Post by jhb on Feb 8, 2021 11:33:32 GMT -5
Mike Woodson
SG
6'5"
195
22
Indiana
In a draft class full of high IQ guys that may have careers in coaching once their playing days are over, Mike Woodson certainly fits right in. He is a polished player who has all of the fundamentals down. He knows when to make the extra pass, he knows when to push the pace and when to pull out and wait for reinforcements, he is an adept handler of the basketball, and he has a refined shot that he can hit from all over the court. He is a big guard with the strength to bully opposing wings, which helps make up for his lack of explosiveness and quick-twitch ability. He showed the ability to score at all levels in college, but as he took on more offensive load in his career and word got around on how to defend him, he got less efficient year by year. He will need to continue to work on adding some moves to his arsenal once he gets into the paint so that he isn't so predictable.
On defense, he does a good job of playing team D but benefitted from Indiana taking advantage of his length and strength to play more of a 3 assignment against bigger players in their 2-3 zone concept. He will need to improve at defending on the perimeter as he moves to the next level and settles in as more of a 2 manning up opposing guards. Scouts do think he will bother some wings with that strength and his long arms allow him to block the occasional shot, but there is some concern about his ability to be a great perimeter defender because of his lack of elite speed.
One thing that scouts wonder about is how he will rebound at the next level. After grabbing nearly 7 boards a game as a freshman, he was around 5.5 per game as a sophomore and junior before settling at 3.5 per game as a senior. Woodson certainly has the size and strength to be an elite rebounder for his position, but scouts question whether he has the want-to to do it in TMBSL.