Prospect Profile

Prospect Profile: Jordan McRae

June 2nd, 2014 at 9:08pm CST by Zachary Links

Last season, the Tennessee Volunteers found their way to the Sweet Sixteen thanks in part to the leadership of senior guard Jordan McRae. McRae is something of a jack-of-all-trades player and, as a result, finds himself quite booked up on the workout circuit. As McRae told Hoops Rumors earlier today, he has already auditioned for the Heat, Bulls, Pistons, and 76ers with workouts for nine other clubs ahead of him.

The Chicago workout called for him to play 2-on-2 and 3-on-3 in different combinations against the likes of C.J. Fair, Rodney Hood, and Devyn Marble. After a strong showing, McRae got yet another reaffirmation of his abilities and he’s feeling confident as the draft approaches.

With a 7-foot wingspan at 6’5″, McRae was born to be a boxer or a stout perimeter defender. Fortunately for hoops fans, and for cruiserweights, he went with the latter. Over the last couple of years, McRae has learned to use his size to his advantage, disrupting passing lanes on defense and easily scoring over airborne opponents on the other end.

“With my long arms, I don’t really have to press up close on the man I’m guarding, I can give him some space and still hold him off,” McRae told HoopsRumors. “I’m always able to recover thanks to my length, so that’s a major luxury that I have.”

McRae was the Volunteers’ leading scorer last season, putting up 18.7 PPG, a few ahead of first-round prospect Jarnell Stokes. The senior is quick to point out that he got it done with a varied attack. Slashing to the rim is his strong suit, but he also did well with his jumper, save for a March slump that watered down the averages.

McRae was asked to call his own number early and often at UT but when he dished the ball, particularly last season, he showed strong instincts and solid court vision. That’s something he attributes to his junior year experience of playing out of position at point guard against tough SEC competition. After a year of running his college team’s offense, he was able to use that experience to make himself an even more well-rounded two guard. In fact, if he’s asked to cover some minutes as a third point guard for an NBA team, he’s confident that he can rise to the challenge.

“I definitely think that I can [play point guard]. I’m going to keep working hard on the one guard skills like ball-handling and passing while also watching film, but I definitely think that I can do it,” McRae said.

The guard will be spending a lot of time in the film room, but you can expect him to put in equal hours in the weight room and cafeteria. The 6’5″ guard currently weighs in at a wiry 179 pounds and he says that he intends on putting on 15-20 pounds between now and the start of the season. While his slender frame has allowed him to be aerodynamic in going up and down the floor, McRae knows that he’ll have to tack on mass in order to drive to the basket against 260 pound centers and withstand an 82-game season.

Even in his current svelte state, McRae has collided with first-round hopefuls at workouts and still managed to come out looking sharp. McRae figures to get his name called in the early-to-middle portion of the second round and plans on making an instant impact for the club that drafts him.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Prospect Profile: Sean Kilpatrick

May 20th, 2014 at 2:46pm CST by Zachary Links

On an individual level, Cincinnati’s Sean Kilpatrick left school on a high note and gave teams a strong reminder of what he can do at the NBA level. The guard put up 20.6 points per contest and was a workhorse for the Bearcats, playing 33.6 minutes per game. More importantly, he was able to do it all more efficiently than in his junior campaign. Kilpatrick’s percentages suffered in 2013 as he was asked to shoot more than ever at 14.4 attempts per game, but he turned things around while taking 14.9 shots per contest last season.

What Kilpatrick does better than most is score and his jump shot should put him in the mix for the mid-to-late second round. However, he wants to make teams aware of what he can do on the other side of the floor.

“They talk about me as a guy that can score in bunches because that’s the main thing that has been displayed for the last couple of years,” Kilpatrick told Hoops Rumors. “But, I’m a pretty good defender as well and that’s something I want to keep showing teams. It’s not just about scoring. If you can be a lock-down defender that will help you in the long run and that’s something I want to focus on.”

A fall writeup on Kilpatrick from Josh Riddell of DraftExpress expressed concern about Kilpatrick’s size, and it’s safe to assume that it’s a concern for teams as well. At 6’4″, the Cincinnati product is a two-guard with typical one-guard dimensions, but he’s not the least bit worried about that.

“It’s not a problem. If you can score with the basketball it shouldn’t matter how tall you are,” the 24-year-old said. “You got guys that are like 6’7″ out there playing the two, but a guy like Wesley Matthews on the Blazers, he’s a two but he can also shoot the ball and he’s a lot smaller than most. He can defend and shoot the ball when he gets open. You can’t base anything on height. If you can score, you can score.”

Because he was asked to lead the scoring charge every night for Cincinnati, Kilpatrick’s field goal percentage suffered a drop in his junior season. However, things leveled off this past season and Kilpatrick credits coach Mick Cronin for helping him improve his shot selection. That’ll be an extremely important asset for Kilpatrick as he makes the transition to the pros. In a draft that’s short on shooters in the first round, there’s a strong chance a team drafts Kilpatrick in the second round thanks to his ability to fire from long distance.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Prospect Profile: K.J. McDaniels

May 11th, 2014 at 9:50am CST by Eddie Scarito

The expectations for K.J. McDaniels were modest entering his junior season after averaging 10.9 PPG for Clemson in the 2012/13 season. But in 36 games this year McDaniels averaged 17.1 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.1 SPG, and 2.8 BPG in 33.7 minutes per game. His slash line was .459/.304/.842. For his career, McDaniels’ numbers were 11.0 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 0.9 APG, 0.9 SPG, and 1.9 BPG in 24.3 minutes per contest. His career shooting numbers were .450/.313/.767.

McDaniels is one of the more versatile players in this year’s draft class, but his decision to enter the draft still comes as somewhat of a surprise to some. With the sheer amount of top-tier talent in this year’s draft, especially at the wing position, McDaniels might have had a better chance at becoming a lottery selection next year. It’s difficult to imagine him cracking the top 14 this year, but a team using a late first-round pick might luck into a high-value player who doesn’t project to be a star, but should be able to contribute right away. Current mock drafts project McDaniels as a late first-round pick. Draft Express has him slotted 20th, Bleacher Report has him 22nd, CBSSports.com places him 24th, and NBA Draft.net sees him being taken 35th overall. Chad Ford of ESPN.com ranks McDaniels 22nd on his Big Board.

Aaron Brenner of The Post and Courier notes that Clemson head coach Brad Brownell didn’t put any pressure on McDaniels to stay in school, and the coach appreciated everything that McDaniels did for the program. The article quoted Brownell as saying, “At the end of the day, it’s his decision, his family’s decision. He’s the one who has to live with it. We just want him to hopefully be prepared that whatever decision he makes that he’s successful thereafter. He’s given an unbelievable amount to our school and our program over the last three years and I’m really proud of the way he’s handled everything this year. Not just playing on the court, but being a new leader, being a marked man, being an All-ACC guy, handling all the outside distractions and extra people trying to get a hold of him.”

McDaniels ultimately decided that it wasn’t worth the risk of incurring an injury to return to Clemson for his senior year. Of his decision, McDaniels said, “I’m thankful for the opportunity these past three seasons to grow as a player and person at Clemson. None of this would have been possible without the guidance and support of my coaches, teammates and family. This was not an easy decision, but I am excited to take the next step toward fulfilling my lifelong dream of playing in the NBA.”

McDaniels has every tool needed to be an impact starter at the next level, but his offensive game could hold him back. Offensively, he isn’t the most polished player, but his superior athleticism gives him a high upside. He’s extremely dangerous in transition and is a powerful finisher at the rim. McDaniels isn’t a good three-point shooter, connecting on only 30% of his attempts this season. Having an erratic jump shot could severely hamper his offensive production, especially in a more half-court dominated game.

He’s a decent ball-handler, but not strong enough to be a team’s leading play-maker. Avoiding turnovers and improving his off-the-dribble skills will be one of the keys to improving his offensive game in the NBA. His 2.3 turnovers per game against 1.6 assists attests to this deficiency. McDaniels is not a great passer, but he is willing to share the ball. He didn’t play with a wealth of talent around him at Clemson, so it’s difficult to judge him completely on this aspect of the game.

The part of McDaniels’ game that is NBA ready is his defense. McDaniels was named to both the first-team All-ACC and first-team ACC All-Defense squads. He also received the 2014 ACC Defensive Player of the Year award. McDaniels ranked first in the ACC in blocks (100), Defensive Wins Shares (3.1), and second in defensive rating (90.8). For his size he is also a excellent rebounder, which should translate to the next level and improve his positional value.

The 6’6″ small forward is a better shot-blocker than a vast majority of the big men that you’ll find in college basketball. McDaniels’ combination of speed, fundamentals, and athleticism will allow him to defend multiple positions at possibly an elite level in the NBA. His long arms and leaping ability will also allow him to be an effective interior defender. McDaniels’ abilities in this area have some scouts comparing him to Kawhi Leonard, who was also a high value pick late in the first-round.

As a player, I’m very high on McDaniels, and any team snagging him with a pick in the latter part of the first round will receive a high-value, high-energy player who is ready to step in and contribute to a rotation right away. He can play and defend multiple positions, has a high basketball IQ and a very good motor. I don’t see him becoming a superstar player, but if he can improve his offensive game, McDaniels will have a bright future in the pros. Out of the players projected to go late in the first round he will have the greatest opportunity to outperform his draft slot.

Prospect Profile: Zach LaVine

May 10th, 2014 at 8:13pm CST by Eddie Scarito

UCLA’s Zach LaVine wasn’t among the top 100 prospects entering his freshman season, but he has worked his way up the draft board projections based on his athleticism and upside. This led LaVine to declare for the 2014 NBA Draft despite not being a starter this year. It was most likely a difficult decision for the 6’5″ shooting guard, but ultimately it came down to his future. LaVine disappeared at times on the Bruins bench and was not guaranteed a more prominent role in his sophomore season. LaVine’s father, in an interview with Jack Wang of the Los Angeles Daily News, likened the decision to a breakup: “It’s like a marriage. If it doesn’t work out, you get a divorce. I don’t blame anybody.”

LaVine’s season was primarily defined by his inconsistency. His 18-point, eight-rebound, three-assist outburst against Oregon in late February displayed what he is capable of contributing, but he also had games like the Bruins season-ending loss to the Gators where he logged just five points and two rebounds. That illustrates the maddening inconsistency of LaVine, but his ceiling might make it difficult for teams looking for value in this year’s draft to ignore him. The potential reward with him is very high, but that doesn’t make him a sure thing at the next level.

In 37 games played, LaVine averaged 9.4 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 1.8 APG, and 0.9 SPG in 24.4 minutes per game. His slash line was .441/.375/.691. These aren’t numbers usually linked to prospective first round draft choices, but with LaVine, all the talk revolves around his athleticism and potential. “Athleticism, size, scoring ability and [being] a combo guard” is what one NBA scout told Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv when explaining why LaVine’s name has been so hot in draft circles.

Up to this point, all LaVine has demonstrated is the ability to catch, shoot and dunk. He hasn’t displayed much in the way of advanced offensive skills yet. That isn’t necessarily his fault, since Coach Steve Alford didn’t run many pick-and-rolls or isolation plays LaVine’s way. According to Kenpom’s advanced stats (subscription required), the percentage of possessions LaVine was used in was just 19.3 percent. Seeing how infrequently he was asked to create, it would be unrealistic to expect that LaVine would be ready to significantly contribute to an NBA rotation in his first season.

NBA teams love players who can shoot, and based on LaVine’s numbers, along with his high-flying athleticism, that’s what he looks to be able to provide. But despite having elite quickness and athleticism, LaVine only averaged 1.6 free-throw attempts per game and rarely took the ball to the basket in half court sets. This is a required skill to be an effective scorer in the NBA. With his physical tools it is a part of the game that LaVine should be able to improve on with hard work and adding weight to his 180-pound frame.

The biggest bonus to his game might be his ball-handling ability. LaVine didn’t get many opportunities at UCLA to demonstrate his skill, but when he had the chance, he showed an excellent ability off the dribble. This gives him the label of a combo-guard, but not in the way used to describe a scorer too small to play the 2. If LaVine can show he can handle the ball like a point guard, this would make him a very tough defensive assignment in the NBA.

The player that many scouts compare LaVine to is former Bruin Russell Westbrook. His combination of size, speed, athleticism, and ability to play both guard positions is what draws those references. Westbrook was far from a finished product when he left UCLA, but was further along in his game than LaVine, who could have benefited greatly from a second collegiate season like Westbrook did.

Outside of his offensive inexperience, LaVine is extremely raw defensively as well. UCLA ran a lot of defensive zone schemes that aren’t utilized in the pro game, and observers have noted that LaVine appeared lost when the Bruins would switch to man-to-man defense. Sam Vecenie of Orlando Pinstriped Post wrote, “He [LaVine] just legitimately has no idea where to be and when to help in a man scheme.”

LaVine does have the physical potential to become an effective perimeter defender, with his quickness, athleticism, and long arms. But having the potential and realizing it can be two very different things. Even if LaVine is able to make strides, I believe he’s at least a couple of seasons away from being an adequate NBA level defender and he’ll require some serious time in the D-League to make those improvements.

Whichever team selects LaVine will need to be patient, which is not always something that lottery teams or those picking in the middle of the first-round can afford to be. In current mock drafts he is slotted as a mid-to-late first round choice. NBA Draft.net and CBSSports.com have LaVine going 17th, Bleacher Report places him 24th, and Draft Express has him going 29th. Chad Ford of ESPN.com ranks LaVine 14th on his Big Board.

I’m a fan of a team taking LaVine in the mid-20s where he could potentially turn into a steal down the line. He has tremendous upside and potential, but he needs a lot of development time. LaVine also needs to add at least 15-20 pounds to his frame to be able to physically compete in the league. With another season at UCLA I could see him entering the discussion as a late lottery pick. Instead, he’s going to have to learn on the job, which will lower his immediate impact and value as a pick. I’m high on LaVine’s athleticism and upside, but he’ll need whatever team that drafts him to show patience in letting him develop as a player.

Q&A With NBA Draft Prospect Rodney Hood

May 7th, 2014 at 2:01pm CST by Zachary Links

Duke’s 2013/14 season ended with a shocking first round upset to Mercer, but on an individual level it was an all-around success for standout Rodney Hood. The 6’8″ small forward impressed with his offensive game throughout the year and averaged 16.1 PPG, 3.9 RPG, and 2.1 APG in 32.9 minutes per contest. Hood, widely regarded as one of the best at his position in the 2014 draft, took some time out of his busy schedule earlier this week to chat with Hoops Rumors about his journey thus far, his skill set, and when he believes he’ll hear his name called on June 26th.

What can you bring to an NBA team?

“I just think I’m ready to play right away. I’m a versatile player, I can guard most positions, I can handle the ball, and I’ve gotten better this season. I’m not the same player I was the year before. I’m ready to contribute to a team.”

It seems like your draft stock skyrocketed over the course of the year. Did your sizable leap surprise you at all?

“No, not really. I always had the vision in mind to be a top-10 pick and that’s something I always worked towards in my year off [due to transferring from Mississippi State] and this year. I think the difference was me just getting better and gaining confidence in my abilities. That’s the biggest jump I’ve had, and I still think I can go up even more.”

Do you view yourself as the best shooter in this draft?

“I feel like I am and I feel like I’m different than everybody else in the draft in terms of being able to shoot the ball and being one of the most athletic guys out there. I think that sets me apart, plus I’m taller than most guys at my position.”

What are the main parts of your game that you want to work on?

“I just want to get stronger and I’m down here at IMG working on all parts of my game. I’m getting better with my shot and doing stuff off the dribble.”

Are you working out individually or with other draft prospects?

“There are others here [at IMG] but I’m training by myself, mainly working out with [coaches] Dan Barto and Kenny Natt.”

How do you respond to concerns over your defense?

“I think it’s way overblown. Obviously, I need to make some improvement, but every game I was guarding the best player, whether they play the 2 or the 3. I won Duke’s Defensive Player of the Year award this year, [coach Mike Krzyzewski] always put me on the best player, so I think Coach K knows what I’m doing out there. I’m not saying I’m the best player on D but I don’t think that’s a big weakness or anything to worry about.”

Do you have an read on where you might get drafted?

“I’m not sure yet. Based on what some people have said and what a couple of teams have told me, I can go from pick No. 6-12 or anywhere in the top 15. That’s what I’ve been hearing. Not from any mock drafts or anything, but just from people I talk to.”

Did you have any hesitation over entering the draft early?

“It was always a goal of mine just to play one year at Duke and then leave for the NBA. It was hard leaving Duke because it’s such a great place to be and being with Coach K was great. I wish I had another year to be under his leadership, but I just felt like it was my time to go. Being at Duke prepared me for this transition.”

The first round loss to Mercer was obviously heartbreaking, but did you feel like you learned from that experience?

“I definitely learned from it. It was tough just being in that situation but I’m a pro now. It’s … it’s just hard to leave on that note but I talked to Coach K and he told me not to base my decision off of one game. I had a really good season and it was just one bad game out of 30-something. I’ll always remember that game though.”

From an emotional standpoint, in the immediate aftermath of that game, did you think about changing course and staying for one more year?

“I think in every kid’s mind, as soon as you get off of a loss, you get emotional and you say you want to come back. But, at the end of day, I had to do what was best for me. For all you know, the same thing could happen next year, so I couldn’t come back for that reason or because I thought I owed something. It was about being ready [for the NBA] and I’m ready to go chase my dream.”

Who did you talk with before making the decision to enter the draft?

“Pretty much everybody. I spoke with my family; I had a lot of conversations with Coach K and Wojo (former Duke Associate Head Coach Steve Wojciechowski). Even though he got the head coaching job at Marquette, I was in constant contact with him. I also talked with Mason Plumlee and a lot of different people, but, mainly, Coach K and my family, and I was praying that I made the right decision.”

If you had to give a scouting report on Jabari Parker for an NBA team, what would you tell them?

“I’d just say he’s a great kid who works hard all the time and is just a great guy to be around. Obviously you can see his talent and that’s the most important thing you see from him, that he just loves the game of basketball.”

What made you choose Travis King and the folks at Relativity to represent you?

“After talking with Travis and Dan Fegan, I felt like it was the best decision for me. They really know my game and they really believe in me as a player. I didn’t want to be just another player, I wanted to be one of the top guys represented by my agent, and I felt like they were the right team for me.”

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Prospect Profile: Jarnell Stokes

May 2nd, 2014 at 11:00pm CST by Zachary Links

There are plenty of talented big men in this year’s draft, but few can haul in rebounds like Tennessee’s Jarnell Stokes. The 6’9″ forward is coming off of a season in which he averaged 13.7 RPG per 40 minutes and an eye-popping 6.0 offensive boards per 40 minutes. The takeaway from most observers is that Stokes is able to clean the glass thanks to his phenomenal strength. While his ability to push people around definitely helps, the forward says that doesn’t tell the whole story.

“Really, it was one thing that happened to me my sophomore year. I didn’t know that people take stats of how many rebounds you don’t go for. So, my mission my junior year was to go for every rebound and once I started doing that, I got better and hungrier. I have a knack for the ball but I also have somewhat of a defensive end type of skill set at making moves to get rebounds,” Stokes told Hoops Rumors.

Stokes, projected to be a late-first round pick by ESPN’s Chad Ford (Insider sub. req’d), put up averages of 15.1 PPG and 10.6 RPG off of 53.1% shooting from the field in 2013/14, helping to lead the Volunteers to the Sweet Sixteen. The forward humbly believes that both his numbers and his play should place him higher in the draft and he’s intent on making that a reality through workouts.

“I think my rebounding numbers set me apart and my numbers period this year set me apart. If you look at my numbers and a lot of guys who are considered lottery types, my numbers are right there, if not better,” Stokes said. “I think in college I was somewhat hurt by having to dominate the paint, so sometimes people don’t exactly understand that I was just doing what my coach instructed me to do.”

For the good of the team, coach Cuonzo Martin positioned Stokes in the post on offense and watched him overpower weaker opponents for easy baskets. Some have criticized Stokes’ lack of a mid-range game, but the 20-year-old says his jumper is just fine. The reason why he hasn’t knocked down many mid-range shots isn’t a matter of ability, but rather a matter of opportunity.

“I definitely feel like I’ve got a solid mid-range game. In fact, if you watch my high school highlights, you’ll see that I was projected to be a small forward. Ultimately, my coaches started putting me at the five and that’s kind of where I focused my game. I don’t mind playing like an undersized center again, but I look at guys like David West and Carlos Boozer and I feel like I can do most of the things that they’re doing,” explained Stokes.

There’s no doubt that his aforementioned strength coupled with his 7’1″ wingspan will help make his transition to the NBA easier. While he doesn’t have a tremendous vertical leap, his reach will help him grab loose balls and help him disrupt shots on defense.

Despite his wingspan, scouts may have concern about his size and how that’ll translate to the next level. At 6’9″, critics argue that larger opponents can get the better of him in the post and quicker players will be able to get around him on the perimeter. For all of his hustle and grit, the biggest knock on Stokes is that his lateral quickness leaves a lot to be desired. As he shows off his 15-footer in workouts, he’ll also look to display his east-to-west speed for scouts.

Even though Stokes turned in a fantastic campaign, a lot of talented underclassmen in similar positions chose to stay in school for another year rather than dive into the ultra-talented 2014 pool. Stokes understands that he has a lot of hard work ahead of him, but he’s also confident that he is ready for the challenge.

“I’ve played against the elite college guys, guys like [Florida’s] Patric Young, I’ve grown up with or played against the best out there. I want to say this as humbly as possible, I can be one of the best bigs in the draft, provided that I can show that certain things can translate.

“I did what my coach needed me to do and what my team needed me to do to win, and I’m glad I did. But there’s much more to my game than what everyone has seen.”

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Prospect Profile: Justin Jackson

May 2nd, 2014 at 11:15am CST by Zachary Links

Some might ask what position Cincinnati senior Justin Jackson — a slender 6’8″ forward — would be best suited for in the NBA. Others, like Jackson himself, don’t spend too much time thinking about that.

“I don’t really give myself a size, I’m just a ballplayer,” Jackson explained to Hoops Rumors. “I can be a one up to a five. I’m just going to do whatever is asked of me, like Tony Allen. He’s 6’4″ and he’ll guard someone like Kevin Durant. It’s a big size difference but he knows how to guard him. I’m the same way. I’m 6’8″ but I can move like a guard and guard up to a five,”

The reigning AAC Defensive Player of the Year has spent four years proving to observers that he’s capable of pesky D on the inside and on the perimeter. With a 7’1″ wingspan, Jackson has long limbs that are designed for disrupting a ball handler and clogging passing lanes. He excelled in standard defensive measurements (2.9 blocks per game, 1.6 steals per game), and his play also inspired the sports information department at UC to keep track of his pass deflections per game and leaps into press row. The question he expects to get peppered with a lot between now and June is whether he can be a contributor on offense, as well.

Showing off a mid-range game will be important for Jackson, who was asked to score most of his points off of putbacks in college. Bearcats coach Mick Cronin told Sports Illustrated’s Kelli Anderson earlier this year that his message this season was, “I don’t need you to take more shots; I need you to score more points.” Cronin pushed the senior to tailor his game so it would look more like that of Bearcats alum Kenyon Martin, which led Jackson to play with more power on the offensive end. NBA prospects could do a whole lot worse than taking after the former No. 1 overall pick, but Jackson knows the jumper is still essential at the next level.

“I can hit open jumpers and I’m a great passer. I’m not going to say that I’m Durant with the basketball, but I’m the guy who when KD breaks their man down and you need an open 15 footer knocked down, I can do that. I’m a great role player,” the 23-year-old said.

Jackson was able to back that up at the Portsmouth Invitational just a few weeks ago, averaging a double-double in front of a litany of NBA scouts. His solid performance, he says, has only made him more eager for his next showcase. Jackson’s mission is to show that he’s not only well-rounded, but also mature and ready to help a team win immediately.

Because there are still folks who worry about Jackson’s size, he’s hard at work near his hometown in Florida putting on weight. The forward played this year at around 230 pounds and he hopes that when it gets closer to draft time, he’ll tip the scales at 240. Expect Jackson to get a lot of looks later in the second round, especially if he gets the opportunity to defend against different positions in workouts.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Prospect Profile: Josh Huestis

May 1st, 2014 at 8:30am CST by Zachary Links

Every year, the second round is full of project picks, but you’ll also find players who come ready to hit the ground running. Stanford’s Josh Huestis is out to show teams that after four years of facing tough competition, he has the experience necessary to make an immediate impact. Tough defense is the 22-year-old’s calling card but his mission is to show teams that he can be a factor on the other end of the floor as well.

“I’m definitely somebody who can be aggressive on the boards. I see offensive rebounding as my strong suit. I averaged 2.5 offensive rebounds per game in college,” Huestis told Hoops Rumors, referring to his numbers in his senior year. “I can shoot the ball better than people think, too, and with more opportunities, I can do more than people think. I’m working on ball handling and by the time the season rolls around I’ll be more comfortable attacking the basket.”

The 6’7″ forward believes that because he was asked to be a defensive anchor for the Cardinal throughout his time there, he didn’t get many chances to show what he can do with the basketball. Some scouting reports, including a recent writeup from Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress, have knocked Huestis’ shooting range, but he’s determined to shed that rap over the next few months. An improved shooting stroke will help inflate his stock for sure, but his value will continue to lie primarily in his defense.

“I feel like I can guard whoever anybody wants me to,” said Huestis, who has great size for the small forward position and could conceivably play the four in a smaller lineup. “I can be somebody who can guard twos and threes and fours. I think I’m a really versatile defender.”

Huestis is coming off a performance at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament where he feels that he displayed his trademark D but didn’t do as much as he wanted to offensively. Even though things didn’t go perfectly, a number of teams reached out to Huestis and showed active interest over the course of the week. Since then, he’s been refining all parts of his game at the Impact Basketball Academy in Las Vegas and going up against stiff competition. Every day, Huestis works out with and against training partners like Pittsburgh product Lamar Patterson and former All-American Mike Moser.

Draft sites are quick to offer up NBA comparisons for prospects, and when asked to come up with his own, Huestis said that his game most closely resembles that of Kawhi Leonard. Like the Spurs swingman, the Stanford standout can guard multiple positions on the floor, be a “really good glue guy,” and grab the tough rebounds. While using a second-round choice on a draft-and-stash candidate may be enticing, it’ll be hard for teams to take a pass on a player like Huestis who can help fortify a bench immediately.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Prospect Profile: Dante Exum

April 28th, 2014 at 5:05pm CST by Zachary Links

Last year, Oklahoma State’s Marcus Smart was widely viewed as the top player eligible for the 2013 draft. This time around, he’s not being seen by most as the best player at his position. By and large, Australia’s Dante Exum is being looked at as the best point guard in the 2014 draft.

At 6’6″, Exum has tremendous size for the one guard position with a frame reminiscent of Shaun Livingston. On top of that, the 18-year-old (19 in July) has a wingspan that is slightly larger at 6’9″. That size helps to make Exum a legitimate threat to score in the low post and gives him the ability to see the rim in a lot of positions that your typical point guard couldn’t. From close range, your average-sized one guard is likely to get burned. Exum can force a lot of switches, opening things up for the entire offense.

Exum also boasts a lightning-quick first step and overseas opponents have been struggling to stay in front of him at every level. He’s also a very adept ball handler who can change direction in no time, allowing him to seemingly penetrate at will. No guard in this year’s class can slash to the basket better than Exum which is why he is expected to be the first backcourt player off the board.

The Australian is more than a scorer, of course, as he’s proven himself to be a very solid floor general, both in transition and in the halfcourt set. A quick scan through YouTube shows Exum dishing crisp passes to open teammates, putting them in prime position to score. He’ll also trigger a fast break in no time, whether the rest of his squad is ready to get out and run or not. Often times, you’ll see Exum take the ball wire-to-wire and finish on the other end with nine guys left in the dust.

As we’ve established, Exum is quick, athletic, and very capable of scoring at the rim, but his shooting definitely leaves something to be desired. The book on Exum over the past few years has been that his shot is somewhat flat and doesn’t have enough of an arc to regularly find a home in the basket. He’s made strides with it as of late, but he’s no Stephen Curry. His off-the-dribble shot leaves much to be desired and he’ll have to improve that if he wants to be a true triple threat at the next level.

Exum’s shot selection has also been questionable in the past. For a so-so outside shooter, he has fallen in love with his downtown shot at times, like when he hoisted up 7.7 three-pointers per 40 minutes at the FIBA Under-19 Championships in 2013 and knocked down just 33.3%. He’s also been known to force up low-probability shots closer to the rim when he’s smothered by the defense, rather than kicking out. While these aren’t irreparable problems, they are adjustments that will have to be made.

Opinions on many of this year’s top prospects have shifted over the course of the last year, but Exum’s standing as one of the very best players in the 2014 class seems to have held up. DraftExpress has Exum ranked as the No. 5 prospect out of this group and ESPN’s Chad Ford (Insider sub. req’d) rates him as the fourth-best, but he could go in the top three depending on how the ping-pong balls fall. The Bucks (owners of the league’s worst record), Magic (third-worst), Jazz (fourth-worst), and Lakers (sixth-worst) are all reportedly high on the guard and there’s no reason why one of those teams couldn’t tap him before Andrew Wiggins, Joel Embiid, Jabari Parker, or Julius Randle.

Prospect Profile: Nik Stauskas

April 27th, 2014 at 3:29pm CST by Zachary Links

Raise your hands if you had high hopes for Michigan after they lost Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr. to the NBA over the summer and Mitch McGary to injury in the winter. That’s what I thought. Nik Stauskas‘ dramatic and surprising step forward in 2013/14 helped make it all possible for the Wolverines and this year it’ll be his turn to shake the commissioner’s hand.

Stauskas exhibited some serious range in his freshman season but when he was charged with taking on a bigger role for his team, he transformed himself into a much more well-rounded scorer. No longer just content to fire away from downtown, the sophomore showed that he could create his own shots off the dribble and cut hard to the basket. It also helps that the guard has a quick release on his shot which allows him to take advantage of the smallest glimpse of daylight. In a draft that’s heavy on talent but light on solid shooters, the 6’6″ guard should find serious interest from several clubs. Stauskas led Michigan in scoring with 17.5 points per game this past season, posting over 20 points in 14 games.

He also helped create offense for others, racking up a team-high 118 assists. That ability to dish coupled with respectable ball handling could allow him to play a little bit of point guard at the next level, which only helps to boost his stock. His instant offense helped lead the Wolverines to the Big Ten championship and an Elite Eight birth, but his play on the other side of the floor isn’t quite as impressive.

Stauskas may have a tough time staying in front of defenders at the next level due to his lack of lateral quickness. Things tend to get even trickier for him when faced with a screen and it often seems like he looks to fight through picks rather than go around them and vice versa. He also doesn’t have the kind of big, physical frame that one might need to disrupt the NBA’s stronger backcourt players. However, it should be noted that Stauskas added significant muscle mass last offseason, packing on 16 pounds between his frosh and sophomore campaigns. If he can add even more mass over time, he might be better equipped to play tough defense. One NBA scout told Brendan F. Quinn of MLive.com earlier this month that, “As (Stauskas) gets bigger and stronger, he’ll be fine.” Not everyone will agree with that assessment.

If he can’t take a significant step forward as a defender, it’s hard to see him getting very far at the next level. However, if he can find a way to make some strides early in his career, he can be a very effective role player and make a team glad that they chose him in the late lottery or middle portion of the first round.

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