Post by jhb on May 17, 2021 14:07:47 GMT -5
Kyle Anderson
SF
6'9"
230
21
UCLA
One of the most unique prospects that we've seen so far in TMBSL, scouts are split in their assessments of him so far. The biggest knocks on him come from him being old for a sophomore coming out of college and his lack of elite athleticism, earning the nickname "Slo Mo" in college. His first step and lateral quickness aren't great and while he operated as a point guard offensively for the Bruins most of the time, he certainly doesn't have the ability to defend TMBSL point guards with their quickness on the perimeter. He's also tall and skinny and lacks strength. However, the scouts that are high on him point to him being very advanced in terms of his technical abilities and think he's one of the higher floor players in this class, even if he doesn't have the upside some of his more athletic peers do.
Finding a way for Anderson to fit on defense is going to be the biggest issue. He is tall and long but he lacks strength and speed so there's the potential that he'll be bullied in the paint and he might be burned on the wing. The good news is that he has good footwork and has shown the ability to be a bit crafty as a defender in college, where he averaged almost two steals and a block per game...so he may be able to find a way to stick. Most likely, he ends up a small forward and with some further body development, he uses his length and good footwork to try and keep guys in front of him and uses those quick hands to gamble for some opportunities to make up for the guys who may be able to beat him with their athleticism. This is a big question mark, but he may have more ability here than his athleticism indicates and I think many scouts are bullish on how it will turn out because of his instincts and mental toughness. He also has shown dedication to helping on the boards and despite his lack of quickness and strength, hasn't been afraid to mix it up and go clean the glass. He wasn't a great offensive rebounder but did do a tremendous job on the defensive glass and would be an asset on the wings in that regard.
Offensively, Anderson is exactly the type of guy who can fit in any system and make his teammates better. He was essentially UCLA's point guard and projects as a point forward at the next level. He's got a solid shooting stroke and the ability to step back and hit from range. He got into the lane and finished through contact despite still needing to add strength and got to the free throw fairly regularly, where he showed the ability to hit at a pretty high level, making almost 75% of his free throws. He's got a very good handle and keeps the ball low and never forces his way into trouble. He always makes the extra pass and has great court vision and awareness. Despite his athleticism, he actually did a pretty good job leading the break and finding people in transition. He has excellent shot selection and only takes high quality looks. He's got a solid low-post game and can play with his back to the basket. He's got the ability to finish those opportunities with several moves and when doubled is adept at passing out to the open man or finding the guy who is open streaking to the basket.
Anderson isn't going to wow anyone with his athletic gifts, but he's the type of player who will maximize every bit of natural ability he's got. He's a winning player and a very high floor guy who should be able to play a role immediately at the next level.