Post by eric on Aug 18, 2023 10:08:00 GMT -5
Austin Reaves
SG
6'5
206
22
Wichita State
Electric scorer, Reaves is crafty in the paint and automatic from midrange. Only a good three point shooter thus far with the form to grow into a great one. Not a great passer but unselfish and knows his limitations, team offense will flow very nicely with Reaves on the court... unfortunately so will the other team's, as Reaves' lack of lateral quickness and burst will make him easy pickings for professional tier athletes. A four year player in college, Reaves is unlikely to see much more growth.
Cade Cunningham SG
6'6
220
19
Oklahoma State
Cunningham is a study in contrasts - refined midrange shooter who struggles from the NBA three point line, dynamic athlete who struggles to finish at the rim, highlight reel passer whose lowlights will leave supporters with heads in hands. Coaching staves must expect long hours for Cunningham to put it all together on offense, but luckily his dogged defense and nose for the rebound will require no such investment.
Evan Mobley PF
7'0
215
19
USC
A transformative defender with a budding offensive game, Mobley is one of the most exciting prospects in the draft. Not an elite stat stuffer but already shows extremely advanced defensive instincts in the post and even switched out on the perimeter, quick enough to stay with guards and strong enough despite a skinny frame to not get buried under the hoop. Uses his size very well to finish inside, hits enough jumpers to keep defenses honest, keeps the ball moving when neither option is available, and will even stretch out to the three point line. The only gap in his game right now is surprisingly average rebounding, but Mobley is a hard worker and that should come with time.
Scottie Barnes SF
6'9
227
19
Florida State
A classic Swiss army knife forward in the mold of another Scotty, Barnes is good (albeit not great) at just about everything. Reads the game very well on both ends, racks up assists and stocks without gambling himself into mistakes, perhaps best exploits this by sneaking in for easy putbacks when less canny players have switched off thinking the play is over. Aside from a hitch in his three point stroke, the only barrier between Barnes and stardom is Barnes himself - needs to add assertiveness.
Jonathan Kuminga SF
6'8
210
18
Huntington Prep
Kuminga has dominated the high school circuit with grown man strength and impressive elevation, but he's not just a dunker - even at his young age he showcases a good feel in the post and his solid three point percentage speaks for itself. Unsurprisingly coaches will have to deal with some frustrating fundamental lapses from such a young player, defensively as is common and a lack of focus at the free throw line as well, but when Kuminga is dialed in his length and athleticism generate a good number of transition opportunities.
Trey Murphy III SF
6'9
206
20
Virginia
The best shooter in the draft, Murphy is a truly modern player. Where once a player his size might be expected to bang in the post and grapple for rebounds, Murphy is most at home burying jump shots from all over the court. A quick trigger release and no hesitation means once he gets it nobody else on either team has a chance at the ball. Finishes well when teams sell out to chase him off the line, but it's not his main game. Needs to add some muscle, just can't compete on the boards, can get pushed around on defense too but quick enough to at least challenge in most cases.
Jericho Sims C
6'10
245
22
Texas
Fantastically strong, once Sims is in the paint it's a wrap - scores with comical efficiency, corrals every offensive rebound, can't be stripped, can't be stopped, can't be bargained, can't be reasoned with. The issue coaching will need to solve is the other 90 feet of the court, as Sims is an out-and-out ground bound plodder. Gets a decent number of defensive boards and blocks once he gets planted in the other paint so he's not entirely a one way player, but forget about switching out on the perimeter, and gives up buckets to opposing bigs with the worst defense: just plain not being there, and speaking of not being there, forget about the three point attempt, Sims struggles even to convert from the free throw line.
SG
6'5
206
22
Wichita State
Electric scorer, Reaves is crafty in the paint and automatic from midrange. Only a good three point shooter thus far with the form to grow into a great one. Not a great passer but unselfish and knows his limitations, team offense will flow very nicely with Reaves on the court... unfortunately so will the other team's, as Reaves' lack of lateral quickness and burst will make him easy pickings for professional tier athletes. A four year player in college, Reaves is unlikely to see much more growth.
Cade Cunningham SG
6'6
220
19
Oklahoma State
Cunningham is a study in contrasts - refined midrange shooter who struggles from the NBA three point line, dynamic athlete who struggles to finish at the rim, highlight reel passer whose lowlights will leave supporters with heads in hands. Coaching staves must expect long hours for Cunningham to put it all together on offense, but luckily his dogged defense and nose for the rebound will require no such investment.
Evan Mobley PF
7'0
215
19
USC
A transformative defender with a budding offensive game, Mobley is one of the most exciting prospects in the draft. Not an elite stat stuffer but already shows extremely advanced defensive instincts in the post and even switched out on the perimeter, quick enough to stay with guards and strong enough despite a skinny frame to not get buried under the hoop. Uses his size very well to finish inside, hits enough jumpers to keep defenses honest, keeps the ball moving when neither option is available, and will even stretch out to the three point line. The only gap in his game right now is surprisingly average rebounding, but Mobley is a hard worker and that should come with time.
Scottie Barnes SF
6'9
227
19
Florida State
A classic Swiss army knife forward in the mold of another Scotty, Barnes is good (albeit not great) at just about everything. Reads the game very well on both ends, racks up assists and stocks without gambling himself into mistakes, perhaps best exploits this by sneaking in for easy putbacks when less canny players have switched off thinking the play is over. Aside from a hitch in his three point stroke, the only barrier between Barnes and stardom is Barnes himself - needs to add assertiveness.
Jonathan Kuminga SF
6'8
210
18
Huntington Prep
Kuminga has dominated the high school circuit with grown man strength and impressive elevation, but he's not just a dunker - even at his young age he showcases a good feel in the post and his solid three point percentage speaks for itself. Unsurprisingly coaches will have to deal with some frustrating fundamental lapses from such a young player, defensively as is common and a lack of focus at the free throw line as well, but when Kuminga is dialed in his length and athleticism generate a good number of transition opportunities.
Trey Murphy III SF
6'9
206
20
Virginia
The best shooter in the draft, Murphy is a truly modern player. Where once a player his size might be expected to bang in the post and grapple for rebounds, Murphy is most at home burying jump shots from all over the court. A quick trigger release and no hesitation means once he gets it nobody else on either team has a chance at the ball. Finishes well when teams sell out to chase him off the line, but it's not his main game. Needs to add some muscle, just can't compete on the boards, can get pushed around on defense too but quick enough to at least challenge in most cases.
Jericho Sims C
6'10
245
22
Texas
Fantastically strong, once Sims is in the paint it's a wrap - scores with comical efficiency, corrals every offensive rebound, can't be stripped, can't be stopped, can't be bargained, can't be reasoned with. The issue coaching will need to solve is the other 90 feet of the court, as Sims is an out-and-out ground bound plodder. Gets a decent number of defensive boards and blocks once he gets planted in the other paint so he's not entirely a one way player, but forget about switching out on the perimeter, and gives up buckets to opposing bigs with the worst defense: just plain not being there, and speaking of not being there, forget about the three point attempt, Sims struggles even to convert from the free throw line.