See I would argue that Brown was much worse than Okoro in multiple areas. You admit Okoro has more elite skills than Brown did? He had to fix multiple areas, but Okoro needs to learn to shoot better. I don't think we need to pray for a flukey miracle.
Vassell looks great. I wouldn't be unhappy with him. I just think Okoro has more upside. He doesn't look like a guy that can't shoot as much as a guy who doesn't need to and bullied guys in the paint a lot. The ft% is a concern for sure. I mean he obviously took a lot of free throws since he attacked the basket so often.
At this point I trust the staff to fix it. They just keep doing it and apparently Gerriot won all the shooting games in the bubble.
You aren't right there is just one guy who did it, Brown is just the guy that comes to mind. Bruce Bowen shot better from 3 than the ft line one year, and then I looked on our own team.
Cedi Osman in 2019-2020 shot 67% from the line and 38.3 from 3 to lead the team. His first year he shot 57%! from the line and 35% from 3.
Tristan on not that many attempts shot 39% from 3 and 62% from the line.
Larry Nance was 68% from the line and 35% from 3.
I just don't think it is s a fluke that Collin, Larry, Cedi, Tristan were all poor shooters and are now hitting league average from 3 or better.
IF Okoro can get to 36% I will happy because I think he can finish at 70% at the basket.
That's my point though on guys like Okoro......if the comps are Bowen, Osman, whoever..... I'd rather just take someone like Vassell, who I have a lot of evidence intimating he will immediately be a good NBA shooter, in addition to his defensive skill.
Okoro does profile better but Brown is bigger and just as athletic. I'd imagine if Okoro was 6'8+ in shoes, with Brown's length, this probably wouldn't be as much of a conversation......because then you can envision him playing across the positional spectrum. From what I have access to, Vassell is likely to be taller and a little longer. Vassell is also a more impactful defender than Okoro and a better shooter. What does Okoro do obviously better than Vassell does? You mention Okoro's finishing at the rim but Vassell was 67%. Okoro gets there at a higher frequency but Vassell isn't a slouch there either.
I'm just trying to understand what the big board pitch is when scouts sit down and rank these guys......as to why a team has Okoro higher? I just don't see any sort of dribble creativity that will allow him to unlock his finishing skill at the next level. I see his value in transition and cutting off the ball, I just think he really doesn't have a skill type that easily unlocks on offense in the NBA.
That's my point though on guys like Okoro......if the comps are guys like Bruce Bowen, Osman, whoever..... I'd rather just take someone like Vassell, who I have a lot of evidence intimating he will be a good NBA shooter, in addition to his defensive skill.
Okoro does profile better but Brown is bigger and just as athletic. I'd imagine if Okoro was 6'8+ in shoes, with Brown's length, this probably wouldn't be as much of a conversation......because then you can envision him playing across the positional spectrum. From what I have access to, Vassell is likely to be taller and a little longer. Vassell is also a more impactful defender than Okoro and a better shooter. What does Okoro do obviously better than Vassell does? You mention Okoro's finishing at the rim but Vassell was 67%. Okoro gets there at a higher frequency but Vassell isn't a slouch there either.
I'm just trying to understand what the big board pitch is when scouts sit down and rank these guys......as to why a team has Okoro higher? I just don't see any sort of dribble creativity that will allow him to unlock his finishing skill at the next level. I see his value in transition and cutting off the ball, I just think he really doesn't have a skill type that easily unlocks on offense in the NBA.
I have Vassell over Okoro, but if I wanted to make the case for Okoro, I'd argue along the lines of versatility. He has like 30 pounds of muscle on Vassell, and it really shows in how he can battle in the paint on both ends of the court.
That's my point though on guys like Okoro......if the comps are Bowen, Osman, whoever..... I'd rather just take someone like Vassell, who I have a lot of evidence intimating he will immediately be a good NBA shooter, in addition to his defensive skill.
Okoro does profile better but Brown is bigger and just as athletic. I'd imagine if Okoro was 6'8+ in shoes, with Brown's length, this probably wouldn't be as much of a conversation......because then you can envision him playing across the positional spectrum. From what I have access to, Vassell is likely to be taller and a little longer. Vassell is also a more impactful defender than Okoro and a better shooter. What does Okoro do obviously better than Vassell does? You mention Okoro's finishing at the rim but Vassell was 67%. Okoro gets there at a higher frequency but Vassell isn't a slouch there either.
I'm just trying to understand what the big board pitch is when scouts sit down and rank these guys......as to why a team has Okoro higher? I just don't see any sort of dribble creativity that will allow him to unlock his finishing skill at the next level. I see his value in transition and cutting off the ball, I just think he really doesn't have a skill type that easily unlocks on offense in the NBA.
I get the dribble creativity, but his footwork is advanced.
Yeah it is his body and explosion. He has a great first step, finishes through contact, and he gets tons of deflections. When I watch him play, he is playing at a faster speed under better control than his opponents. I think he has better passing instincts and you would have seen more assists if anyone could have stopped him at the rim or if he had the ball in his hands more. Has vision on both sides of the ball IMO.
Measurements will make a difference. I would like to see how they measure out.
I'm just trying to understand what the big board pitch is when scouts sit down and rank these guys......as to why a team has Okoro higher? I just don't see any sort of dribble creativity that will allow him to unlock his finishing skill at the next level. I see his value in transition and cutting off the ball, I just think he really doesn't have a skill type that easily unlocks on offense in the NBA.
You may well be right about all that -- you clearly have seen a lot more of all those guys than I have.
I'll just say that I do think attitude/personality/intangibles matter a lot to the Cavs, and that's something about which we can't get a complete picture from the outside. Certainly, it was a huge selling point for Sexton, and it obviously has paid off in terms of his development.
So, I just wonder (I obviously don't know) if they may end up preferring someone like Okoro (or some other player) because they think he may bring that same kind of cultural impact. That's one reason I think it's really tough for those of us on the outside to get a truly accurate sense of how/why they value all these guys the way they do.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that the answer as to why they may like a particular player may be something that stats won't tell us.
Okoro's shooting makes him too risky a pick. Wings that can't shoot are virtually unplayable in today's NBA. People keep sleeping on Toppin. If he were 2 years younger, he would be a top 3 pick, but because he's 22 no one wants him. He's a damn good offensive player. 3 level scorer. Plays above the rim, great finisher. Can shoot the rock. You have to at least strongly consider him at #5.
Okoro's shooting makes him too risky a pick. Wings that can't shoot are virtually unplayable in today's NBA. People keep sleeping on Toppin. If he were 2 years younger, he would be a top 3 pick, but because he's 22 no one wants him. He's a damn good offensive player. 3 level scorer. Plays above the rim, great finisher. Can shoot the rock. You have to at least strongly consider him at #5.
Okoro has the potential to improve his shooting. Toppin can't do anything about the physical limitations that consign him to being a below-average defender.
Not particularly versatile or dynamic, but a reliable shooter with good mechanics whose 3-point and field goal percentages have been steady at around 35% and 80% respectively for a long time. Still pretty young so these percentages may creep up a few points, but seems to have a fairly modest ceiling for a combo guard.
Interior offense: 3/10
Somewhat difficult to assess. A pretty good, crafty finisher when he got downhill, but really picked his spots as a roleplayer on a very good team. The most likely outcome is that he'll be a similarly low-volume but efficient finisher in the NBA, but there may be room for growth here.
Team offense: 6/10
Range of outcomes here, as he got significant reps in the P&R and does have real vision and passing ability, but seems a little behind the curve for a PG in terms of comfort level under pressure. Not obvious to me if this is due to the high level of competition he faced, or because he doesn't quite have it in him to run an offense full time. Most likely a high-IQ secondary ballhandler, but again there may be a little room for growth here.
Perimeter defense: 5/10
Good length and frame, decent fundamentals, but average athleticism limits him against quicker guards.
Interior defense: 2/10
Decent length and frame help him a little, but not athletic or physical enough to really compete with bigs.
Team defense: 6/10
Not perfect, but pedigree playing on a good professional team really shows. Communicates well, and generally makes good rotations though he lacks the speed and athleticism to really stand out in this area.
Overall: 29/60
Vernon Carey
Perimeter offense: 4/10
Not yet a volume threat, but nice mechanics and soft touch do extend at least to the college line. Solid catch-and-shoot potential.
Interior offense: 9/10
A real wrecking ball down low with plus ballhandling skills for a big. Very high volume scorer. The complete package in terms of skill, though below-average length and athleticism may hurt him slightly.
Team offense: 3/10
Not worryingly low-IQ or selfish, but clearly a score-first guy with only basic playmaking/passing ability.
Perimeter defense: 3/10
Size and nimble feet help him a little, but not a great athlete, and difficult to change directions at his size. Will definitely get hunted on switches.
Interior defense: 7/10
Not elite, but not bad either. Great rebounder thanks to soft hands, good footwork, and enormous frame, and good timing and technique as a shotblocker although he lacks the athleticism to really excel in that area.
Team defense: 3/10
A reasonably active defender, but hindered by poor fundamentals which often got him into foul trouble. Lack of all-around quickness, exacerbated by his lack of instincts in this area, may be a serious limitation in the NBA.
Overall: 29/60
Xavier Tillman
Perimeter offense: 3/10
Very borderline shooter, with his 3-point percentage hovering just under 30%, and his free throw percentage right around 70%. Form seems workable, but not a sure thing to shoot from NBA range.
Interior offense: 5/10
Generally nice touch around the rim with some ability to finish strong, but not overly athletic, and while he can handle the ball, he's not quite quick enough to get downhill.
Team offense: 6/10
Very high-IQ player who really shines when surrounded by offensive talent. Good awareness of where the scoring threats are at all times, sees the play developing, and gets the ball where it needs to go. High-character guy, academic All-American.
Perimeter defense: 6/10
Sub-elite lateral quickness, but pretty light feet for a guy his size, and very good physicality and energy level in perimeter situations.
Interior defense: 6/10
Doesn't have the height or athleticism to be a big-time shotblocker, but good combination of length, toughness, and quick feet make him a very good rebounder and 1-on-1 defender in the paint.
Team defense: 6/10
Heady and active team defender, one of the more versatile defenders in college basketball and put that ability to good use. Lack of raw quickness and vertical athleticism holds him back some, and occasionally bit off more than he could chew trying to make a play beyond his physical capabilities.
Overall: 32/60
Reggie Perry
Perimeter offense: 5/10
Smooth jumpshot with quickly developing range and a nice, high release. Not sure exactly what his ceiling is in this area, but projects to be an accurate catch-and-shoot guy at a minimum.
Interior offense: 7/10
Capable, though not overly sophisticated ballhandler who's a real terror when he gets going downhill thanks to his enormous frame. Very physical in the paint. Just average quickness may limit his ability to create from the perimeter, and finer skills are a work in progress, but big potential in this area.
Team offense: 4/10
Mixed signals here, as he makes some genuinely good, unselfish reads and even brought the ball up the court and initiated at times, but not yet an accurate passer and was generally very mistake prone with the ball. Wide range of possible outcomes here.
Perimeter defense: 5/10
Decent horizontal length and athleticism, but fundamentals need work and can be a little too stiff/upright.
Interior defense: 5/10
Solid length, athleticism, and physicality in the paint, but again fundamentals are not up to snuff. Very good rebounder, but too many fouls and not enough blocks in 1-on-1 situations.
Team defense: 4/10
Difficult to evaluate him here. On one hand, his physical tools give him great potential as a versatile, switchable defender, and he has good reflexes and a high activity level. On the other hand, not great awareness overall, and pretty raw and undisciplined.
Overall: 30/60
Jalen Smith
Perimeter offense: 5/10
Solid, consistent shooter who should be a catch-and-shoot threat right away. Some ability to shoot off movement which is somewhat surprising for a player his size.
Interior offense: 7/10
Not overly strong or athletic, but a voracious offensive rebounder who fights through contact. Good length/hands make him a bit of a lob threat.
Team offense: 2/10
Passing is noticeably behind the rest of his offensive game. Gets tunnel vision when he puts the ball on the floor, and even when stationary can miss easy opportunities or unnecessarily force up a shot.
Perimeter defense: 4/10
Good basic tools with length and decent natural athleticism, but definitely a bit out of his comfort zone on the perimeter, and can look awkward or off-balance.
Interior defense: 7/10
Physical tools aren't outstanding for a center, but a very competitive defender in the paint with good footwork and great shot blocking and rebounding instincts.
Team defense: 5/10
Effectiveness is somewhat situational, as high motor and good instincts/decision making inside contrast with somewhat clumsy footwork, lower energy level, and slower decision making when he's dragged out to the perimeter.
Overall: 30/60
Paul Reed
Perimeter offense: 4/10
Respectable percentages from 3 and from the line, but not particularly fluid or confident, and really prefers to pass or drive if he isn't wide open.
Interior offense: 5/10
Basic ballhandling and elite athleticism give him tantalizing upside here, but can really struggle in traffic due to sub-par fluidity and coordination. Does a lot of his damage without the ball as he's fantastic on the offensive glass. Probably just an energy guy offensively in the NBA, but could be a good one.
Team offense: 3/10
Good basic passing skills, and appears to have a decent basketball IQ, but his high energy level kind of works against him here as he can get out of control and make poor decisions instead of making the easy play.
Perimeter defense: 7/10
Frightening 1-on-1 defender with a high energy level and a long, lean, athletic frame well suited to perimeter defense. Quick hands, but can be overly ambitious going for steals when he really should just apply constant pressure and contain. Experienced NBA ballhandlers may play his jumpy, energetic nature against him.
Interior defense: 6/10
Unstoppable motor and excellent athleticism make him a plus defender in the paint despite below-average size for a big man. Questionable fundamentals for an older prospect.
Team defense: 5/10
Tough evaluation here, as fantastic physical tools and motor give him a lot of versatility and lead to highlight plays, but he can rely too much on his instincts instead of fundamentals, and his instincts aren't always on point. Can be an agent of chaos for either team.
I think Tillman has TT upside and will be a steal in the mid-first. If he can put together a decent spot up shooting skill (famous last words) the sky is the limit.
I think Tillman has TT upside and will be a steal in the mid-first. If he can put together a decent spot up shooting skill (famous last words) the sky is the limit.
I have Vassell over Okoro, but if I wanted to make the case for Okoro, I'd argue along the lines of versatility. He has like 30 pounds of muscle on Vassell, and it really shows in how he can battle in the paint on both ends of the court.
Another thing with Okoro is that Auburn was 24-4 when he played and 1-2 when he was out, with those losses coming to two bottom-4 SEC teams in Georgia and Missouri.
Solid and repeatable form, highlighted by 84% shooting from the line. Still pretty low volume from 3 though, and not a particularly quick release.
Interior offense: 5/10
A decent finisher, gets to the rim with solid frame and decent handle, but struggles in traffic and doesn't have great touch as a finisher.
Team offense: 4/10
Generally a capable passer, ball doesn't stick, but decision making gets worse under defensive pressure or when he tries to create by himself. Maybe some upside here if he can develop his handle.
Perimeter defense: 4/10
Length an asset, but not a great lateral athlete, and struggles to contain smaller, quicker players.
Interior defense: 4/10
Pretty mediocre here despite solid frame. Seems fractionally late going up for blocks and rebounds, and gets overpowered by true bigs.
Team defense: 6/10
Reasonably smart and active team defender who uses his length well to pick up opportunistic blocks and steals without gambling too much. Good fundamentals for a young guy. Limited by "tweener" physical tools.
Overall: 28/60
Aaron Nesmith
Perimeter offense: 9/10
Fantastic shooter, including (especially) off movement. Puts a lot of pressure on the defense with his constant activity, and is totally confident even under duress.
Interior offense: 3/10
Decent frame and handle, but hindered by poor vertical athleticism. Threatening jumpshot allows him to get the step, but lack of vision off the dribble allows defense to react and collapse before he gets to the rim. One of the few guys who may actually be better off settling for long midrange J's.
Team offense: 3/10
Some ability to swing the ball on the perimeter, but pretty poor off the bounce or in traffic. The less time the ball spends in his hands, the better.
Perimeter defense: 4/10
Reasonably good fundamentals and effort level can't quite make up for lack of athleticism. Even average NBA wings may like their chances taking him 1-on-1.
Interior defense: 3/10
Nothing too wrong with him fundamentally, as he does keep his hands up and try to maintain position, but subpar athleticism stands out even at the college level.
Team defense: 4/10
Not particularly bad fundamentals/IQ, as he doesn't generally make glaring mistakes and can even get a few opportunistic steals and blocks. But doesn't quite have the exceptional IQ and instincts he'll need to mask below-average athleticism in the NBA.
Overall: 26/60
Precious Achiuwa
Perimeter offense: 3/10
Flashes of shooting ability, but mechanics aren't consistent, and poor shooting from the line raises further doubts. Probably only want him shooting if left wide open.
Interior offense: 5/10
Very good strength and athleticism made him reasonably productive, especially on the offensive glass, but doesn't have great instincts overall in the paint. Forces up tough shots and gets blocked or stripped too often. Flashes of nice moves driving to the basket, but really inconsistent.
Team offense: 2/10
Really limited to making basic passes in space. A bad decision waiting to happen when he has the ball in the paint, which is unfortunately where he's best off as an energy guy big.
Perimeter defense: 6/10
Still pretty raw, but good basic tools here. Moves well laterally and has good hands for a big. Could be even better if he gets in a more consistent stance and learns not to bite on fakes.
Interior defense: 7/10
Really nice physical tools, and decent instincts in the paint. A bit too overly reliant on his athleticism, which was overwhelming against minor-conference bigs. Potential to excel in the NBA if he improves fundamentals.
Team defense: 5/10
Decent effort level and great body for a switch-happy defensive scheme, but can be a bit slow recognizing rotations or doesn't know exactly where he should be. Can be too stationary and doesn't really get the most out of his physical tools.
Overall: 28/60
Saddiq Bey
Perimeter offense: 8/10
Very accurate shooter with deep range and good ability to shoot off movement. Can struggle just a bit when tightly guarded, and just-ok free throw percentage is slightly odd.
Interior offense: 2/10
A decent ballhandler, but lack of quickness makes it hard for him to get all the way to the rim, and he can struggle to finish there due to lack of physicality and vertical athleticism.
Team offense: 6/10
Very high IQ player; really knows where to be off-ball to maximize floor spacing, and a decent secondary ballhandler/creator in a pinch, though his relative lack of quickness with the ball sort of limits his versatility here.
Perimeter defense: 5/10
Nice length and fundamentals, but middling lateral quickness can get exposed, and lacks the physicality to slow down ballhandlers when they drive on him.
Interior defense: 3/10
Fundamentally solid, but lack of strength and vertical pop are glaring weaknesses here. Much more comfortable on the perimeter.
Team defense: 5/10
High-IQ guy, but really plays it safe defensively because he has little margin for error with his generally subpar athleticism. Won't hurt you, but don't see much potential for him to be a difference maker either.
Overall: 29/60
Cole Anthony
Perimeter offense: 8/10
Very good outside shooter. Nice quick release off the catch and off the dribble. Pretty trigger happy and can be prone to forcing up low-percentage shots.
Interior offense: 3/10
Decent athleticism for a point guard, and used his craftiness to get to the line at a decent rate, but overall really struggled to finish in traffic.
Team offense: 5/10
May have some secondary ballhandler potential, but really doesn't see the court well enough to be a PG. Telegraphs passes leading to turnovers, and sometimes just doesn't see easy assist opportunities.
Perimeter defense: 4/10
Pretty good strength and lateral quickness, but small margin for error with short wingspan and can get caught flat footed at times. Conserves energy some and doesn't really attack ballhandlers like he could, giving up lightly contested 3's.
Interior defense: 3/10
Reasonably effective considering his lack of size. Good strength and footwork, and good effort to contest even if he's not really a threat to get the block.
Team defense: 5/10
Pretty high IQ defender, especially for a freshman, though he does occasionally ball watch. Tendency to sag towards the paint rather than fly around the perimeter, which is a bit odd for a small guard. Could be an issue as his lack of size gives him very little margin for error on closeouts.
Overall: 28/60
Tyrese Maxey
Perimeter offense: 5/10
Pretty inaccurate this season, but overall picture appears hopeful. Decent form and good percentage from the line are positive indicators, but probably shouldn't be shooting off the bounce.
Interior offense: 3/10
Not a bad finisher at the rim, but has some trouble getting there due to his fairly basic handle and average downhill speed.
Team offense: 5/10
May have some secondary facilitator potential, but nothing too special. Sees the court and usually makes the right decision, but it takes him a second, and his passes aren't always accurate.
Perimeter defense: 6/10
Good size for a guard and a lot of quickness. Middling steal rate comes as a bit of a surprise and tempers my enthusiasm here. Contains, but doesn't terrorize ballhandlers like his backcourt partner Hagans.
Interior defense: 2/10
Decent length and athleticism, but like many guards he lacks the physicality to be a factor in the paint.
Team defense: 5/10
Capable team defender who generally makes good rotations, but not an unusually high-motor guy, and nothing too special physically. I give him the benefit of the doubt a little because I think his effort may improve with fewer minutes (he pushed 40 many nights) and better conditioning.
Versatile shooter on and off the ball. Very quick stopping and shooting off the dribble or going around a screen. Accuracy was a touch lower than you'd like to see, but should be taken in context with generally high degree of difficulty looks.
Interior offense: 2/10
Settles for a lot of floaters as he doesn't quite have the wheels, handle, or strength to get to the rim reliably. To his credit, does a decent job drawing fouls for a smallish guard, but overall seems likely to struggle in this area as a pro.
Team offense: 7/10
Very good, though not quite elite. Plays with pace, sees the court, knows how to use his gravity as a shooter to create openings for teammates. Less impressive inside the arc, where the defense puts more pressure on his handle and he doesn't have the same scoring gravity.
Perimeter defense: 5/10
Plenty of lateral quickness, which is probably his best physical tool. Uses it well to get up into offensive player's airspace. Can still get beat or overpowered, but should more or less hold his own against most matchups.
Interior defense: 1/10
Pretty hopeless interior defender, as summarized by his 0 blocked shots and atrocious rebound rate. Lacks size, strength, and vertical athleticism.
Team defense: 5/10
Below-average length hinders him, but generally an engaged, high-IQ team defender who uses his quickness well to keep up with rotations and occasionally jump passing lanes.
Overall: 28/60
Leandro Bolmaro
Perimeter offense: 5/10
Somewhat tricky evaluation here. Poor percentage from 3, dragged down by a high volume of attempts in a primary ballhandler role. Form really breaks down off the dribble, but looks decent with his feet set. Wide range of outcomes possible, but most likely outcome is that he's a solid shooter off the catch with limited versatility.
Interior offense: 2/10
Quick with the ball, but can get out of control, and doesn't have a great frame to take contact in the paint. Doesn't seem to have especially good touch.
Team offense: 7/10
A very creative passer with genuine PG potential. Combination of quickness, size, and advanced passing ability can throw defenses off balance, but plenty of rough moments too where he's struggled with accuracy or otherwise tried to do too much.
Perimeter defense: 8/10
Elite potential at the guard positions. Active hands, quickness and intensity at his size put a lot of pressure on smaller ballhandlers. Needs to add some strength to handle bigger perimeter players.
Interior defense: 1/10
Basically useless inside despite decent size. Not a great vertical athlete, and a total non-factor on the glass.
Team defense: 6/10
Lack of strength hurts his versatility some, but combination of IQ, motor, and quickness give him plus potential in a role where he can chase shooters and play passing lanes.
Overall: 29/60
Devon Dotson
Perimeter offense: 6/10
Wasn't quite able to take the next step as a shooter his sophomore year, as form still looks questionable, and percentages sagged under an increasing number of off-dribble attempts. Solid enough when he has enough space, but not a dynamic 3-point threat at PG.
Interior offense: 5/10
One of the better guards in this area, as he has a nice handle and quickness to attack off the dribble, and shows a lot of toughness and craft to score in the paint. I worry a little about his lack of size and average vertical athleticism in the NBA, but this rating could be slightly conservative.
Team offense: 6/10
A natural leader, but not actually a particularly gifted passer. Good basic passer and can make some advanced reads, but also can make poor decisions or overdribble. Probably best as a co-facilitator (as he was at KU) or secondary facilitator.
Perimeter defense: 5/10
Solid physical tools aside from average length, and generally showed a good but not great effort level and fundamentals. Definitely benefitted from having the best shotblocker in the country lurking behind him.
Interior defense: 2/10
Good hands and toughness make him an adequate rebounder for a guard, but lack of size and length really shows.
Team defense: 5/10
Solid IQ and fairly productive as a ball hawk, though it's important to note that he was surrounded by elite defenders at KU who often generated the pressure that led to Dotson steals.
Overall: 29/60
Trevelin Queen
Perimeter offense: 7/10
Really active off-ball, knows how to get open and accurate enough (including off movement) to make defenses pay.
Interior offense: 3/10
Shaky handle, but can attack closeouts effectively, and can be dangerous cutting to the basket thanks to his outstanding vertical athleticism. In the NBA, probably more of a sneaky scorer who preys on defensive lapses, not a guy who can attack and finish against a set defense.
Team offense: 5/10
A plus-IQ player, can throw some great passes but also some pretty questionable ones. Confidence can occasionally outstrip skill level, which is only decent.
Perimeter defense: 5/10
A mixed bag here. On one hand, fundamentals are a bit behind the curve for an older prospect, and sloppy footwork can sap his lateral agility. On the other hand, high motor, active hands, and length give him some upside here. Minor-conference ballhanders were totally overwhelmed at times.
Interior defense: 3/10
Skinny frame limits him, but not afraid to mix it up in the paint (e.g. 5 offensive boards against Arizona), and vertical pop makes him play slightly bigger than he is.
Team defense: 5/10
Solid IQ, and has the motor and athleticism to cover ground and make plays, but here too his fundamentals are subpar for his age.
Overall: 28/60
Kira Lewis Jr.
Perimeter offense: 7/10
Promising outside shooter, though still fairly conservative with his attempts compared to other PGs. Good form seems like it could eventually lead to consistent off-the-dribble shooting, but remains to be seen.
Interior offense: 3/10
Genuinely above-average quickness, but doesn't really have the complete package as a slasher. Just OK handle and finishing touch, doesn't really finish through contact a lot.
Team offense: 6/10
Solid development in this area, but still a bit behind the curve for a PG. Flashes of great passing ability, but lots of turnovers, suggesting the game hasn't quite slowed down for him yet.
Perimeter defense: 5/10
Not a standout defender in 1-on-1 situations, but nice fundamentals, and rarely gets beat. Some upside here if effort level increases with a smaller minutes load (regularly played all 40 this season).
Interior defense: 2/10
Adequate positional rebounder, but not particularly strong or athletic even by PG standards, and not a guy who naturally likes to play physical either.
Team defense: 6/10
Good defensive IQ for a young guy. Generally really quick on rotations, and surprising athleticism/reflexes going for steals and sneaky blocks. Effort level waned at times, but I tend to think this was a function of conditioning/minutes.
Overall: 29/60
Mason Jones
Perimeter offense: 8/10
Sub-elite accuracy, but an extremely confident high-volume shooter with deep off-dribble range. Loves step-backs, and improving off-ball.
Interior offense: 7/10
Fantastically crafty around the rim. Creative handle and physicality make him really tough to handle. Middling athleticism gives me some pause, but a lot of his game should translate.
Team offense: 4/10
Not necessarily selfish, but hasn't figured out how to consistently blend scoring with playmaking. Will generally make the right decision with the ball if an assist opportunity presents itself, but not a guy who naturally reads the defense and seeks out opportunities.
Perimeter defense: 3/10
Not great fundamentals, and not great lateral quickness either. Forced to play a step back from quicker guys, which negates his decent length and reasonably quick hands.
Interior defense: 2/10
A decent rebounder, but not as tough as he is on the offensive end. Gets pushed around, and lack of vertical athleticism hurts him too.
Team defense: 5/10
Not a major plus due to his mediocre physical tools, but generally an engaged, high-IQ off-ball defender who makes up for what he lacks in speed with solid anticipation.
Overall: 29/60
Jahmi'us Ramsey
Perimeter offense: 8/10
Very promising shooter with consistent mechanics. Off-dribble shooting still needs a little fine tuning, and low free throw percentage (small sample size) is weird, but overall I buy the upside.
Interior offense: 2/10
Pretty poor inside the arc, which is unfortunate because he draws a lot of hard closeouts. Not a great ballhandler, and doesn't draw fouls or finish well at the hoop.
Team offense: 5/10
Just an adequate passer for an SG. Pretty accurate and keeps the ball moving on the perimeter, but loses a lot of his court vision off the dribble, partly a result of his shaky handle.
Perimeter defense: 5/10
Good basic tools with plus wingspan and solid lateral quickness, but not a very disciplined or fundamentally solid defender, even for a freshman. Needs work but should eventually be able to hold his own.
Interior defense: 3/10
Pretty decent for a guard, all things considered, thanks to good length and physicality. Pretty good technique going straight up on contests. A little surprising that he doesn't get more rebounds.
Team defense: 4/10
Some mixed signals here, as on one hand he has decent IQ and is comfortable playing inside and out, which is invaluable for a wing. On the other hand, prone to losing track of shooters which could be a big problem in the NBA, and not really a high-motor guy.
28-29: Avdija, Maledon, Carey, Bey, Bolmaro, Dotson, Jones, Lewis Jr., Hampton, Hinton, Williams, Achiuwa, Anthony, Mannion, Queen (probably a few more will find their way into this group)
26-27: Ramsey, Toppin, Nesmith, Maxey (definitely a lot more will be in this group)
Same problem with Nesmith, which is that he has one thing he's really good at (shooting for Nesmith, finishing for Toppin) but it's hard to find any other skill that he's even average at by NBA standards.
3-point shooting is probably his best bet to add some versatility to his game, but 1 make per game on mostly wide-open attempts doesn't give me confidence that he's gonna light up NBA teams with his jumpshot.
@Nathan S has there ever been a player who you ranked high in all three defensive categories? Besides Okongwu, anybody who's good both on the perimeter and interior?
I could see Claxton as being that guy maybe, but even he must have had strength issues in your evaluations.
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