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This kid is going to be really good. Probably won't come out this year unless he leads Syracuse to a win but if he continues to develop could be a lotto pick next year.

No doubt he has a lot of potential (at least as a college player), but I don't think he really has any draft buzz for this year. Terribly inefficient scorer and doesn't really bring anything else to the table right now.

You can see the flashes in his game, but he's got a ton of developing to do before I think NBA scouts view him as a 1st round pick.

7'0 wingspan as a 2 . he's now on the radar I'd say

He's projected top 10 for next years draft. He's really gifted on offense. He does have a slight build which I'm sure he'll work on but it's also good to see he isn't afraid of contact. The biggest problem of looking at prospects from Syracuse is projecting their defensive ability as they play in a zone their whole career


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Does the recency bias apply for freshmen in the NCAA tournament? If not, it certainly looks like Malachi has finally put it together. He was unstoppable against UVA's packline and willed his team to that W. He has been playing well down the stretch and certainly merits a first round pick at this point. Whether or not he will declare is completely up in the air.

He's old for a frosh (20) and shot 39% from 2, which is terrible for anyone. But 7 foot wingspan, decent mobility and 35% on 3s is a solid platform for a 3 and D guy. I don't think he'll be able to get to the basket, but maybe a backup 2 on a team that needs shooting wings.

Ell Curry wrote:He's old for a frosh (20) and shot 39% from 2, which is terrible for anyone. But 7 foot wingspan, decent mobility and 35% on 3s is a solid platform for a 3 and D guy. I don't think he'll be able to get to the basket, but maybe a backup 2 on a team that needs shooting wings.

Got a lot better as the season went on which counts a lot for a freshman. Looks like he is going to stay in school anyways. Syracuse will have a pretty good squad next year with him and Lydon.

Carmelo wrote:

Ell Curry wrote:He's old for a frosh (20) and shot 39% from 2, which is terrible for anyone. But 7 foot wingspan, decent mobility and 35% on 3s is a solid platform for a 3 and D guy. I don't think he'll be able to get to the basket, but maybe a backup 2 on a team that needs shooting wings.

Got a lot better as the season went on which counts a lot for a freshman. Looks like he is going to stay in school anyways. Syracuse will have a pretty good squad next year with him and Lydon.

I like him a lot as a college player, but I'm iffy on the idea that he got a lot better as the year went on. He seemed to improve in terms of his aggression in driving and trying to draw fouls, but looking at his splits:

November: 41% FG, 38.5% 3PT, 14 PPG
December: 33% FG, 16% 3PT, 10.5 PPG
January: 42% FG, 52% 3PT, 16 PPG
February: 33% FG, 32.5% 3PT, 12 PPG
March + April (1 game): 36% FG, 36% 3PT, 15 PPG

Statistically, he was more or less the same inconsistent player all year.

machu46 wrote:

Carmelo wrote:

Ell Curry wrote:He's old for a frosh (20) and shot 39% from 2, which is terrible for anyone. But 7 foot wingspan, decent mobility and 35% on 3s is a solid platform for a 3 and D guy. I don't think he'll be able to get to the basket, but maybe a backup 2 on a team that needs shooting wings.

Got a lot better as the season went on which counts a lot for a freshman. Looks like he is going to stay in school anyways. Syracuse will have a pretty good squad next year with him and Lydon.

I like him a lot as a college player, but I'm iffy on the idea that he got a lot better as the year went on. He seemed to improve in terms of his aggression in driving and trying to draw fouls, but looking at his splits:

November: 41% FG, 38.5% 3PT, 14 PPG
December: 33% FG, 16% 3PT, 10.5 PPG
January: 42% FG, 52% 3PT, 16 PPG
February: 33% FG, 32.5% 3PT, 12 PPG
March + April (1 game): 36% FG, 36% 3PT, 15 PPG

Statistically, he was more or less the same inconsistent player all year.

Interesting. Thanks for the numbers. Probably like Lydon as an NBA prospect more than Richardson but like both players. Excited to watch them next year.

Apparently he caught the attention at some in the combine, and seems like he will be a first rounder.

Signed with an agent today.

His size, athleticism and two-way potential is intriguing, but even if he pans out, meaning that he improves a little as a shooter/finisher and grows as a basketball player, is he ever going to be better than let's say a Shumpert type? is that that enticing?

Fischella wrote:His size, athleticism and two-way potential is intriguing, but even if he pans out, meaning that he improves a little as a shooter/finisher and grows as a basketball player, is he ever going to be better than let's say a Shumpert type? is that that enticing?

He'll probably be around after like the 20th pick, so why not? Shump was also looking pretty promising before he tore his ACL and meniscus his rookie year and never quite came back the same.

Very interesting player. Creates A LOT of his own offense (hurting his %'s tho).

He's 13th on Ford's latest big board... ok

I think people are overrating him right now based on his measurements, particularly that wingspan, but I definitely see the appeal. I think think best case scenario a team really likes him and he goes late 1st, but I would project him in the 30's.

The end of his college season was promising, but in general it still seems he lacks a feel for the game/great basketball IQ, and I think that will hurt him. Obvious defensive and shot creating potential though, but he's going to be a project.

Syracuse players seem to always be trash (Carmelo and Derrick Coleman are the exceptions), so I have no idea what to expect from this guy.

I'll root for him like crazy at the next level, but I don't like his chances much at all.

GimmeDat wrote:I think people are overrating him right now based on his measurements, particularly that wingspan, but I definitely see the appeal. I think think best case scenario a team really likes him and he goes late 1st, but I would project him in the 30's.

The end of his college season was promising, but in general it still seems he lacks a feel for the game/great basketball IQ, and I think that will hurt him. Obvious defensive and shot creating potential though, but he's going to be a project.

It's hard to be a believer when he hasn't proven very much. I'm a believer in his handles, explosiveness, shiftiness and he has shown flashes of pro moves. He also has legitimate size for his position and a nice looking shot. In terms of IQ it's not easy to judge a freshman because they're experiencing this for the first time and they're trying to understand their own game and where they fit in. It could be that he found that in the tournament.

He also needs to go to an iso team.

Dr Positivity wrote:He's 13th on Ford's latest big board... ok

Zubac is also pretty low on his board and he said recently that executives told him Zubac would be gone before 20.

If I have to make a bet, I'll say he'll be out of the league/be in Dleague when his rookie contract is done.