Post by jhb on Mar 12, 2021 13:13:00 GMT -5
Marvin Williams
SF
6'8"
228
19
UNC
Williams has a frame that excites scouts. A bit of a combo forward, but versatile and athletic, Williams already has a strong upper body and good lower body strength and stability but appears to have the frame to continue to get stronger. He is still quick and explosive and has a good first step. The tools are there that he could truly be a problem on the perimeter with a unique combination of strength and athleticism and as he ages and that athleticism wanes he can mature into more of a small-ball 4 who still has legit perimeter skills.
While Williams wasn't the featured option in Chapel Hill and served more as the Tar Heel's spark off the bench, he still has some fairly advanced skills for a 19 year old. Some scouts have called his shooting mechanics nearly flawless, and he showcased that to the tune of 85% from the free throw line and 43.2% from 3 in his short college career. When allowed, he showed a fairly decent handle for a player his size, but Williams (somewhat surprisingly for a top prospect right out of the AAU circuit) preferred to play within the team concept and didn't spend much time creating his own shots off the dribble. One of the reasons Williams projects more naturally as a wing player rather than a 4 is that his post game is a bit raw. His footwork is not great and he doesn't have a ton of moves to get his own look once the ball comes to him. He prefers to quickly get the ball, move into the triple threat position, assess the situation, and pass or shoot. He'll need to develop more post game to score at the next level, although he possesses the strength to finish in the lane through contact.
Williams has the length, athleticism, and versatility to be able to guard 2-5 acceptably at the next level. Like his teammate Raymond Felton, he is a bit of a gambler (and was usually successful) and he produced nearly 2 steals and a block per 40 minutes as a Tar Heel. He also rebounds his position well and does an admirable job of positioning and fighting for space to get to them consistently.