Post by jhb on May 14, 2021 12:31:46 GMT -5
Elfrid Payton
PG
6'3"
195
20
Louisiana Lafayette
Payton is a physical specimen at PG with ideal size for the position. He's got great length and quickness and projects to be a nightmare for opposing point guards attempting to initiate offense. He was a standout in his last two years at ULL, notorious for using his quick hands to separate defenders from the ball or leap into passing lanes to start transition opportunities. He averaged about 2.5 steals per game his final two seasons of college, got a fair amount of blocked shots for a PG, and was a huge contributor for his team on the glass with right at 6 rebounds per game those final two seasons.
Offensively is wear some scouts are wary of investing in Payton. His jump shot is broken. While he has had some success with the pull-up and step-back jumper in mid-range, he's around a 60% free throw shooter and has jerky shooting mechanics that are extremely inconsistent night to night. He didn't shoot many threes in Lafayette, which is good because he only made just over a quarter of them. It's a real shame because it allows defenders to sag off of him and clog the lane, where he actually does some of his best work. He's an acrobatic finisher around the rim and he elevates really well to get over big men and get clean looks at the basket. He's strong for his size and finishes through contact, not shying away from getting to the free throw line despite his inconsistency at converting there. If he can improve his jumpshot and force defenders to respect it, he'll create even more room for himself to terrorize defenses in the paint. He's still learning the PG position, he's a willing passer but still forces things and pushes the ball into areas that are overcrowded rather than resetting and looking for a better opportunity. He dribbles high occasionally and can be a little loose with his handle, but he's shown some slight improvement in that regard throughout his college career.
While he was a three-year college player, he was a year young for his grade and scouts still hope he has room to develop his offensive skills to complement his more TMBSL-ready tools to be a great defender at the next level.