Prospect Spotlight -- Devin Vassell

[Jamaaliver]

2020 NBA Draft: Devin Vassell Scouting Report

Devin Vassell
Height: 6-6
Weight: 190 lbs.
Wingspan: 6-10

The Rundown

• Very long/lean body that (when he fills out more) could potentially be a problem for opposing wings
• Possesses quick hands to go along with superior defensive instincts, very aware off-ball and help defender
• Strong on-ball defender, motor really turns on at the defensive end
• Comfortable (and productive) playing in transition, although not an elite run-and-jump athlete
• Smart basketball player, IQ shows-up on film: above-average rebounder for a wing, has the ability to keep the ball moving and make plays for others, averaged 0.8 TO’s in 29 MPG
• Very high release on his jump-shot, seems more comfortable in wide open/spot-up situations
• Not an adept finisher in traffic, his lack of bulk is a problem inside, tends to avoid contact rather than play through it (evidenced by low FTr)

Vassell’s identity as a basketball player has been molded on the defensive side of the floor. I think he has the highest motor of all the prospects in this class, and his length - combined with superior instincts - provides Vassell with the opportunity to continue to be an imposing defensive player at the next level. He can do it all defensively: moves his feet, has length to recover, effectively closes-out on shooters, quality help-defender, very disruptive in the passing lanes, etc. (evidenced by his 3.2 stocks - combined steals and blocks - per/40 minutes last season).

He seems comfortable spotting-up and stepping into his three-point attempts, but he’s probably not as NBA-ready when it comes to creating his own shot off the dribble. As mentioned above, Vassell has a very high-release point on his jump shot to go along with a very balanced and fluid lower-half.

Vassell was dangerous from pretty much every zone behind the three-point line in 2019-20. His highest volume of three-point attempts came from the left/right wings, where the 6-6 swing-man shot 40.8% on 49 attempts. Vassell shot 41% last season on left/right corner three-point field goals (39 attempts), and he went 8 for 18 (44%) on three-point attempts from the top of the key.

Best Games of the Season
January 18th at Miami: 23 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks
February 1st at Virginia Tech: 27 points (8-10 FGA’s, 7-7 3PTA’s)

Spoiler:

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His game is all about disruption and havoc on the defensive-end, and efficiency (and IQ) on the offensive-end. That kind of player is incredibly valuable in the NBA; a two-way guy that can impact the game in a variety of ways, who doesn’t dribble the air out of the ball or require a lot of shot attempts to stay engaged. I think Vassell’s floor is one of the highest in this class.

NBA Comparisons
Possibly could happen comparisons: Danny Green, OG Anunoby (similar height/versatility/defensive impact), Matisse Thybulle (similar potential of defensive impact), Justin Holiday (with higher-upside, especially defensively)

Orlando -- SB Nation

[Spud2nique]

Dang it you know you come back here and see that you like the same prospects as Jam! Ah the hell with it. Ya whatever it was bound to happen. Is he Klay Thompson? Who cares I don’t want a cry baby. Is he a solid 3 and D, possibly. His strengths is shooting, his weakness is creating a shot for himself. We need shooters, post up/bodyguard Trez GWU (haze) types, and more wangs. Get ready for it....

YOU GET A WANG YOU GET A WANT YOU GET A WANG!!! WANGJAYJAYYYYYS FOR EVERYONE!!!!

He’s a good prospect.

[Jamaaliver]

2020 NBA Draft targets

Devin Vassell | Florida State | Sophomore | Wing

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Measurements

Height: 6’7’’
Weight: 194 lbs
Wingspan: 6’10’’
DOB: 8/23/2000

Offense
Devin Vassell isn’t an exceptionally gifted offensive player, though his ability to immediately fill the role of a 3-and-D wing for any franchise makes him a highly valuable asset. While questions remain about his scoring potential, his growth from freshman to sophomore year suggests the work ethic to continue expanding his currently limited repertoire.

In regards to translatable offensive skills, Vassell possesses solid footwork in catch-and-shoot situations, legitimate NBA range on his three-point jumper, and a quick above-the-head release that makes it a tough shot to contest. The lanky wing also displayed exceptional touch and body control around the rim, exhibiting ambidexterity, and a reliable floater.

Spoiler:

Vassell rarely takes a possession off on either end of the floor, and his remarkable motor shines off-ball and in transition where he can take advantage of unaware defenders. He makes purposeful cuts to the basket, runs hard on fastbreaks, and is an opportune offensive rebounder who actively seeks out the orange.

Despite his low assist numbers, Devin keeps the ball moving, rarely forces ill-advised passes, and refrains from pounding the rock in search of points. That in mind, ball-handling is perhaps the weakest part of his entire package, with his left-hand noticeably shakier than his right. Simple spins and hesitations are about as deep as his arsenal goes, and live-dribble turnovers accounted for a decent sum of his giveaways.

Additionally, Vassell showed a tendency to adjust his shot in traffic rather than attempt to finish through contact. This habitual inclination to sky-and-adjust likely derives from his slight frame and need to leap off both feet to maximize his explosiveness. As a result, the six-seven sophomore drew few fouls, had several layups erased at the hole, and you can expect that figure to increase with longer NBA defenders patrolling the paint.

Defense
Vassell may be the best defender in the 2020 Draft Class, and his capacity to disrupt opposing offenses in a variety of ways sets him apart from his peers. From steal and swats to closeouts and communication, this 19-year-old does just about everything at an elite level given his size and position, and his boundless energy further highlights his talents.

He is a spectacular team defender who consistently makes the correct rotation, and his active hands combined with his acute anticipation on-ball and in the passing lanes allowed him to come up with almost two steals per game. Vassell also lays claim to solid footwork, a six-ten wingspan, and an uncanny knack for blocking shots from behind.

Spoiler:

As a weakside defender, Vassell repositions himself quite nicely to get involved and break up plays. He excels at digging down on slashers and cutters and has no issue hitting the hardwood to repossess the ball. Furthermore, the defensive-minded wing has shown the wherewithal to appropriately execute within a zone defense and cover multiple men.

Although Vassell may frequently bite on ball fakes and occasionally whiff when gambling for steals, it’s impossible to ignore his well-rounded defensive skillset. You won’t find a better culmination of length, athleticism, and defensive IQ on the wing, and for that reason alone, Devin Vassell should be on the San Antonio Spurs’ radar.

Player Comparison: Mikal Bridges

San Antonio -- SB Nation

[Jamaaliver]

Devin Vassell | SG/SF | Florida State

6’7”, 194 lbs., 19 years old

12.7 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.4 SPG, 1.0 BPG on 49/41/74 shooting splits in 28.8 minutes per game.

Identity/Role: 3 & D wing. Defensive savant. Team player.

Vassell is a high-level defender that has some underrated shot making ability off the dribble. He is hands down the best team defender in this draft class, playing like a free safety off the ball and covers ground like a ball hawk.

Devin always seems to be in the right place at the right time, much like current Phoenix Sun Mikal Bridges in that regard. If you want a plug and play versatile wing that can play the 2 or 3 and knock down 3-pointers, then he’s your guy. Vassell is someone that will likely be available when they make their selection. The defensive versatility and length he’d add on the wing makes him a very intriguing option that the Suns Hawks should seriously consider.

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Phoenix SB Nation

[Jamaaliver]

2020 NBA Mock Draft: Predicting Round 1 of the NBA Draft (V.2)

3. Atlanta Hawks - Devin Vassell, F


Vassell is admittedly not the best player on the board at this spot. But, with Atlanta drafting for need last year with De’Andre Hunter and trading for Clint Capela to pair with John Collins in the frontcourt this winter, it’s tough to envision the Hawks going with a center at this spot, even with James Wiseman on the board.

Vassell will look to provide more defense on the wing. If the Hawks are going to build a contender around Trae Young, the defensive end of the floor is going to have to improve drastically, and he might be the best fit to help that happen. Offensively, Vassell wasn’t a super high-volume guy at Florida State, but he was efficient from the outside, knocking down 41% of his threes in both of his college seasons. While the jury is still out on Hunter, Vassell gives Atlanta more depth on the wing while having a pretty high upside as an elite role player.

Complex Sports

[Spud2nique]

High on him. I’d take him over Haliburton and Hayes for us.

[Jamaaliver]

Devin Vassell

As the most well-rounded 3-and-D wing in the 2020 NBA Draft, Devin Vassell is a player who should be extremely high on the [Hawks'] draft board. The team defense, length, and versatility of Vassell are enticing, but his off-ball shooting sets him apart from the other aspiring 3-and-D wings in this draft.

Vassell is the epitome of a role player. That may seem like a slight, but in fact, is an extraordinary compliment. Only a handful of players ever truly become stars, and even fewer become a star on a championship-winning team. In so many cases, the role players are the ones who end up pushing a good team over the top to be a great one.

It is unlikely that Vassell will develop into a lights-out scorer who takes defenders off the dribble at will, but at the least, he will be an incredibly useful off-ball scorer who plays excellent team defense.

After his freshman season at Florida State, Vassell saw a massive increase in responsibility as his games started increased from zero to 30, and his minutes jumped from 10.7 to 28.8. This increased role often leads to players losing efficiency due to more attempts. Vassell remained an efficient shooter as he continued to shoot just under 42 percent from three on almost double the attempts from the previous season.

Vassell is at his most effective when he is working away from the ball on offense. This season he scored 1.4 PPP (95th percentile) when running off screens, 1.039 PPP (80th percentile) when spotting up, and 1.22 PPP (87th percentile) when shooting off the catch.

Below we see how Vassell continues to move without the ball and find the perimeter's open space. After giving up the ball, Vassell does an excellent job of clearing out to create a lane for his teammate. He could have easily stayed put on the elbow. Instead, he rotates to the corner once his teammate cuts baseline and the defense collapses on the drive.

This movement is subtle, but it gives him a more comfortable shot and, more importantly, gives his teammate a more accessible pass.

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DunkingWithWolves.com

[Jamaaliver]

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[Jamaaliver]

Warriors higher on six NBA draft prospects than most teams

SG/SF Devin Vassell, Florida State

Vassell is another wing who shows flashes of elite play on both ends of the court. A tenacious defender, Vassell presents a nearly 7-foot wingspan that can cover up most passing lanes for opponents.

The former Seminole shot 41.7 percent from three over two collegiate seasons, and according to Letourneau, Golden State would consider drafting Vassell in the "bottom half of the top-five."

NBC Sports

Warriors' five best win-now fits among 2020 NBA Draft prospects

No. 3: SF Devin Vassell, Florida State

Vassell is another prototypical 3-and-D wing who could be an instant contributor on a playoff team in 2020-21. At Florida State, Vassell utilized his 6-foot-9 wingspan as an elite defender at multiple positions and helped the Seminoles win the Atlantic Coast Conference in his sophomore season. He also shot 41.7 percent from long distance in college and was an extremely efficient player on the offensive end.

He didn't show as much of a propensity for attacking the basket as you'd like to see, but Vassell is a versatile player who will fit nicely into most NBA rosters. One NBA comparison that continually pops up for Vassell is Los Angeles Lakers guard Danny Green, who helped dethrone the Warriors with the Toronto Raptors in the 2019 NBA Finals.

NBC Sports

[Spud2nique]

Warriors higher on six NBA draft prospects than most teams

SG/SF Devin Vassell, Florida State

Vassell is another wing who shows flashes of elite play on both ends of the court. A tenacious defender, Vassell presents a nearly 7-foot wingspan that can cover up most passing lanes for opponents.

The former Seminole shot 41.7 percent from three over two collegiate seasons, and according to Letourneau, Golden State would consider drafting Vassell in the "bottom half of the top-five."

NBC Sports

Warriors' five best win-now fits among 2020 NBA Draft prospects

No. 3: SF Devin Vassell, Florida State

Vassell is another prototypical 3-and-D wing who could be an instant contributor on a playoff team in 2020-21. At Florida State, Vassell utilized his 6-foot-9 wingspan as an elite defender at multiple positions and helped the Seminoles win the Atlantic Coast Conference in his sophomore season. He also shot 41.7 percent from long distance in college and was an extremely efficient player on the offensive end.

He didn't show as much of a propensity for attacking the basket as you'd like to see, but Vassell is a versatile player who will fit nicely into most NBA rosters. One NBA comparison that continually pops up for Vassell is Los Angeles Lakers guard Danny Green, who helped dethrone the Warriors with the Toronto Raptors in the 2019 NBA Finals.

NBC Sports

With the 5th pick in the 2020 NBA draft, the Golden State Warriors select...

Who gives a crap about the scrubs this is an Atlanta Hawks board. Bye Ayesha. Ps Ayesha shut down your crappy restaurant in Houston nobody wants you there.. NOBOOOOODDDDDYYYY!!!!

[Spud2nique]

But I do love Vassell for us.

[Jamaaliver]

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Sophomore Devin Vassell...shines in a low-usage role. Vassell primarily adheres to spot-up 3s, attacking closeouts, cutting, and making wise decisions as a passer. Unless he makes more progress as a ball handler—he hit one dribble jumper as a freshman and then 39 as a sophomore—he’ll likely project as a complementary offensive player. But that’s OK, because Vassell should be a lottery pick alone for his defense.



Vassell must have eyes in the back of his head because plays like the one above are routine for him. Even when he’s not involved in a play, he has the awareness to rotate and disrupt an action. He gets a nasty block in the clip above, but other times he’ll just shift over and deter an opponent from driving in the direction they intended. He hustles for chasedown blocks, too. And as a man-to-man defender, he displays sound fundamentals regardless of the type of opponent he’s facing. There is no “Shane Battier” in this draft, but Vassell, who displays the same no-quit personality, is the closest comparison.

Vassell isn’t a perfect defender. He’s lean. Battier was 6-foot-8 and weighed about 220 pounds during his playing days. Vassell is 6-foot-7 tops, and weighed 194 pounds before his sophomore season. In order to effectively push back on a switch against a big, or keep an oversized perimeter player from plowing his way to the basket, Vassell needs to get significantly stronger. With such a slender frame, he might have some limitations there that cap his defensive versatility.

[Jamaaliver]

Devin Vassell is an underrated NBA Draft prospect

Vassell is a lanky 6’6″ forward with a 6’10” wingspan and is projected to be a quality two-way player straight out the gate. He shot his way up the big boards by being a lethal catch-and-shoot player and an even more promising defender.

In his sophomore season at Florida State, Vassell averaged 12.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.0 blocks per game. He was a high-impact player on both ends of the floor and covered ground with his giant strides.

He has a decent motor and doesn’t give up on plays. Vassell is strong at keeping his man in front of him but is also quick enough to recover and reject shots as a help defender. Furthermore, his length allows him to be a plus rebounder for his position.

His most valuable asset is his 3-point shooting. Vassell drilled 44 deep shots last year on 41.5 percent shooting from behind the line. He is a sniper on catch-and-shoot opportunities and has a smooth pull up in the mid-range.

The speed of his jumpshot is concerning. It takes him a long time to move the ball up to the top of his head due to his long arms and this can often allow opponents enough opportunity to close out on him. This is made worse by the fact that he isn’t a quick-twitch athlete and often relies heavily on his size to shoot over smaller players.

Though he doesn’t possess blazing speed, he is a decent finisher around the rim. He was a threat to catch lobs in transition and had a knack for sniffing out offensive rebounds whenever he had a chance.

GSW Fansided

[Jamaaliver]

If you combine Huerter's shooting efficiency with Cam's defense...you get Devin Vassell. He likely won't be a star, but he looks like an elite 3&D role player. There is extreme value in having a stable of guys like that with varying strengths and weaknesses.

Should FSU’s Devin Vassell receive more consideration as the Hawks’ draft pick?



Devin Vassell’s profile doesn’t scream future star, but in a draft with not much high-level talent, he should be strongly considered if the Hawks fall in the five to seven range. The only player who should be picked over him for the Hawks is Anthony Edwards because he has the most star potential. Players such as Isaac Okoro, Deni Avdija, Tyrese Haliburton and Killian Hayes, to name a few, are all in the same tier for a Hawks-specific board and have their own arguments for why they should be the pick, but Vassell would not be a bad option.

Vassell shot 41.7 percent from 3 in his two years at FSU and had a terrific 3.2 STOCK rate (steals plus blocks) per 40 minutes this past season. An argument could be made that Vassell was the best team defender in college basketball. That’s an important accolade for a team like Atlanta because the Hawks need to shore up the point of attack. Because of Trae Young’s defensive liabilities, having good team defenders is almost a necessity.

One of Vassell’s biggest minuses is he hasn’t shown a consistent ability to get to the rim. He simply doesn’t have the burst to beat defenders off the dribble and [get into the lane]...

If Vassell ends up being the Hawks’ pick, they still will need someone to fill that secondary creator role. As we’ve previously discussed, Huerter should have more opportunities to create because it’s an underrated skill of his, but, again, long-term, the defensive fit with Huerter and Young is a big question mark. That’s where Vassell could separate himself over Huerter because Vassell’s defensive fit projects to fit about as well as the Hawks could want out of a two-guard.

“He’s a complete basketball player,” Florida State Head Coach Leonard Hamilton said. “He blocks shots. He steals the ball. He defends. He makes good decisions with the ball. He’s a good passer. He’s a willing passer, and you can’t leave him open. He shot over 40 percent from 3 as a freshman and sophomore. I don’t know many guys in the NBA who have shot over 40 percent as a freshman and sophomore in college. You can only compare him to someone like Klay Thompson from the Warriors. That’s honestly the closest person I’ve seen that you can relate Devin to because if he has an open look, it’s going in.”

Vassell isn’t a perfect prospect and may never reach the level that Hamilton believes he will, but Vassell certainly has plug-and-play potential from Day 1 if the Hawks land him in the lottery.

The Athletic

[Spud2nique]

If you combine Huerter's shooting efficiency with Cam's defense...you get Devin Vassell. He likely won't be a star, but he looks like an elite 3&D role player. There is extreme value in having a stable of guys like that with varying strengths and weaknesses.

Should FSU’s Devin Vassell receive more consideration as the Hawks’ draft pick?



Devin Vassell’s profile doesn’t scream future star, but in a draft with not much high-level talent, he should be strongly considered if the Hawks fall in the five to seven range. The only player who should be picked over him for the Hawks is Anthony Edwards because he has the most star potential. Players such as Isaac Okoro, Deni Avdija, Tyrese Haliburton and Killian Hayes, to name a few, are all in the same tier for a Hawks-specific board and have their own arguments for why they should be the pick, but Vassell would not be a bad option.

Vassell shot 41.7 percent from 3 in his two years at FSU and had a terrific 3.2 STOCK rate (steals plus blocks) per 40 minutes this past season. An argument could be made that Vassell was the best team defender in college basketball. That’s an important accolade for a team like Atlanta because the Hawks need to shore up the point of attack. Because of Trae Young’s defensive liabilities, having good team defenders is almost a necessity.

One of Vassell’s biggest minuses is he hasn’t shown a consistent ability to get to the rim. He simply doesn’t have the burst to beat defenders off the dribble and [get into the lane]...

If Vassell ends up being the Hawks’ pick, they still will need someone to fill that secondary creator role. As we’ve previously discussed, Huerter should have more opportunities to create because it’s an underrated skill of his, but, again, long-term, the defensive fit with Huerter and Young is a big question mark. That’s where Vassell could separate himself over Huerter because Vassell’s defensive fit projects to fit about as well as the Hawks could want out of a two-guard.

“He’s a complete basketball player,” Florida State Head Coach Leonard Hamilton said. “He blocks shots. He steals the ball. He defends. He makes good decisions with the ball. He’s a good passer. He’s a willing passer, and you can’t leave him open. He shot over 40 percent from 3 as a freshman and sophomore. I don’t know many guys in the NBA who have shot over 40 percent as a freshman and sophomore in college. You can only compare him to someone like Klay Thompson from the Warriors. That’s honestly the closest person I’ve seen that you can relate Devin to because if he has an open look, it’s going in.”

Vassell isn’t a perfect prospect and may never reach the level that Hamilton believes he will, but Vassell certainly has plug-and-play potential from Day 1 if the Hawks land him in the lottery.

The Athletic

Is Huerter’s shooting efficiency good? No I agree, I like this kid. I think he’s specially effective in a role he would have for our team.

[Jamaaliver]

NBA Mock Draft 7.0

Atlanta Hawks | Devin Vassell | Wing



On paper, it seems like the Atlanta Hawks’ post-rebuild roster is taking shape. They have Trae Young as the high-volume, hot-shooting engine of offensive creation. They have Clint Capela as the rim protector and vertical spacer, with John Collins as another pick-and-roll threat who is hopefully expanding his game. On the wings, they have shooters (Kevin Huerter) and 3-and-D options (Cam Reddish and DeAndre Hunter). The only problem is that both the 3-and-D for Reddish and Hunter is still at least somewhat hypothetical — combined, they shot 34.4 percent on 3s and are still figuring out how to use their tools on defense.

Using a third lottery pick in two years on players in the same role may seem like waving a white flag but Vassell is the best 3-and-D prospect in this class and probably has a better chance than Hunter or Reddish of offering more on offense. He’s a much more advanced shooter off movement than either of them and his potential as a secondary creator is higher as well, something that will be increasingly important as the Hawks look to round out skill depth around Trae Young. Vassell might not be a future All-Star but he’s exactly the kind of piece that can help Atlanta shift towards playoff competitiveness.

Learn more about Devin Vassell with our full scouting report.

Fansided

[Jamaaliver]

2020 NBA Draft: First-round prospects who were overlooked as recruits out of high school

Devin Vassell, Florida State

Class (Rank): 2018 (200)

It's hard to include Devin Vassell in this category -- he was a three-star, top-200 recruit in the 2018 recruiting class -- but I'd be remiss to gloss over him. Because despite his clear and obvious potential with his long wingspan and 6-5 frame, here's the entire list of programs who offered him a scholarship coming out of high school:

• Florida State
  
• Furman
  
• Indiana State
  
• North Florida
  
• Stetson
  
• Texas Tech

Yes -- that's it. Two power-conference offers for a Georgia recruit who was ranked among the top-10 prospects in the state. (That sound you hear is Georgia and Georgia Tech kicking themselves in the shins for passing on pursuing him.)

Vassell, however, wasn't an immediate star in college. He played sparingly as a freshman, averaging 4.5 points and 1.5 boards per game. But it didn't take him long to figure things out. Last season he was a stellar sophomore, and on an FSU team flush with NBA talent, he stood above the rest.

Now standing at 6-6 with a wingspan close to 7-feet, a 3-point shot that's fallen at a 41.7% rate in two seasons on 168 attempts, and a defensive mentality that's NBA ready right now, he looks like one of the most safe 3-and-D wings in this draft. Most people I talk to don't expect he'll be available by the time the lottery portion of the draft is complete.

CBS Sports

[King Ken]

Last year, it was Jarrett Culver, this year, it's Devin Vassell. I just don't think this guy is that good. I do think he plays a key role. I do think he's in the mold of Danny Green which has value depending on your style of play but 3&D SGs just aren't that valuable. It's not 3&D big wings who are extremely valuable. I can see how some can really like this kid but he's fool's gold to me. I would take him around the range we got Kevin Huerter and think I did a great job but taking him in the top 10 is a MISTAKE!

[King Ken]

If you combine Huerter's shooting efficiency with Cam's defense...you get Devin Vassell. He likely won't be a star, but he looks like an elite 3&D role player. There is extreme value in having a stable of guys like that with varying strengths and weaknesses.

He ain't got **** on Cam or Kevin. Both projected to be much better shooters than him. Cam had NBA projections at 39% and finished with 38% projections. Kevin at 37%. Devin is at 35.7% and he doesn't have the smooth form of Kevin nor does he have Kevin's volume and Cam volume is otherworldly compared to Devin and Cam proved in the last year months why is 3pt shooting will be a tremendous strength moving forward for us. This kid literally takes 4.4 3s per36. That's average for a SG. Cam was putting up 9 3s per36. Kevin was a solid 5.7 3s. This kid is a comp player. I hate to be negative but I hate when people try to sell diamonds when it cubic zirconia.

3&D from SGs is not valuable at all. It's only valuable from 3s and bigs. That's why Hunter was worth moving up for and why I think it's a mistake to take Vassell in the top 10.

[Jamaaliver]

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