RealGM

Sam Vecenie wrote:I just don’t think you can ever have enough wings in today’s NBA. And particularly, I can see Vassell's appeal, given his elite level as a shooter. You want to see a burning building? Here is a look at Vassell’s shot chart from this past year, per Synergy Sports. It is quite literally engulfed in flame.

Spoiler:

Vassell averaged 12.7 points for a Florida State team that really spread it around, but he did so while shooting 49 percent from the field, 41.5 percent from 3, and 74 percent from the line. And as you can see from that chart, it’s filled with a ton of diversity, too. He can hit shots out of spot-ups or on the move. He can hit shots off of the catch, and even improved dramatically as a pull-up shooter this year.

I wouldn’t call him the world’s best passer or anything, but he posted a 2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio and generally makes the right decision. Really, the only thing I think there is to be concerned about is the fact that he’s not a particularly strong ballhandler. Most of his shots at the rim come off of cuts or in transition, and he isn’t quite strong enough on the ball yet to drive forward and collapse defenses to score or pass.

His on-ball defense is terrific, but where he really excels is using his plus-five wingspan to hassle teams in help defense either contesting shots, crashing from the weak side for a block, or getting into passing lanes. He was one of the best defensive players in the country on the wing this year, and that should translate.

I’m at the point where I think there is a pretty real case for Vassell over Isaac Okoro in this class.

Devin Vassell Scouting Report

Devin Vassell --Florida State
Position: Wing
Height: 6’7”
Weight: 194 pounds
DOB: 8/23/20000

Per Game Stats:




Devin Vassell will be an impact defender from Day 1 who can pick pockets, block shots and guard multiple positions on the perimeter.

Strengths

Spoiler:

Spot-up Shooting: The most used shot in Vassell’s repertoire, he’s already very good in this category, as he knocked down 40.3% of all spot-up opportunities last year according to Synergy. He’s particularly capable in the corners—a place he’ll likely spend a lot of time throughout his NBA career (especially early on).

On-ball Defense: Vassell is a demon defensively, especially when he’s defending the ball. He’s long (6’10” wingspan), moves very well laterally and is relentless; in other words—a ball-handler’s worst nightmare. He has no issue picking point guards up full court and pestering them the entire length of the floor. He also has fluid hips, allowing him to drop them in his slides without conceding too much ground on drives. He’s an immediate contributor in this category.

Weaknesses

Spoiler:

Shot Creation: Vassell showed very little ability to create shots in college and it’s unclear if he’ll ever be able to develop these skills in the NBA. He has below-average ball-handling skills for his position and generally isn’t comfortable trying to dribble with any sort of pressure. He did show a propensity for a one-dribble pull-up at Florida State, but I’m unsure he’ll be able to create the separation needed to even get that up on a regular basis. He also struggles to find open teammates, especially in the pick-and-roll.

Strength: Part of the reason he struggles to create his own shot is due to his lack of strength. Defenders can easily bump him off his drives and legally push him away from the rim. He can also get bodied by bigger players in the post, something that may affect his positional versatility in the future. Fortunately, he’s been able to use his length to make up for it, but he’ll come up against stronger and longer men in the NBA.

Conclusion

Spoiler:

He’s an elite defensive talent with a signature offensive skill that just happens to be in one of the most efficient scoring zones.

With the potential to become one of the best three-and-D players, it’s Vassell’s defense that will get him on the court immediately. He’ll be able to guard point guards, combo guards, wings and even some forwards. He’s that good.

For starters, he’s great at moving his feet laterally and can slide with almost anyone. He doesn’t just slide with ball-handlers either, as he badgers them on every dribble; forcing them to work their ass off just to initiate the offense. When he isn’t quick enough to stick with someone on the perimeter, his 6’10” wingspan makes up for it. The best part is it’s apparent he loves to play the harasser.

He’s also great off the ball where he jumps passing lanes. He also helps teammates before they even know what’s going on; often rotating to an open roller to shut that s**t down. He’s also adept at coming out of nowhere to swat a shot into the first row—his motor never stops.

He’ll have the most work to do on the offensive end of the court where he might never turn into anything more than a spot-up shooter. And that’s okay considering he knocked down over 40 percent of his threes in both of his seasons at Florida State. He mostly floats on the perimeter, waiting for the ball to find him before knocking down his shot. If he ever develops an off the bounce game, it would take him to the next level.

Devin Vassell
Wing / Florida State



A long 6-foot-5 wing, Vassell fills the ever-coveted 3-and-D to an absolute T. He was one of the more proficient three-point shooters in college basketball last season. He could find plenty of spot-up opportunities next to Trae Young, a talented playmaker who demands attention from opposing defenses.

Vassell also has great promise as a defender. His 6-foot-10 wingspan offers a great deal of versatility, and his counting stats — in the steal and block categories — point to a knack for creating havoc. He can disrupt passing lanes, rotate crisply on the weak side, and generate turnovers at a high rate.

Jamaaliver wrote:

Devin Vassell

Wing / Florida State



A long 6-foot-5 wing, Vassell fills the ever-coveted 3-and-D to an absolute T. He was one of the more proficient three-point shooters in college basketball last season. He could find plenty of spot-up opportunities next to Trae Young, a talented playmaker who demands attention from opposing defenses.

Vassell also has great promise as a defender. His 6-foot-10 wingspan offers a great deal of versatility, and his counting stats — in the steal and block categories — point to a knack for creating havoc. He can disrupt passing lanes, rotate crisply on the weak side, and generate turnovers at a high rate.

76ers Fansided

Sam Vecenie wrote:Devin Vassell | 6-5 wing | 20 years old, sophomore | Florida State

Few players helped themselves more this season than Vassell. The only thing that could slow his rise up draft boards, unfortunately, is the season ending so abruptly. He brings an awful lot to the table and his game looks like a pretty simplistic fit in the modern NBA. It would no longer be a shock to see him end up in the late lottery. I’d put his range somewhere from 12 to 25.

He’s a big wing with a ton of length who can hit well over 40 percent from 3 and has great length while defending at a solid clip. His numbers look a bit pedestrian, averaging 12.7 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, but Florida State’s offense really tended to spread things around. And the whole idea of Vassell is that he’s a tailor-made role player due to his elite-level shooting ability, as Vassell hit 41.5 percent of his 3s this season. And beyond that, he’s an absolutely terrific wing defender with strong lateral quickness. He’s also a playmaker on that end of the floor, averaging 1.4 steals and 1.0 blocks. The list of players to do what Vassell did over the last 30 years in a high-major league is seven names long and includes Shane Battier, Danny Green, Wes Johnson, Mikal Bridges, Demetris Nichols and Markelle Fultz. And if you include mid-majors, you see Paul George, Danny Granger and Robert Covington pop up. Basically, this is your patented 3-and-D player, and NBA teams continue to have a very real need for these guys.

I’m not quite as sold on the ancillary parts of his game. His ballhandling gives me some pause and he’s not the best athlete. He rarely gets all the way to the basket because of those two things, meaning most of his points come purely off of jumpers. It’s tough to make a living that way. Still, this is a 3-and-D wing starter kit that teams will likely be willing to work on with the rest of his game.

Devin Vassell, G/F, Florida State

Height: 6’6” | Weight: 180 | Age: 19 | Sophomore



Vassell’s blend of size and length on the wing, tangible defensive impact and shooting ability create a pretty substantial floor, while the fact he’s a young sophomore with some room to grow offensively lends some credence to the upside. He was a big part of why Florida State was so good defensively, and evolved into a more consistent scoring threat in the back half of the season, albeit primarily in a catch-and-shoot capacity. He does have some limitations athletically that could limit his upside as a scorer, but simply being a consistent spot-up player can go a long way. In theory, he’s the type of player who can add value anywhere, even if he doesn’t turn into a starting-caliber option.

Sam Vecenie wrote:Florida State’s Devin Vassell is the best defensive prospect...Vassell is my favorite of the [3 & D wing] group because I think he has the most two-way potential. I’d order them Vassell, then Nesmith, then Bey – all being in the same tier. But the teams I’ve spoken with are a bit more split on Nesmith and Vassell, and tend to put Bey in the tier slightly lower. Vassell hit over 41 percent from 3, developed a ton as a shooter on pull-ups and is also an elite, switchable defensive playmaker. He averaged 1.4 steals and a block per game, and uses his quickness and effort level to make a positive impact against tough matchups. He needs to improve as a ballhandler and playmaker, but he showed enough growth there this season to at least give me some hope. For him to be as good as he is on both ends at 19 years old is rare.

Devin Vassell Scouting Report

It requires no great level of prescience to see Devin Vassell with the potential to immediately contribute in the NBA next season: he is a consummate team defender with an outstanding work ethic, and possesses plug-and-play tools to produce in an at least one major offensive facet. He does not come without flaws entirely – certain physical qualities and current skill development-related questions come together in a way that pose very fair questions about his prospective shot creation abilities. But for a team looking for his particular mold in the 2020 draft, he is likely the top option. Expect Devin Vassell (boasting the highest Gradient Score to date at 2.00) to be a surefire first round pick, with top 10 stock in the right situation.

Spoiler:

Best Case Comparisons For the Top 2020 NBA Draft Prospects

Devin Vassell | G | Florida State | Sophomore

Best case scenario comparison: Khris Middleton

...as a freshman, Vassell showed glimpses of a beautiful 3-point stroke and started getting crunch time minutes down the stretch. In 2019-20, he ascended to the next level. He increased his averages across the board—12.7 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.4 SPG, and 1.0 BPG while shooting an impressive 42 percent from downtown.

He’s a shooter, yes, but he can also do more than that. The 6’7” SG/SF from Georgia excels off the ball, grabs boards, and plays hard. He’s not a ball hog or prima donna—he simply makes winning plays, drains shots, and locks down on D. He does the thing that needs to be done and knows himself.

Sound familiar? Pair Vassell with a star...and watch him flourish.

2020 NBA Draft Big Board

11. Devin Vassell, SF, Florida State | Sophomore

Height: 6’7” | Weight: 195 | Age: 19 | Last Rank: 14

After displaying some real progress as a scorer over the course of the season, Vassell neatly fits a utilitarian archetype as a strong team defender who can knock down open shots and doesn’t need a ton of touches to be valuable. He has appealing size and length on the wing and a nose for blowing up plays and forcing turnovers. The chief knock here centers on upside, as Vassell isn’t an explosive leaper or prolific finisher at the rim, and is still learning how to play off the dribble. But as an above-average shooter and disruptive defensive presence, it’s easy to pencil him into lineups as a competent floor-spacer and ball-mover. The fact he’s still 19 leaves some extra room for long-term growth.

Devin Vassell (Florida State, SG, sophomore)

An athletic 6'6" wing, Vassell shot 41.5 percent from three and regularly made defensive plays that highlighted special instincts from on and off the ball. A limited off-the-dribble game is the big question mark, but Vassell has an easy-to-picture three-and-D profile, and he took a promising step forward as a pull-up shooter (38.5 percent).

DEVIN VASSELL
Wing, Florida State, sophomore

One of the best defenders in this year’s class, with a developing offensive game that could make him more than just a shooter.
Shades Of: Khris Middleton, Robert Covington, Matisse Thybulle

Age------------------------19.6
Wingspan-----------------6'10"
Height---------------------6'7''
Weight--------------------194


PLUSES

• Elite team defender who will immediately help any NBA rotation. He is hyper-alert on rotations, disrupts opponents’ actions with timely digs, and deters shooters from firing with fundamental closeouts.
  
• Never stops hustling. Even when a play seems over, he’ll fly out of nowhere for a chase-down block or last-second deflection.
  
• Impactful on-ball defender with the right blend of agility and length to defend guards and wings, though he must get stronger.
  
• Good spot-up shooter with a high release and displays awareness moving and cutting off the ball.
  
• Tightened his handle to become a potent shooter off the bounce; he hit a single dribble jumper as a freshman and then 39 as a sophomore, with many of them contested out of the pick-and-roll.
  
• Displays high-level passing vision for a wing, though he’s not a primary ball handler.

MINUSES

• Lacks burst to beat defenders off the dribble and get to the rim—and even if he gets to the paint, he struggles to finish against contact.
  
• Wiry frame may limit his versatility against larger, stronger opponents.
• Not a dynamic shooter off the catch, though considering his dramatic improvement off the dribble he may develop that ability.

Jamaaliver wrote:

Sam Vecenie wrote:Devin Vassell | 6-5 wing | 20 years old, sophomore | Florida State

Few players helped themselves more this season than Vassell. The only thing that could slow his rise up draft boards, unfortunately, is the season ending so abruptly. He brings an awful lot to the table and his game looks like a pretty simplistic fit in the modern NBA. It would no longer be a shock to see him end up in the late lottery. I’d put his range somewhere from 12 to 25.

He’s a big wing with a ton of length who can hit well over 40 percent from 3 and has great length while defending at a solid clip. His numbers look a bit pedestrian, averaging 12.7 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, but Florida State’s offense really tended to spread things around. And the whole idea of Vassell is that he’s a tailor-made role player due to his elite-level shooting ability, as Vassell hit 41.5 percent of his 3s this season. And beyond that, he’s an absolutely terrific wing defender with strong lateral quickness. He’s also a playmaker on that end of the floor, averaging 1.4 steals and 1.0 blocks. The list of players to do what Vassell did over the last 30 years in a high-major league is seven names long and includes Shane Battier, Danny Green, Wes Johnson, Mikal Bridges, Demetris Nichols and Markelle Fultz. And if you include mid-majors, you see Paul George, Danny Granger and Robert Covington pop up. Basically, this is your patented 3-and-D player, and NBA teams continue to have a very real need for these guys.

I’m not quite as sold on the ancillary parts of his game. His ballhandling gives me some pause and he’s not the best athlete. He rarely gets all the way to the basket because of those two things, meaning most of his points come purely off of jumpers. It’s tough to make a living that way. Still, this is a 3-and-D wing starter kit that teams will likely be willing to work on with the rest of his game.

The Athletic

CP War Hawks wrote:DV comp with Bridges is spot on. I wanna say he has a bit more upside due to age entering the draft. He also reminds me of Hunter in many ways. Wouldn't mind a trade down for DV and a future protected pick or something.

Watch on YouTube

;t=25s

2020 NBA Draft Big Board

5. Devin Vassell, G/F 6’7, Florida State, 19 years old

Watch on YouTube

It’s reductive to say that Vassell is the best three-and-D player in this draft, even if it’s true. The best team defender in this draft, Vassell was Florida State’s unquestioned leader and one of the best and most consistent players in the ACC. He’s a surprisingly adept pull-up shooter, particularly from the midrange, and uses his length exceptionally well to contest shots and grab offensive rebounds. He ranks higher than most other three-and-D prospects because of the potential he has to break out offensively in time, along with his overall general mastery of team defense. He’s way beyond everyone else this year in that regard.

Sam Vecenie wrote:I tend to really push wings up my draft board for similar reasons...it’s just so, so hard to find these types of players for cheap on the market. All things being equal in terms of talent, I’ll almost always default to selecting the wing.

I think Vassell’s the best bet to be a two-way wing out of this group. The most important thing I want from wings who aren’t necessarily elite-level shot-creators is the ability to knock down shots. And Vassell is an extremely high-level shooter. He hit 41.5 percent from 3 this past season after hitting 41.9 percent as a freshman. He also really developed into a guy who can knock down shots off the dribble last year. His feel for the game and shot IQ is really smart. He doesn’t play like a goofball out on the court, which is a real positive. He knows how to play within a team construct.

Then on defense, he’s an exceptional help and off-ball defender. He’s a great positional defender that does great work getting into passing lanes and rotating down and contesting near the hoop. Then as an on-ball defender, he’s really good laterally and also does an excellent job of timing his contests away from the basket. Overall, he’s just coming from such a place of strength on both sides of the floor toward what the NBA needs right now.

CP War Hawks wrote:

Watch on YouTube

This Youtuber considers DV the best overall defender in this class. For me, it highlights his elite defensive awareness. He has the ability to scan the offense set and make an educated guess on where the ball is going. It's just a matter of it translating mostly at the next level.

kg01 wrote:

CP War Hawks wrote:

Watch on YouTube

This Youtuber considers DV the best overall defender in this class. For me, it highlights his elite defensive awareness. He has the ability to scan the offense set and make an educated guess on where the ball is going. It's just a matter of it translating mostly at the next level.

I love everything I hear about this kid but does he fit here considering we have a lot of wangs to feed (minutes) already?

No one's spot should be secured but you can't just keep drafting wang after wang. Gotta ride with somebody.

Just asking, not ranting.

2020 NBA Draft Big Board: Scouting Pros and Cons for Top 50 Players

5. Devin Vassell (Florida, SF, Sophomore)



Pros
Devin Vassell has built a convincing three-and-D draft profile, but it's the flashes of scoring improvement that hint at another level of offensive upside for an NBA team to unlock.

A high floor is propped up by his 6'6" size, athleticism, 41.5 percent three-point shooting and tremendous defensive instincts. He's a fit for practically every team with his ability to catch and shoot, defend multiple positions and be a strong team-defense link.

He also hit 31 pull-ups this year, and our eye test buys his effectiveness at separating and releasing high over his man.


Cons
Vassell isn't the most creative ball-handler, so offense won't be run through him. He only recorded three isolation baskets all season and averaged just 1.6 assists.

Though an accurate shooter off the catch, he converted two successful drives to the basket out of spot-up position.

Vassell only hit the 20-point mark twice as a sophomore, so it's reasonable to question how much scoring upside is really there.