lakeshow22 wrote:ManualRam wrote:i think his handle is good enough to be a pg. his IQ and vision obviously are. he can be a little casual with the ball. added strength would obviously help, but he has all the moves. he has the change of speed and direction. he has that calmness about him that allows him to anticipate where the defense is coming from and react to it. he's very slithery (one of the better guards i've seen this yr splitting traps) and can cover so much ground with single moves because he's so long and rangy. in the paint his footwork is among the best, if not the best i've seen of a college guard. he admits that his idol is d.wade and it shows in his footwork. his euro steps are nba level.
he's not a confident 3 pt shooter, but his stroke is not bad. he shoots a bit of a push shot and he appears to aim the ball more than shoot it, but i don't think his shot is broken. his ft% is a good indication of his touch. range is another area i think added strength would help.
his poise and iq are what i'm most impressed with. he's got a very mature game to go along with his flair and creativity. he's the best pg prospect i've in seen in college this yr.
If he's the best point guard prospect you have seen this year than y do u have him so low? 21 isn't that old for a junior and there have been players older than that taken in the lottery. Is the high teens or 20s the earliest you can see him going? Best case scenario how high could he go this year should he declare? Who would you compare his game to? Could he be a starting point guard in the NBA next season?
because i am realistic. there is not a great need for PGs. he's older, thin, a JC transfer who has no residual hype from HS, was off draft radars before the season started, on a middling program with no national hype and less visibility. i take all that into consideration. on talent alone i'd have him higher, but again, i'm realistic so low 20s is where i have him. i'd have no problem with a team taking him late lotto if they really like him and they need a pg.
i'd compare his game to a mixture of a rondo and jrue holiday. he has similar length, slipperiness, thin build, creativity with the ball as rondo. he's disruptive defensively with his length, quick hands and ability to play passing lanes. very good finisher despite his thin frame. he's got a big bag of tricks in the painted area with running hooks, floaters, leaners, push shots, scoop shots. knows how to use his extension to reach past defenders to get shots up and has terrific body control. will move off the ball looking for easy buckets off of cuts. he's been doing a better job at creating contact and getting to the line (nearly 7 FTA in conference play). he'll gamble on D like rondo looking to dig, shoot gaps and attempt poke-aways from behind. not as creative of a passer as rondo, but he doesn't pound the ball like rondo either. he has good vision with anticipation and doesn't fear attempting riskier passes. gets assists via distribution, but he has break down ability and looks comfortable making plays out of PnR. reads shots in flight and won't hesitate to swoop into traffic for rebounds. great hands and is quick to the ball (over 7 boards in conference play).
he plays with the pace of jrue holiday though. very calm and collected, almost too casual at times. doesn't get rattled. he's not ball-dominant, will distribute and run the offense through it's progressions. has no problem with others initiating the offense. can put up impressive lines quietly, within the flow of the game. he does have good quickness, but does not rely on it. i think he's more liable to pick his spots and beat his defender with change of speed/direction, anticipation, deception or involving his man in ball screens. he really has great fakes and footwork. knows how to manipulate defenders so he doesn't have to go 100 miles an hour.
