Paolo Banchero

[Duke4life831]

Playing small ball 5 is not a good thing at all.

You rather be an oversized 3, legit 4 than a small ball 5.

Paolo is undisputedly PF sized and huge looking on the court.



Adrian Griffin Jr is listed at 6'6" at Duke, 6'7". He is likely SG/SF sized for the NBA. Paolo towers above him (regardless of the angle in the photo).

Why is playing a small ball 5 not a good thing at all? He is much more suited to be a 4/5 than being a 4/3. I mean he has played and defended the 5 for basically his entire life so far.

Also we have no clue AJ's height. Im a huge AJ fan but his height seems to be something that no one seems to be able to get any kind of actual grasp on. The only thing that is known about him for sure is he has a 7"+ wingspan because there is a picture of him getting his wingspan measured.

But ya AJ can end up being 6'7 and Paolo could end up being 6'10-6'11. I dont think anyone is saying that isn't possible. But we have no clue if AJ isn't really 6'4 and Paolo is just the 6'8 some people say he is.

[retrobro90]

Watch on YouTube

New film breakdown with Schmitz. Pleasantly surprised with what I saw from Banch's defensive principles in regards to his backside PnR defense and instincts on when to switch. Also seems like he knows how to use his verticality to contest at the rim. I guess he used to be a long jumper and has since lost a bit of his vertical pop but there's a very impressive two handed dunk toward the beginning of this video.

[akhan786]

Watch on YouTube

New film breakdown with Schmitz. Pleasantly surprised with what I saw from Banch's defensive principles in regards to his backside PnR defense and instincts on when to switch. Also seems like he knows how to use his verticality to contest at the rim. I guess he used to be a long jumper and has since lost a bit of his vertical pop but there's a very impressive two handed dunk toward the beginning of this video.

Banchero seems to have a pretty impressive mentality.

You don’t bet against a kid that big, that perfectionist, and has that look on his face at the end of the video lol

[Upperclass]

Reminds me so much of Derrick Williams or Blake Griffin.. could go either way i supose

[Hal14]

Watch on YouTube

New film breakdown with Schmitz. Pleasantly surprised with what I saw from Banch's defensive principles in regards to his backside PnR defense and instincts on when to switch. Also seems like he knows how to use his verticality to contest at the rim. I guess he used to be a long jumper and has since lost a bit of his vertical pop but there's a very impressive two handed dunk toward the beginning of this video.

Banchero seems to have a pretty impressive mentality.

You don’t bet against a kid that big, that perfectionist, and has that look on his face at the end of the video lol

haha yup, he had that look of a killer at the end of the video like he is so focused on just being the best he can be. Love his response to the last question what kind of player are you gonna be in 5 years? "an all-star, one of the best players in the league.

Really looking forward to watching him develop over the next few years. Seems like a humble kid too - not like some "look at me, big shot projected top 3 pick in the draft with a huge ego", not like that at all.

[DCasey91]

Banchero is my favorite prospect from this years draft. The intangibles, maturity, own skill development and work ethic is all there.

Slimmed down (it’s very noticeable now), takes his preparation very seriously for a youngster (pre/post). Played QB so he has vision.

It’s basically Pistons Griffin starting from day dot. Or better yet humungous Cade. I have a sneaky suspicion he’ll pop more in College on the athleticism front (better athlete imo) not to mention the overwhelming size difference.

He’s closer to Tatum for me. Won’t say he is the best when everything is said and done but for me he’s a can’t miss real deal package.

Chet needs to put on weight ASAP (behind where he should be even accounting for his slight frame, he’s 19.)

[DCasey91]

He's a big, the question now is does he have tools to be not another Bagley or Jahlil Okafor..Once in a generation is already gravy but a decent top 2 guy on a good team( zions floor) for next 7 years should be a success story for him already.

He can shoot, pass (has skilled vision no doubt, handle and play the full floor, running or being the transition playmaker .... so that’s 4/5 aspects that Okafor doesn’t have and Bagley only has half of one (running the floor but can’t handle the ball). His development (body and skill) is taking a sharp spike as we speak. That’s all ethics.

Banchero is the real deal.

[DCasey91]

Put together a pre season scouting video for Banchero. Dude is a physical monster and has all the tools. Doesn’t always go as hard as he can. Gonna be interesting to see if the increase in comp and what should be a lesser offensive load will help him get after it on both ends. Having said that, still think he ends up number one overall next year.

Watch on YouTube

I disagree that he is a physical roster and has all the tools. If that was the case he would be the obvious #1 pick. Every measurement he has pretty much had a 1:1 height to wingspan. So say he ends up being 6'8 with a 6'8 or 6'9 wingspan. Then throw in the fact he isn't a bad athlete by any means, but he also isn't a great athlete. He isn't some explosive leaper that can make up for a lack of size with getting an extra 5-6 inches on his vert.

Now if he does end up being 6'10-6'11 and has a 6'11-7' wingspan. The idea of him playing the small ball 5 is not just plausible, but pretty obvious. But again the question is where does he land, is he 6'8 or is he 6'10-6'11?

Now is there the possibility that he can be a PJ Tucker kind of defender but in a 6'8 body? Sure if that happens him playing the small ball 5 can still be a thing. But as of right now he isn't viewed as that kind of defensive prospect.

Im very much looking forward to him at Duke this year and I have him on my top tier of prospects this year. But his physical tools are probably his biggest question mark at the moment in my opinion.

This is the part I don’t get. He’s 6”9-6”10” 250 pounds and is enormous.

Physical tools is actually the very least on what you’re looking at with Banchero. It’s the skill aspect and he’s shown more than enough there. Can’t wait to see him at Duke. You are going to be surprised at how good he’ll be. His development has been class even if he wasn’t a top ranked prospect.

You see where he dunked from in a recent clip?

He’s a flat out better athlete than Cade even if they had the exact same measurables.

[Duke4life831]

Put together a pre season scouting video for Banchero. Dude is a physical monster and has all the tools. Doesn’t always go as hard as he can. Gonna be interesting to see if the increase in comp and what should be a lesser offensive load will help him get after it on both ends. Having said that, still think he ends up number one overall next year.

Watch on YouTube

I disagree that he is a physical roster and has all the tools. If that was the case he would be the obvious #1 pick. Every measurement he has pretty much had a 1:1 height to wingspan. So say he ends up being 6'8 with a 6'8 or 6'9 wingspan. Then throw in the fact he isn't a bad athlete by any means, but he also isn't a great athlete. He isn't some explosive leaper that can make up for a lack of size with getting an extra 5-6 inches on his vert.

Now if he does end up being 6'10-6'11 and has a 6'11-7' wingspan. The idea of him playing the small ball 5 is not just plausible, but pretty obvious. But again the question is where does he land, is he 6'8 or is he 6'10-6'11?

Now is there the possibility that he can be a PJ Tucker kind of defender but in a 6'8 body? Sure if that happens him playing the small ball 5 can still be a thing. But as of right now he isn't viewed as that kind of defensive prospect.

Im very much looking forward to him at Duke this year and I have him on my top tier of prospects this year. But his physical tools are probably his biggest question mark at the moment in my opinion.

This is the part I don’t get. He’s 6”9-6”10” 250 pounds and is enormous.

Physical tools is actually the very least on what you’re looking at with Banchero. It’s the skill aspect and he’s shown more than enough there. Can’t wait to see him at Duke. You are going to be surprised at how good he’ll be. His development has been class even if he wasn’t a top ranked prospect.

You see where he dunked from in a recent clip?

He’s a flat out better athlete than Cade even if they had the exact same measurables.

I’m not questioning his ability, I’ve done nothing but praise Paolo on here. I have him in my top tier for this draft.

But again let’s say he ends up being 6’9 with a 6’10 wingspan. Those are not elite physical tools, especially when you consider him not being overly explosive, not saying he’s not a good athlete, he’s not a wow explosive athlete though.

Then add in the fact that he’s not going to be playing the 3 in the NBA, he’s going to be a 4 and hopefully a 5 as well. Yes he’s going to be very strong, but no 6’9 with a 6’10 wingspan is not elite physical tools when talking about a player you want to be playing minutes at the 5.

Put it one way, if there was no doubt Paolo was say 6’11 with a 7’4 wingspan, he would most likely be the consensus #1 guy even over Chet coming into the season. That’s what it would look like if he had the elite physical tools.

Again to be crystal clear, I’m not saying Paolo is a bad prospect. I’m not saying Paolo has bad physical tools. I’m saying there is a big question mark with him at the moment and that question is what are his actual physical tools. Did he really grow to be 6’11 and a 7+ wingspan? Or is he really around that 6’8 and 6’10 wingspan. That really seems to be the big question with him at the moment.

[SNPA]

Put together a pre season scouting video for Banchero. Dude is a physical monster and has all the tools. Doesn’t always go as hard as he can. Gonna be interesting to see if the increase in comp and what should be a lesser offensive load will help him get after it on both ends. Having said that, still think he ends up number one overall next year.

Watch on YouTube

I disagree that he is a physical roster and has all the tools. If that was the case he would be the obvious #1 pick. Every measurement he has pretty much had a 1:1 height to wingspan. So say he ends up being 6'8 with a 6'8 or 6'9 wingspan. Then throw in the fact he isn't a bad athlete by any means, but he also isn't a great athlete. He isn't some explosive leaper that can make up for a lack of size with getting an extra 5-6 inches on his vert.

Now if he does end up being 6'10-6'11 and has a 6'11-7' wingspan. The idea of him playing the small ball 5 is not just plausible, but pretty obvious. But again the question is where does he land, is he 6'8 or is he 6'10-6'11?

Now is there the possibility that he can be a PJ Tucker kind of defender but in a 6'8 body? Sure if that happens him playing the small ball 5 can still be a thing. But as of right now he isn't viewed as that kind of defensive prospect.

Im very much looking forward to him at Duke this year and I have him on my top tier of prospects this year. But his physical tools are probably his biggest question mark at the moment in my opinion.

This is the part I don’t get. He’s 6”9-6”10” 250 pounds and is enormous.

Physical tools is actually the very least on what you’re looking at with Banchero. It’s the skill aspect and he’s shown more than enough there. Can’t wait to see him at Duke. You are going to be surprised at how good he’ll be. His development has been class even if he wasn’t a top ranked prospect.

You see where he dunked from in a recent clip?

He’s a flat out better athlete than Cade even if they had the exact same measurables.

Next level up from Cade.

I’ve seen Chet’s length bother him but it’s a small sample size. He’ll learn to just go right through a guy like that.

[akhan786]

Watch on YouTube

In this vid he talks about how he was more explosive when he was 12 years old and top 5 in the country at long jump in the Youth Olympics.

And that he lost a lot of that when he hit his growth spurt. Now that he’s trimmed down, he says he’s just now getting it back so I would not be surprised if he becomes noticeably more explosive in the next 2-3 years. I like the functional strength program he’s on too for his body type.

[akhan786]

Looks like he could be a Ben Simmons level athlete. In ways that should manifest on the defensive end too.

Read on Twitter

?s=21

[GimmeDat]

It's too early to make too many predictions, but if I had to make one, it's that you'd be crazy not to have this guy #1 on your board.

[DCasey91]

Yep not surprised, kids a big time talent. Throw out the measurements. Banch is huge

He’s Cade on steroids.

[retrobro90]

Not sure what kind of defense the blue team was implementing there but I am impressed with his physical profile. Scrimmage was not kind to his shooting stock. Think he either hit 1 or 0 FTs in about 6 attempts and he didn't really demonstrate an eagerness to make guys pay when they went under on ball screens. Got most of it at the rim where he looks to be the real deal as a finisher. Had a couple impressive dishes.

As an aside I think it's gonna be too hard to convince a guy who will almost certainly go in the top 3 to play down a position at the next level and carve out their career at the 5 but I don't necessarily mean that as a bad thing. Think the same applies for Chet. Could be a later career move for either. I think #1 is still up for grabs but I like the kid that's for sure.

[bkseven]

Banch is huge and has slimmed down which is a big plus.

Anyone that watched Cade should knows he ain’t 6”8”

for Banch the wingspan and standing reach is more important. May have the Ben Simmons/Blake Griffin T. rex arms which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

But if someone said 6”9-6”10 250? I’d say yes to both.

I mean he’s ahead of Cade by a distance by virtue of literally being a huge Cade out there. Bulky Tatum, final form Ben take your pick.

He looks like he could start at SF/PF in the NBA tomorrow and wouldn’t look out of place.

Don’t know what they fed him but they need to do that with Chet ASAP. He’s 19 and behind where I’d like him to be bodywise.

Lol damn you’re so obsessed with Cade in every thread. What is your issue?

[DCasey91]

Banch is huge and has slimmed down which is a big plus.

Anyone that watched Cade should knows he ain’t 6”8”

for Banch the wingspan and standing reach is more important. May have the Ben Simmons/Blake Griffin T. rex arms which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

But if someone said 6”9-6”10 250? I’d say yes to both.

I mean he’s ahead of Cade by a distance by virtue of literally being a huge Cade out there. Bulky Tatum, final form Ben take your pick.

He looks like he could start at SF/PF in the NBA tomorrow and wouldn’t look out of place.

Don’t know what they fed him but they need to do that with Chet ASAP. He’s 19 and behind where I’d like him to be bodywise.

Lol damn you’re so obsessed with Cade in every thread. What is your issue?

Lol I’m the furthest thing away from being obsessed with Cade in fact he’s my least scouted prospect out of the top ones last draft. It’s a comparison of Banch which is kind of spot one (waiting to see how the shot looks in College).

If anything that’s true is that I’m obsessed with Banch. Go Paolo Go!

[crows2]

It's too early to make too many predictions, but if I had to make one, it's that you'd be crazy not to have this guy #1 on your board.

Yep, obviously things can change once the actual season starts, but there's no way I'd take Holmgren ahead of him at this stage.

[CptCrunch]

Cade is pretty low tier as a prospect. Shouldn't have gone #1. A tier 2 prospect last year, and should be at most tier 2 this year.

Anyways Banchero is the front runner for #1 over Chet right now.

[zimpy27]

Looks like he could be a Ben Simmons level athlete. In ways that should manifest on the defensive end too.

Read on Twitter

?s=21

He might be close to Simmons level but not as fluid and not the same wingspan.

I think I see a lot of young Blake Griffin with Banchero at this stage. Griffin was limited defensively because of wingspan, it was only an inch more than his height.

So Bancheros height and wingspan matter.