shoulders of former Texas coach Rick Barnes, who was let go by the university after Texas’ tournament ouster. Barnes’ system wasn’t a great fit for Turner, but one would still like to see more production from a potential lottery selection.

Offensively, Turner is more of a jump shooter at this stage of his development than a post up threat. The big man has good instincts on the offensive end, something that isn’t all that common in young power forwards and centers his age. Turner has a nice high release point on his shot which will translate nicely to the NBA and its bigger, more athletic players. He also can drain shots from beyond the arc, but isn’t a consistent threat from deep just yet. The forward is also a superior free throw shooter, nailing nearly 84% of his attempts from the charity stripe this season.

One major concern regarding Turner is his odd and somewhat awkward running style. The forward doesn’t move well in transition, even by big man standards. According to Givony, citing statistics gathered by Synergy Sports Technology, Turner only made five field goals (out of 13 attempts) all season in transition situations. That is an alarmingly low percentage for a college player with Turner’s level of athleticism, and should raise some red flags amongst scouts and GMs. Turner’s running style also has some scouts worried that he could be an injury risk, something that is already a concern with taller players without the added worry Turner’s unusual gait brings.

As a defender, Turner is far from a slouch. He was one of the anchors on a Texas team that ranked in the top-20 in the nation on defense, and he is a fearsome shot blocker and also an excellent help defender. While Turner still needs to bulk up, a common requirement for college bigs transitioning to the NBA, his excellent 9’1.5″ reach should make him a tough defender once he figures out the professional game.

The seven-footer does have a leg up on a number of college forwards, in that Turner does have a clearly defined NBA position. Far too many college bigs transition to the league without a set position, and those players usually don’t turn out to be much better than complementary rotation players for their careers. Turner is a prototypical stretch four as far as his skills go, and with the increasing demand for big men who can stretch the floor in the NBA, he shouldn’t be lacking for work anytime soon.

Turner is easily one of the more polarizing talents in this year’s NBA draft. He has top five pick potential, but his athletic limitations and injury concerns will likely cause him to drop to the bottom of the lottery, or out of it altogether. His pre-draft physicals will be paramount to his case to be a top 10 pick. If teams are too wary of his potential knee and hip issues, then Turner will slide down the draft board and some team picking in the late teens could land themselves a steal. Turner has the potential to provide similar production to that of LaMarcus Aldridge and Chris Bosh, though it will likely take him multiple seasons to even begin to approach those players’ levels. In a draft loaded with talented big men, Turner carries with him one of the higher risk versus reward ratios. But he’s absolutely worth taking a chance on for a team picking in the teens, though I wouldn’t risk a top 10 pick on him considering the depth in this year’s draft at Turner’s position.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Prospect Profile: D’Angelo Russell

April 3rd, 2015 at 5:30pm CST by Eddie Scarito

While he entered the school year not as highly touted as some of the other members of the 2014/15 freshman class, D’Angelo Russell emerged as one of the top players in college basketball. The sky would appear to be the limit for the young player, who has shot up draft boards as quickly as anyone this season. Russell played shooting guard in college, but many pro scouts are projecting him as a point guard in the NBA, which has definitely helped increase Russell’s overall draft stock. He is currently ranked as the No. 4 prospect by both ESPN.com and DraftExpress.com, No. 3 by NBA Draft.net, and No.2 by CBSSports.com. In 35 games this season Russell averaged 19.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.6 steals in 33.9 minutes per outing.

The 6’5″ guard was named to the AP All-America team. He also made first team All-Big Ten, and was the Big Ten’s Freshman of the Year as well. Russell led his Ohio State squad to the round of 32 in the NCAA tournament, but the Buckeyes lost to No. 2 seed Arizona. He was stifled on the offensive end of the court by Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, whose aggressive defense helped hold Russell to a 3-for-19 shooting night, including going just 1-for-7 from beyond the arc.

Russell is not a super athletic player, instead relying more on skill, feeling, and instincts, writes Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress.com. His great size for a guard, and his shooting ability, give Russell an intriguing versatility since he can be paired alongside many different styles of guards and wings, Givony opines. This should allow the team that drafts him to use Russell to exploit mismatches and for his coaches to get creative with their lineups.

Chad Ford of ESPN.com (Insider subscription required) broke down his thoughts on Russell’s offensive game, saying, “There are a number of things that Russell has done well. He has proved to be a terrific, efficient scorer despite the fact that defenses in the Big Ten keyed in on him every night as Ohio State’s only real weapon on offense. Russell took 45% of his shots from 3-point range and hit a terrific 41% . His 2-point jumpers are a little low at 40%, but his field goal percentage at the rim jumps back up to 65%. In short, he can score from anywhere on the floor.”

“There’s so much to love about his game,” an NBA GM told Ford about Russell. “Even when he has a bad game, it looks like a good one because every time the ball leaves his lands, it looks like it’s going in. He plays with such great confidence and has a terrific feel. I think he could be a James Harden-type player at the next level. That’s what kind of scorer and playmaker he could be.”

Like the majority of young players, Russell has a number of things he needs to work on in order to transition to a successful professional career. Offensively he needs to learn to attack the basket more instead of settling for long range shots. Russell also needs to improve upon his finishing ability close to the rim, and he also could stand to get to the free throw line more often. His lack of elite speed and athleticism will make this a bit of a challenge in the NBA, but Russell’s basketball IQ should help him overcome this deficiency. As a ball-handler Russell also needs to learn to be more careful, as his turnover rate of 2.9 per game is a touch high. The 6’5″ playmaker is also an effective rebounder, though he’ll need to bulk up if he wants to be a factor on the boards in the NBA.

The guard is a capable defender, though he’ll struggle at first with the bigger, faster players in the NBA. Russell doesn’t have great lateral quickness, which he’ll have to compensate for with his smarts. One big knock on Russell is that he does tend to be a touch passive on the defensive end, and the player has been known to coast and take a number of possessions off, Givony notes.

Russell’s limitations make him a player who is unlikely to be able to carry an NBA team on the offensive end his rookie season, which could place the guard in a difficult situation. He will need talent around him to best utilize his complementary skills, which isn’t something that lottery teams generally possess an abundance of. Russell isn’t a player who will be capable of turning around a franchise on his own, but he is a fantastic prospect who should continue to improve as he matures. A number of scouts have compared Russell’s upside to that of Harden and Manu Ginobili, both of whom are crafty, intelligent scorers who get by quite well in the NBA without being freakishly athletic. If Russell approaches the production level of either of those players, the team that drafts him will likely be overjoyed.

While Russell may not end up being the first guard selected in June’s draft, he’s a lock to be taken amongst the top five picks. His main competition is Emmanuel Mudiay, who is ranked No. 3 overall by both Givony and Ford. Mudiay is almost sure to blow away scouts with his athleticism once individual pre-draft workouts begin, something Russell won’t necessarily do. Russell isn’t as flashy a player, and his NBA upside may not be quite as high as Mudiay’s thanks to their physical differences. But Russell is most certainly a noteworthy talent who should improve any franchise that selects him.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Prospect Profile Series

June 26th, 2014 at 11:48am CST by Chuck Myron

For the last few months, Hoops Rumors has been profiling the top prospects in this year’s draft. With the Cavs on the clock in just a matter of hours, there’s no better time to get caught up on all of the big players in this year’s class.

This year’s Prospect Profile series examined most of the projected lottery selections and several projected sleepers in the 2014 draft and also featured interviews with several of this year’s most intriguing players, including Duke’s Rodney Hood and Tennessee forward Jarnell Stokes. The players we’ve profiled can be found below, sorted by their ranking on the DraftExpress list of top 100 prospects for 2014.

Andrew Wiggins, Kansas (SF)
Joel Embiid, Kansas (C)
Jabari Parker, Duke (SF)
Julius Randle, Kentucky (PF)
Dante Exum, Australia (PG)
Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State (PG)
Noah Vonleh, Indiana (PF)
Aaron Gordon, Arizona (PF)
Doug McDermott, Creighton (SF/PF)
Tyler Ennis, Syracuse (PG)
Gary Harris, Michigan State (SG)
Nik Stauskas, Michigan (SG)
James Young, Kentucky (SG)
T.J. Warren, North Carolina State (SF/PF)
Kyle Anderson, UCLA (PG)
Jerami Grant, Syracuse (SF/PF)
K.J. McDaniels, Clemson (SF)
Rodney Hood, Duke (SF) (Q&A with Rodney Hood*)
Zach LaVine, UCLA (SG)
Shabazz Napier, Connecticut (PG)
Mitch McGary, Michigan (C)
Cleanthony Early, Wichita State (SF/PF)
Jarnell Stokes, Tennessee (PF)*
Josh Huestis, Stanford (SF)*
Joe Harris, Virginia (SF/SG)*
Jordan McRae, Tennessee (SG)*
James Michael McAdoo, UNC (PF)*
Sean Kilpatrick, Cincinnati (SG)*
Justin Jackson, Cincinnati (F)*
Leslie McDonald, UNC (G)*

*Includes player interview

Prospect Profile: James Michael McAdoo

June 26th, 2014 at 9:00am CST by Zachary Links

James Michael McAdoo has been on the radar of NBA teams for a long time now and tonight they’ll finally have their chance to grab him. The UNC forward, thanks to his athleticism and 7’1″ wingspan, has scouts from around the league intrigued.

McAdoo has displayed very impressive north-south speed as well as lateral movement. With great quickness for his build, the 21-year-old is able to guard players of all shapes and sizes.

“It’s my wingspan coupled with my foot speed that allows me to guard the smaller guys as well. I know how to move my feet to stay in front of my man and that’s something other guys at my position just can’t do. At power forward there are a lot of screens on the ball and switches and I’ll get paired off with smaller guards. That’s just something you have to be able to handle,” McAdoo told Hoops Rumors.

McAdoo’s aforementioned wingspan also allows him to disrupt passing lanes and challenge adept ball handlers. The combo of arm length and speed also allows him to beat opponents to the punch easily in transition. His post game hasn’t always been on the same level but this season he took some noticeable strides forward.

“I think the biggest thing going into this last year and my workouts is just doing what I’m comfortable with doing. I think when I first got to UNC I did a lot of things that weren’t in my comfort zone, and that includes working with my trainer on how to post up in the block,” McAdoo explained. “Now, especially after this last season, I feel like when I’m in the post I can get the shot opportunity that I want to, no matter what I’m being given by the defender.”

In addition to improving his post game, McAdoo has been working hard to be a more consistent jump shooter. McAdoo can be a contributor on both sides of the floor, but he’ll need a reliable mid-range shot to really round out his offensive profile. He’s also working to create his own scoring opportunities off the dribble.

The UNC product’s free throw shooting has left something to be desired and that’s another issue he’ll have to work on at the next level. This past season, McAdoo shot 53.7% from the charity stripe, the lowest mark of his three collegiate seasons. The power forward knows that it’s simply a matter of quieting his mind when it’s his turn at the line.

“I think the biggest thing is my mental approach. I’ve made couple of minor adjustments with my trainer and I’m trying to make my shot more consistent from the stripe. Still, I think the biggest thing is getting comfortable and confident at the line. It’s really not a problem for me anymore. All I do now is play basketball and I’m in the gym every day working on it. The difference has been drastic,” said McAdoo.

McAdoo could have been a lottery pick if he jumped into the draft after his freshman season and a first-round pick still if he declared himself eligible after his sophomore campaign, but he has no regrets about his extended stay in Chapel Hill. By staying through his junior year, McAdoo was able to put himself within arm’s length of earning his history degree (he says he will return to finish his coursework) and spend a little extra time with now-wife Lauren Adkins, a volleyball standout at UNC.

The mock drafts have McAdoo pegged as a late second-round pick, but he’s never been one to pay attention to those projections. After working out for a baker’s dozen of NBA teams, McAdoo is ready to sit back and watch everything unfold from the couch tonight along with his family.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Prospect Profile: Leslie McDonald

June 23rd, 2014 at 8:17pm CST by Zachary Links

In a draft full of 19-year-old athletes with high upside but little in the way of experience against high quality competition, teams more or less know what they could be getting out of UNC’s Leslie McDonald. The shooting guard doesn’t have the name value of teammate James McAdoo and others, but he knows that he still has a lot to offer for any NBA team’s bench.

“I’m a hard-worker, i can bring experience to the table,” McDonald told Hoops Rumors earlier today. “I know the game very well. I’m a great shooter, I can bring an outside presence to a team that needs it, and when I get open I’m going to nail that set shot.”

With plenty of skill but less hype than others, McDonald knows that he’ll have to rely on that tireless work ethic to vault himself to the NBA level. The guard had just one private team workout this summer when the Hornets called him in as a last-minute substitute for Virginia’s Joe Harris and others. McDonald may have been a late fill-in for Charlotte, but he was able to come in on short notice and hold his own against Washington’s C.J. Wilcox and Florida’s Casey Prather in scrimmages.

As the shooting guard explained himself, his shooting range is one of his best qualities and will likely be his calling card going forward as he attempts to endear himself to an NBA team. Aside from that, McDonald offers a sharp basketball IQ and he believes that he has a stronger understanding of the game than many of the guards in this year’s draft class.

“I’ve been in different situations where I know what to do at certain times, as far as shot selection and pass selection and just doing things at the right time. Knowing the right time to shoot the ball and when to take a different course of action is such an important thing in this game,” McDonald said.

McDonald was given an opportunity to contribute as an underclassman for UNC when he came on campus but, unfortunately, he suffered a torn ACL that wound up costing him his entire junior season. Before his injury in the summer of 2011, the guard averaged 38.1% from downtown and was proving himself to be an important piece for the Tar Heels. When he came back on the court for his redshirt junior season in 2012/13, McDonald admits that he wasn’t quite the same player, though he still managed to bring the shooting when it counted. McDonald never flexed that same kind of efficiency from downtown in the remaining two seasons of his collegiate career, but he attributes that partially to rust and partially to changing his style of play.

“When I got hurt my shooting wasn’t quite the same but it’s definitely coming back to me. I’m regaining it and I think I nailed some really big shots towards the end of my senior season,” the guard explained. “My first two years, I was more of a spot-up shooter. I was known more for that than all the things I can do so well now like driving to the basket and knocking down mid-range shots. There was just less of a focus on three-point shooting for me.”

One of the main knocks on McDonald is his size. At 6’4″, the UNC product matched up just fine at the collegiate level but would be a bit smaller than most two guards in the NBA. However, McDonald isn’t the least bit concerned about going up against bigger opponents.

“For me, its all about production and I feel like on the defensive side I’m not a liability. I’m comfortable sticking a bigger guard or a smaller guard and on offense I just feel like I can shoot the ball against anybody. My release is quick and when guys are taller than me, I know how to create space or drive the lane or dish out to different people. No matter who is on me, there’s no reason why I can’t get my shot off or create an opportunity for someone else,” the 23-year-old explained.

It’s not guaranteed that McDonald will hear his name called on Thursday night, but if he doesn’t, his representatives at Tandem Sports will find plenty of opportunities for him to showcase his stuff for clubs this offseason. With four years of big-game experience under Hall of Fame coach Roy Williams, one imagines that plenty of teams will be interested in seeing what McDonald has to offer.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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