Santi Aldama

[Hal14]

Watching some more footage of Aldama - he actually does seem pretty quick on his feet, agile, nimble out there, seeing some clips where he's able to defend well out on the perimeter. I know it's lower competition level, but talent is talent.

This play you have to be impressed with the footwork and how fluid he moves on the court and handles the ball and shoots it. Very smooth, step back 3, looks like Dirk a little bit.

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Next video here, really like the play at 3:10, a move like that for a 6'11" dude is very impressive, especially at age 20. Has a defender all over him, makes a hard drive, then creates some space with a nice hesitation move before finishing strong at the rim with left hand. Overall in this video he looks pretty quick on his feet, mobile, agile and has decent lateral quickness on D, closes out on shooters well, some good help D. At 4:56 mark, looks like Nowitzki on this play, faces up from the wing, tries to drive on defender, then backs him down in post, turns out of the post and hits a tough fadeaway jumper with hand in face from 18-feet, nice! Another play that you simply don't see 6'11" dudes make, especially ones who are only 20 yrs old. At 5:49 really smooth on the catch and shoot 3, good footwork setting his feet and squaring up prior to the catch so that once he catches it he can go right up into the shot. Again, you just don't see this stuff from 6'11" dudes, especially ones who are only 20. 6:33 mark Aldama's man has the ball in the corner - Aldama defending him tight out on perimeter so the offensive player tries to drive on Aldama, but Aldama does nice job moving his feet and sticking with his man, doesn't allow his man to get a look at the basket and has to kick it out to the corner.

Watch on YouTube

Last video, really like the play at 1:31 mark, you see him get ball in corner, backs up to give himself some more room to operate with through the legs dribble, then drives on his man, faking one way before leaning in the other way, goes up with shot and draws foul - nice skill level for a 6'11" kid, especially one who's only 20. Really nice play at 2:19 mark, ball fake to try and get the defender off-balance, then a hard drive to the rim, which gets the defender leaning towards the basket cause the defender thinks Aldama is taking it all the way to the rim but then Aldama stops on a dime and hits the step back jumper around the foul line, really smooth, good footwork, good skill level for a 6'11" dude, especially one who's only 20. 3:11 mark faces up from perimeter, looks to take his man off the dribble. Again he likes that ball fake where he fakes a cross court pass, he really sells it to - which allows him to get a step on his defender when driving, from there he accelerates to the rim for a strong finish - showing nice combination of size, skill and quickness - very fluid for a 6'11" dude, especially ones who's only 20.

Watch on YouTube

Could be a steal for whoever takes him in the 2nd round. Word on the street is Aldama is now 7'0" (with a 7'2" wingspan). Not many 7 footers with this type of perimeter skill set, quickness, agility while also being able to score/rebound/block shots inside.

[Hal14]

Could be the steal of the draft for whoever takes him late 2nd round..

Give this guy NBA spacing, no more double teams like he saw in college and better teammates and he could be scary.

I think whoever takes him you put him in g-league for a year a) because he's only 20 and b) to bridge the gap between the Patriot League he played in an and the NBA...but after 1 year in the g-league this dude could really develop in to a player..

Watch on YouTube

[Charm]

Here are the defenses he faced (with KenPom ranks):

-Lafayette x6 (#335)
-Navy x4 (#201)
-American x3 (#262)
-Lehigh 2x (#303)
-Army (#161)
-Colgate (#148)

Out of 347 D1 teams, they had the 339th-ranked schedule in terms of average opponent defense. I don't think we should write him off completely, but I think it's better to think of him like a JUCO or DII/DIII prospect, and his numbers aren't too shocking from that perspective.

[Hal14]

Here are the defenses he faced (with KenPom ranks):

-Lafayette x6 (#335)
-Navy x4 (#201)
-American x3 (#262)
-Lehigh 2x (#303)
-Army (#161)
-Colgate (#148)

Out of 347 D1 teams, they had the 339th-ranked schedule in terms of average opponent defense. I don't think we should write him off completely, but I think it's better to think of him like a JUCO or DII/DIII prospect, and his numbers aren't too shocking from that perspective.

Fair point. I'm not necessarily looking at the stats but moreso the physical profile and skillset. Of course, you have to consider the competition when looking at the skillset, but still...talent is talent. And it makes you wonder, what would guys like Kai Jones, Evan Mobley, Isaiah Jackson, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, JT Thor - would numbers would they have put up in the same situation as Aldama? What would their highlights footage have looked like?

Also, consider that he has gone up against strong competition in summer of 2019, when he won MVP of the FIBA U18 European Championship:

Watch on YouTube

[Charm]

Here are the defenses he faced (with KenPom ranks):

-Lafayette x6 (#335)
-Navy x4 (#201)
-American x3 (#262)
-Lehigh 2x (#303)
-Army (#161)
-Colgate (#148)

Out of 347 D1 teams, they had the 339th-ranked schedule in terms of average opponent defense. I don't think we should write him off completely, but I think it's better to think of him like a JUCO or DII/DIII prospect, and his numbers aren't too shocking from that perspective.

Fair point. I'm not necessarily looking at the stats but moreso the physical profile and skillset. Of course, you have to consider the competition when looking at the skillset, but still...talent is talent. And it makes you wonder, what would guys like Kai Jones, Evan Mobley, Isaiah Jackson, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, JT Thor - would numbers would they have put up in the same situation as Aldama? What would their highlights footage have looked like?

Also, consider that he has gone up against strong competition in summer of 2019, when he won MVP of the FIBA U18 European Championship:

Watch on YouTube

Yeah, he's talented for sure, and he's been on the radar for a long time. He's just never really been tested. Ironically, the toughest opponent he ever faced may have been Sengun in the U18 finals.

[Hal14]

Here are the defenses he faced (with KenPom ranks):

-Lafayette x6 (#335)
-Navy x4 (#201)
-American x3 (#262)
-Lehigh 2x (#303)
-Army (#161)
-Colgate (#148)

Out of 347 D1 teams, they had the 339th-ranked schedule in terms of average opponent defense. I don't think we should write him off completely, but I think it's better to think of him like a JUCO or DII/DIII prospect, and his numbers aren't too shocking from that perspective.

Fair point. I'm not necessarily looking at the stats but moreso the physical profile and skillset. Of course, you have to consider the competition when looking at the skillset, but still...talent is talent. And it makes you wonder, what would guys like Kai Jones, Evan Mobley, Isaiah Jackson, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, JT Thor - would numbers would they have put up in the same situation as Aldama? What would their highlights footage have looked like?

Also, consider that he has gone up against strong competition in summer of 2019, when he won MVP of the FIBA U18 European Championship:

Watch on YouTube

Yeah, he's talented for sure, and he's been on the radar for a long time. He's just never really been tested. Ironically, the toughest opponent he ever faced may have been Sengun in the U18 finals.

Yeah it's too bad he didn't go to the combine or g-league elite camp. Would have been interesting to see how would have done there. EJ Onu (another 6'11" dude who is athletic and can shoot but went to a small school and faced weak competition) was kind of exposed at the g league elite camp from what I saw. He didn't do so well vs the tougher competition, so I'm thinking he won't get drafted. Aldama though seems to be better and is 2 yrs younger.

Haven't really heard much noise about Aldama doing predraft workouts for NBA teams. That would give him a chance to prove himself against better competition..

[Charm]

"While his frontcourt buddies are part of Real Madrid, and the rest of his teammates playing for Barcelona, Zaragoza, Malaga, Valencia and Islas Canarias, Aldama had an academic career in mind when deciding about his future. Basketball duties will come in between Business and Management classes at the Loyola University Maryland next season.

'I really think studies are really important. Going to the US is an amazing opportunity to study and play basketball at the same time. In Loyola (University Maryland) they have a great team, we will do big things there, that's why I chose to go there,' Santiago Aldama explained."

https://www.fiba.basketball/europe/u18/2019/news/spain-s-aldama-wants-a-business-career-to-match-his-highlight-producing-basketball-potential

Seems like a weird dude who just isn't as single-mindedly dedicated to basketball as most other teenage superstars. Wouldn't be surprised if he never goes pro at all tbh.

[clyde21]

he already decided he's going pro

[Hal14]

"While his frontcourt buddies are part of Real Madrid, and the rest of his teammates playing for Barcelona, Zaragoza, Malaga, Valencia and Islas Canarias, Aldama had an academic career in mind when deciding about his future. Basketball duties will come in between Business and Management classes at the Loyola University Maryland next season.

'I really think studies are really important. Going to the US is an amazing opportunity to study and play basketball at the same time. In Loyola (University Maryland) they have a great team, we will do big things there, that's why I chose to go there,' Santiago Aldama explained."

https://www.fiba.basketball/europe/u18/2019/news/spain-s-aldama-wants-a-business-career-to-match-his-highlight-producing-basketball-potential

Seems like a weird dude who just isn't as single-mindedly dedicated to basketball as most other teenage superstars. Wouldn't be surprised if he never goes pro at all tbh.

If you look at this tweet and all the others on his Twitter page it's pretty obvious that he is dedicated to the goal of playing in the NBA:

Read on Twitter

This is why he chose Loyola:
https://www.olympicchannel.com/en/stories/news/detail/santi-aldama-interview-spain-nba-loyola/

He's put in 2 yrs at Loyola, but based on this tweet, he realizes that he can't stay at Loyola for another year - he needs to either get drafted by an NBA team or go play professionally overseas in order to face better competition:

Read on Twitter

[Charm]

"While his frontcourt buddies are part of Real Madrid, and the rest of his teammates playing for Barcelona, Zaragoza, Malaga, Valencia and Islas Canarias, Aldama had an academic career in mind when deciding about his future. Basketball duties will come in between Business and Management classes at the Loyola University Maryland next season.

'I really think studies are really important. Going to the US is an amazing opportunity to study and play basketball at the same time. In Loyola (University Maryland) they have a great team, we will do big things there, that's why I chose to go there,' Santiago Aldama explained."

https://www.fiba.basketball/europe/u18/2019/news/spain-s-aldama-wants-a-business-career-to-match-his-highlight-producing-basketball-potential

Seems like a weird dude who just isn't as single-mindedly dedicated to basketball as most other teenage superstars. Wouldn't be surprised if he never goes pro at all tbh.

If you look at this tweet and all the others on his Twitter page it's pretty obvious that he is dedicated to the goal of playing in the NBA:

Read on Twitter

This is why he chose Loyola:
https://www.olympicchannel.com/en/stories/news/detail/santi-aldama-interview-spain-nba-loyola/

He's put in 2 yrs at Loyola, but based on this tweet, he realizes that he can't stay at Loyola for another year - he needs to either get drafted by an NBA team or go play professionally overseas in order to face better competition:

Read on Twitter

Interesting. Honestly, he should do exactly what Petrusev did and sign overseas with some respectable team that's willing to put the ball in his hands. If he performs like Petrusev, NBA teams will be laying out a red carpet for him next summer. If not, well, at least he got some real pro experience and his career is underway.

[Hal14]

"While his frontcourt buddies are part of Real Madrid, and the rest of his teammates playing for Barcelona, Zaragoza, Malaga, Valencia and Islas Canarias, Aldama had an academic career in mind when deciding about his future. Basketball duties will come in between Business and Management classes at the Loyola University Maryland next season.

'I really think studies are really important. Going to the US is an amazing opportunity to study and play basketball at the same time. In Loyola (University Maryland) they have a great team, we will do big things there, that's why I chose to go there,' Santiago Aldama explained."

https://www.fiba.basketball/europe/u18/2019/news/spain-s-aldama-wants-a-business-career-to-match-his-highlight-producing-basketball-potential

Seems like a weird dude who just isn't as single-mindedly dedicated to basketball as most other teenage superstars. Wouldn't be surprised if he never goes pro at all tbh.

If you look at this tweet and all the others on his Twitter page it's pretty obvious that he is dedicated to the goal of playing in the NBA:

Read on Twitter

This is why he chose Loyola:
https://www.olympicchannel.com/en/stories/news/detail/santi-aldama-interview-spain-nba-loyola/

He's put in 2 yrs at Loyola, but based on this tweet, he realizes that he can't stay at Loyola for another year - he needs to either get drafted by an NBA team or go play professionally overseas in order to face better competition:

Read on Twitter

Interesting. Honestly, he should do exactly what Petrusev did and sign overseas with some respectable team that's willing to put the ball in his hands. If he performs like Petrusev, NBA teams will be laying out a red carpet for him next summer. If not, well, at least he got some real pro experience and his career is underway.

Agreed. His draft stock is low because of the competition he faced at Loyola.

He's from Spain so if he goes back to Spain and signs on with a pro team over there, and plays well he could go much higher in the draft next year..