Draft Class 3

• This scouting report will show the top 50 prospects ranked in order by potential draft position
• ‘Shades of’ gives a bit of a player comparison

Draft Class 3 Overview

• This draft class is headlined by two International prospects. Darko Jovic a 6’8 Forward the likely #1 Pick, and Dobrasin Olic a towering 7’4 center.
• PG Malik Mills from Arizona is slotted at #3 and isn’t too far behind the two International prospects.

Draft Class 3 Busts/Sleepers alert

• Potential Busts:
• Quinten Stith, SF – Texas
• Orlando Vaughn, SG – Michigan
• Darin Wells, PF – Duke
• Michael Keller, PF- Colorado State
• Potential Sleepers:
• Alec Reeves, C – Villanova
• Julio Oakley, C – Wichita State
• Dragan Katic, SG –
• T.J. Anderson, SG - Pittsburgh

Shades of: Luka Doncic / James Harden

Scouting Notes: Darko Jovic

Playmaker—Darko Jovic is a basketball prodigy that dominated the EuroLeague as a teenager who could become a game-changing NBA Playmaker. Jovic is a transcendent passer; puts perfect velocity and touch on passes, plus has the height to pass over the defense. Surgically navigates the pick-n-roll. Advanced ball-handler for his age with an excellent feel for using crossovers, hesi’s, and different speeds. Draws a ton of fouls; knows how to you his strong frame to absorb contact. Feathery touch on floaters and layups—flashes Harden-like upside on jumpers off the dribble. Struggles to contain quicker players due to his average agility and lateral quickness. Struggles on defense in pick-n-roll situations.

01

Shades of: Kristaps Porzingas / Yao Ming

Scouting Notes: Domantas Olic

2-Way Stretch Five that has lots of scouts mentioning the similarities that he has with Kristaps Porzingas. Olic has high upside; and after a dominate freshman season at Gonzaga scouts believe he’ll be starting from day 1 in the NBA. Olic can score inside and out and has a nice touch on his shots. His size and length make it difficult for his shots to get blocked and helps him contest and block shots. Olic lacks playmaking skills and his athleticism is subpar—could have some issues with up-tempo teams. He’s a safe pick that should be able to come in and start right away for a team in need of a center.

02

Shades of: Collin Sexton / Eric Bledsoe

Scouting Notes: Malik Mills

Offense Initiator—Malik Mills is a fearless score-first point guard who needs to learn how to control his intensity. Mills is a shifty ball-handler with a quick first step; he gets where he wants on the floor using a litany of advanced moves. He’s an aggressive finisher at the rim who draws tons of fouls and shoots well from the line. Possesses a relaxed jumper off both the catch and dribble, with NBA range. Tends to force low-quality shots against rim protection and hoists jumpers early in the shot clock, rather than making plays for his teammates. Lacks pure passing skills; he forces high-risk passes or low-quality shots at a frustrating rate.

03

Shades of: Vince Carter / Jerry Stackhouse

Scouting Notes: Quinten Stith

Athletic Finisher—Quinten Stith is an extremely versatile and athletic wing, with incredible scoring tools. Possesses and outstanding vertical leap, first step, wingspan, and just about everything you look for in a superstar physically. Jackson is still refining his scoring ability, and has a reputation for taking bad shots, but still manages to be rather efficient. Wouldn’t be surprised if he gets his 3pt% over 40% in a few years. Stith has the potential to be a solid defender if he puts in the work on that end given his natural athletic ability—could go as high as #3 but don’t see him falling past #7.

04

Shades of: CJ McCollum / Millionaires Terrence Ross

Scouting Notes: Andre McCall

Mid-Range Shot Creator—Andre McCall is a score first guard with a vintage game who has a knack for getting buckets. McCall is a throwback isolation scorer who thrives from midrange. He has every move in his bag to create off the bounce, and he has the confidence to launch from anywhere, including way beyond the 3-point line. Good interior finisher who draws a ton of fouls using pump fakes and his body. When he sees open space, he attacks, especially in transition. He has the physical tools to be an impactful defender if his fundamentals improve. McCall is a bit of a ball stopper who lacks passing vision. He may need to change his game to thrive in a motion offense, though his ideal role early in his career could just be a ISO scorer.

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Shades of: Nick Anderson / Jeremy Lamb

Scouting Notes: Orlando Vaughn

Shooter—Orlando Vaughn flashed bursts of superstardom mixed with subpar stretches. Vaughn ended up being the Wolverines go-to scorer this year but he was inconsistent in his ability to control a game on offense. With that said, there were times he looked like the nations best scorer and showed why he was so highly touted out of high school. He has a long, lean frame with good length and an array of scoring skills. Shows Explosiveness vertically and in his pursuit of finishing at the rim. He has limitations as a ballhandler and passer which could hinder him as a “go-to” scorer in the NBA. Could be a plus defender if he improves his fundamentals.

06

Shades of: Patrick Williams / Draymond Green

Scouting Notes: Tomas Jerrells

Pass 1^st Wing—Tomas Jerrells is a versatile threat on offense who can create his own shot and run an offense as a playmaker. Jerrells is a good playmaker and sound decision maker who plays within the system. He doesn’t pause possessions; he keeps the ball moving. Nor does he force bad shots; he looks for an open man. Does the little things like cutting, screening, and rebounding. With his size and skill, it’s projectable for a team to use him like a big as an on-ball screener who can pop for 3s or dive to the rim. Gritty player who hustles hard on defense. He totaled nearly double the number of turnovers as he did assists. Despite a knack for playmaking, he got called for countless travels due to raw footwork and forced drives into traffic.

07

Shades of: Amar’e Stoudemire on Offense / Jahlil Okafor on defense

Scouting Notes: Darrin Wells

Interior Finisher—Darrin Wells is a pure athlete who runs the floor with grace and jumps with explosive power. Wells glides through the air for ferocious dunks; he’s a major threat in the pick-n-roll, cutting, and running the break. He’s a good shooter from NBA 3-point range, but he hasn’t fallen in love with his shot like many modern bigs. Nimble ball handler who can attack from the perimeter; he’ll be a weapon in fake dribble handoffs since he can facilitate, shoot, or get to the basket. Has the leaping ability and quickness to theoretically be an effective shot blocker. Brutal pick-n-roll defender who displays little recognition or feel reading a screen; he’s almost always out of position.

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Shades of: Al Horford / Mo Speights

Scouting Notes: Michael Keller

Stretch Four—Michael Keller is a thick-framed big man with ballerina quickness, Keller is a do-it-all big man with few notable weaknesses. Keller is a good shooter from 3 off the catch, with smooth mechanics that should translate to the NBA line. Great passer for his position who makes quick reads and throws accurate dimes from all areas of the floor. Excellent rebounder who boxes out and tracks balls out of his area. Effective interior defender who has the strength to neutralize post players and the length to protect the rim. Keller is not an above-the-rim player, so his lack of elite athleticism puts a cap on his upside. Bites for too many pump fakes, which could get him in trouble against savvy veterans.

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Shades of: Sebastian Telfair / Sharife Cooper

Scouting Notes: Kai Rivers

Playmaker—Kai Rivers is a high IQ Floor general who will need to improve his jump shot to reach his full offensive potential. Rivers is one of the top passers in this draft who loves to use subtle feints and fakes to draw defenders out of position, and then make the pass. He’s comfortable commanding the offense, especially in the pick-and-roll. Good finisher at the rim who displays crafty potential, a necessity for a player of his size. He also invites and initiates contact inside. His tiny frame raises concerns about his ability to handle the physicality of the NBA, especially on defense. Uncomfortable 3-point shooter. He barely jumps, instead taking more of a set shot. He sprays misses all over. Without a reliable jumper teams will be able to go under screens to limit his playmaking.

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Shades of: Brandon Roy / Jalen Suggs

Scouting Notes: Kavon Royal

Playmaker—Kavon Royal is a high IQ player that is ready to step in and contribute right away. Royal is a very unselfish player—he will look for the extra pass in the half court or throw it ahead on the break. Speedy player with a tight handle that can change gears pressuring the paint, with the awareness to kick out passes if defenses commit to him. Strong, athletic frame built for absorbing contact at the rim, crashing the boards, and defending multiple positions. His blend of size, agility, and a winning mindset could turn him into an effective versatile defender. He should incorporate more offbeat or wrong-foot finishes inside instead of relying on his athleticism to fly toward the basket. He added a floater in college, which is one step forward.

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Shades of: Young Kobe Bryant / Pre-injury Victor Oladipo

Scouting Notes: Corey Qualls

2-Way Guard—Corey Qualls molded his game after the late great Kobe Bryant, and it shows. Qualls has superior work ethic and a killer instinct when it comes to closing out games. He’s a dynamic shot-maker off the dribble, and has a plethora of dribble moves that he transitions fluidly into pull-ups, step-backs and side step shots. Has a good post game and a sweet fade-away shot. He’s a solid passer but doesn’t possess elite court vision, and tends to react rather than anticipate opportunities for teammates. Tends to dominate the ball on offense. Has defensive versatility and could develop into a lock-down perimeter defender.

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Shades of: JaVale McGee / Jaxson Hayes

Scouting Notes: Omar Singleton

Glass Cleaning Finisher—Omar Singleton is an athletic center who projects as a rim-running rim protector in the NBA. Singleton is an above the rim finisher with the hands and coordination to reel in tough passes. He runs the floor hard in transition and can finish fluidly even after a couple dribbles. Has the potential to become an elite rim protector: alters shots with his mere presence, and his long wingspan allows him to clog passing lanes. Excellent lateral quickness defending the perimeter. May one day be able to switch, or defend pick-n-rolls regardless of the coverage. Commits careless fouls biting on pump fakes and reaching instead of using the rule of verticality. Lacks basic post skills.

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Shades of: Mo Bamba / Neemias Queta

Scouting Notes: Zeljko Zagoric

Paint Defender—Zeljko Zagoric is a throwback center with a tree-trunk frame and a penchant for blocking shots. Sprints in transition to get open for easy buckets. He’s not just a dunker, either. He’s a good finisher around the basket who can make acrobatic plays for a big. Good low-post defender who absorbs contact and plays with an attitude; he should develop enough to handle elite bigs in single coverage. He’s a competitive rebounder who throws his body around, he’s tough and won’t back down from anyone. He’s not the quickest leaper and takes some time to load up for dunks, so he’s not a major lob threat.

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Shades of: Jonah Bolen / Tranquilized Draymond Green

Scouting Notes: Anders Andric

2-Way Facilitator—Anders Andric is a skilled forward named the top prospect in the Adriatic League, an honor previously awarded to Dario Saric and Nikola Jokic. Andric is a fluid and coordinated athlete with long arms who can explode at the rim when he has space. He’s a productive shooter with a high, quick release and deep NBA range. Effective defender and rebounder when engaged. Slides his feet, battles inside, jumps passing lanes, and flies in for weak-side blocks. Andric is still too careless when driving to the rim, and settles for floaters too often. His effort comes and goes on defense; he needs to bring more of an intense defensive mentality.

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Shades of: Elie Okobo / Delonte West

Scouting Notes: Terrence Hill

Playmaking Shot Creator—Terrence HIl is a confident shoot-first point who has the potential to be the best point guard in this draft. Hill is an impressive shooter off the dribble, he uses step-backs, pull-ups, and sidesteps to get his shot off. He’s a skilled at the rim finisher who has touch and is deceptively explosive—he’s had a few very impressive surprising dunks in traffic. Does a good job distributing when he’s not looking to score. Has a good amount of dribble moves he uses to create space. Not a pure point guard and it shows—needs to improve his playmaking skills to be more than just a scorer. Was a very streaky shooter at Texas with a subpar shot selection.

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Shades of: Ayo Dosunmu / Jrue Holiday

Scouting Notes: Derrick Kittles

Shot Creator—Derrick Kittles led his team in college and will bring winning qualities to the NBA. Accurate passer on simple deliveries to shooters and rollers, though he shouldn’t be expected to make advanced reads. Isn’t going to break ankles with his dribble; instead, predominantly uses strength and change of pace to create space. Motors the ball up the floor in transition with hit-ahead passes or his own dribble to get into the paint for baskets or kick-outs. Good awareness as an off-ball defender and can play shut-down defense on-ball. Attempts far too many risky passes—if he ends that habit, he’ll dramatically cut down on turnovers. Right hand dominant as a ball handler and finisher.

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Shades of: Chris Duarte / Gary Trent Jr.

Scouting Notes: Wesley Thomas

Shooter—Wesley Thomas is a strong shooter who could stick in the league for a long time, especially if he makes progress as a playmaker and on-ball defender. Elite spot up shooter who can score off movement using screens, handoffs, and relocations. A hustler who goes out of his way to make plays on the ball, and a willing rebounder for his position. Good defensive fundamentals. He stays in his stance and plays hard. He needs to improve his lateral quickness, but the tools are there. Subpar playmaker at this stage of his career. He’s a willing passer but he’s inaccurate, especially off the dribble and in pick-n-roll situations.

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Shades of: Jusuf Nurkic / Charles Bassey

Scouting Notes: Kelvin Mullins

Paint Defender—Kelvin Mullins is a former top high school prospect who still has exciting potential following his four years at Tennessee. Mullins showed all throughout college that he’ll be an asset as a rim-runner and lob threat. He’s also a high effort rebounder, especially on the offensive end. He does a nice job of guiding the ball into the basket on tip-in opportunities. Elite dimensions on defense with a strong frame and long arms. He’s a nimble athlete who can leap for blocks and quickly change directions. Inaccurate passer who struggles to execute high- and low-post passes. He also stops the ball too frequently. Lacks switch-ability on defense. Suffered a left leg fracture during his sophomore season.

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Shades of: Chuma Okeke / Grant Williams

Scouting Notes: Demetrius Fogg

Rugged Wing—Demetrius Fogg has all the qualities of a high-end role player: high IQ on offense and defense; hustle and unselfishness. On defense he displays excellent technique, staying in his stance and reading opponents moves to contain dribble penetration. Skilled at attacking closeouts and getting to the rim. Contact doesn’t bother him in the paint. Great cutter and off-ball mover who can relocate behind the arc to get open for 3s. Good passer who can be trusted to make the right play from all areas of the court. Excellent rebounder for his position. Lacks above average athleticism, which hurts him as an interior defender. Streaky shooter who struggles to convert when contested.

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Shades of: Thaddeus Young / Poor mans Zion Williamson

Scouting Notes: Isaac Ejiofer

Interior Finisher—Isaac Ejiofer is an extremely athletic forward who lacks polish after spending just one year in college. Ejiofer is a highlight reel waiting to happen in the open floor. Should thrive in the pick-and-roll as a cutter to the rim with his ability to finish lobs. Good defender against wings and some bigger players due to his strength and mobility-still struggles when switched on to quicker players that can blow by him. Doesn’t change directions well laterally—could be an issue in the NBA with more man-to-man coverage than zone. Not a floor spacer---never shot over 30% from 3-point range. Lacks a post game.

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Shades of: Jalen Johnson / Ben Simmons

Scouting Notes: Lewis Townsend

Paint Defender—Lewis Townsend is a versatile forward who can pressure the rim in the open floor, but needs to hone his half court skills. Demonstrates a knack for being a playmaker—capable of delivering accurate passes off the bound and has great court awareness. Has half-court value as a screener and interior finisher off cuts and dump off passes. Versatile on-ball defender with the lateral quickness and strength to contain players of all sizes. Good off-ball defender when rotating to help at the rim or closing out to shooters. Overconfident passer who commits too many avoidable turnovers. Inconsistent defender who goes through stretches when he gets caught ball-watching or doesn’t put full effort in to get a stop.

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Shades of: Andre Roberson / Herb Jones

Scouting Notes: Antonio Izzet

Rebounder—Antonio Izzet is an energizing presence who can defend across positions, but he’s a limited offensive threat. Elite defensive potential as a switchable player. He can lock down quicker guards due to his quickness and fundamentals sliding laterally, but he’s also strong enough to bother bigger wings and forwards. Good rim protection. He excels at jumping vertically with opponents to alter their shots without fouling. Non-factor on the perimeter with the ball in his hands. Defenses will sag off him, limiting passing angles. Stiff shooter who needs to prove he can become average in spot-up situations. He’s not a threat off the dribble.

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Shades of: Kevin Martin / Demar Derozan-ish

Scouting Notes: Denzel Turner

Tempo Pushing Guard—Denzel Turner is a former top recruit who struggled as a freshman but retains massive upside with his combination of shot creation and height. Turner is a slippery shot creator with height and body control, which gives him clear potential as a scorer. He has a hard-to-contain step-back jumper and looks comfortable pulling up. Displays great shooting potential. He’s capable of hitting off-balance shots in the lane and 3s off movement from the perimeter. Talented passer who shows the ability to make complex dishes off the dribble with accuracy. Takes too many reckless shot attempts and he’s over-reliant on his streaky jumper, partially because he can’t consistently get to the basket due to his lack of strength.

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Shades of: Danny Green / Mikal Bridges

Scouting Notes: Izaiah Maggette

3pt Shooter—Izaiah Maggette is an athletic wing with good upside on both ends of the floor. Best use early in his career will be as a spot up 3-point shooter and cutter on offense. If he continues to improve his handle it will open up his game and make him much more than just a shooter. Has the ability to make basic passes within the flow of the offense. Switchable defender with the laterally quickness to stay with quicker guards—has the strength and wingspan to handle bigger wings. Solid, but not great as a 3-point shooter. Can get into foul trouble going for ill-advised steals or blocks.

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Shades of: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope / Josh Cristopher

Scouting Notes: Javon Houston

Slasher—Javon Houston is a dynamic scorer who needs to hone his consistency problems that plagued him during his college career. Houston has a good in-between game with floaters and runners, or he can pump-fake a jumper then step through into a layup. His athleticism will be his calling card early on in his NBA career—he lives in transition and can thrown down dunks with the best of them. Good off-ball defender, makes an impact as a weak-side help defender. Needs to rework his spot up shooting, doesn’t look comfortable at all when he’s in catch-and-shoot situations. Inconsistent defender who lacks fundamentals and often gets caught ball-watching.

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Shades of: Alex Len / Robin Lopez

Scouting Notes: Stefan Stimac

Rebounder—Stefan Stimac is a skilled big who can be dominant on offense but lacks the defense required by an NBA level talent. Stimac is an excellent finisher inside the paint, and does a good job scoring after posting up. Can space the floor with a reliable 3-point shot. Good rebounder on both ends of the floor and boxes out. Good decision maker who makes timely passes and limits turnovers. Not a good defender at this point in his career, doesn’t move well laterally—gets beat consistently by quicker players. Has no-chance guarding the pick-and-roll in the NBA. Subpar free throw shooter despite his soft touch on shots inside the paint.

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Shades of: Bradley Beal-Lite / Carsen Edwards

Scouting Notes: Ty Cage

Inside the Arc Scorer—Ty Cage is a bucket getter with a knack for making clutch plays on both ends of the floor. Shot only 32% on 3-point shots but his compact form, soft touch, and high percentage from the line bodes well for his future as a shooter. Crafty finisher at the rim who does a good job fighting through contact for and-ones. Excellent on-ball defender—he’s good at navigating through screens and is capable of guarding wings. Good off-ball defender as well—stays engaged, rotates well, and anticipates where the ball will be to beat opponents to their spots. Lacks top end quickness and acceleration. Needs to improve his handle to be a reliable scorer off the dribble.

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Shades of: T.J. Leaf / Channing Frye

Scouting Notes: Terran Abdul-Rahman

Stretch 4—Terran Abdul-Rahman is a filthy shooter, especially for his size, but he needs to make a dramatic improvement on defense. Abdul-Rahman is an elite shooter even with defenders draped all over him. He has a pillowy soft touch. He’s a good interior finisher off of cuts and rolls to the rim. He can also get to the basket using post-ups, displaying smooth footwork with his back to the basket. While at UNC he was often compared to Larry Bird because of the look of his catapult jumper, but he needs a lot of work on defense to even become Matt Bonner. His feet were stuck in cement at UNC. He lacks quickness, length, and athleticism.

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Shades of: Jalen Brunson / Daishen Nix

Scouting Notes: Alonzo Little

Pass First Guard—Alonzo Little is a pass-first guard with great instincts, though he lacks seasoning and needs to improve his jumper. Strong bodied driver who can finish inside with either hand and through contact. He’s a load to handle at his height and weight. When he looks for his own shot, he excels at imposing his will with his body. Once in position, he is comfortable finishing through contact. Skilled passer, capable of making any pass needed—tends to be too flashy at times which can lead to some unwarranted turnovers. Struggles defensively, he doesn’t move well laterally, and regularly got burned in the G-League. Off the ball, he doesn’t bring much intensity.

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Shades of: Moses Wright / Brandon Bass

Scouting Notes: Ellis Sharpe

Versatile Four—Ellis Sharpe is a versatile 4 with the potential to play some small-ball 5. He’s skilled at attacking closeouts to get to the rim, and someday he’ll put people on posters in the NBA. Super active off-ball defender who makes impact plays with deflections, steals, and weak side help around the rim. His activity can be contagious. Still learning how to play big after a late growth spurt and just starting to play competitive basketball during high school. His lack of size occasionally impacts his rebounding, and he also needs to be better about consistently boxing out opponents. Iffy pick-and roll defender—he’s undisciplined and his lack of size hurts him.

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Shades of: Detlef Schrempf / Dragan Bender

Scouting Notes: Tomislav Bajza

Shot Creator—Tomislav Bajza is a lanky 6’10 who moves like a wing and passes like a guard, but needs to grow into his thin frame to thrive in the NBA. Bajza has versatile shooting potential. He’s a nifty passer who can deliver a variety of precise dimes. He has good handles for his size, using hesitations, crossovers, and long strides to create separation. It’s easy to envision an offensive role for him as a floor spacer and secondary handler in the half court, and as a transition playmaker who rips down boards and jump-starts possessions. Bajza is inconsistent on defense, at times he doesn’t even bother contesting shots. Might never be a good one-on-one defender—it’s vital he finds an excellent strength and conditioning program.

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Shades of: A. Henry

Scouting Notes: Dakota Pierce

Multi-Positional Defender—Dakota Pierce is a versatile defender who projects as a prototypical 3-and-D player in the NBA. Versatile defender with a strong frame, length, and quickness. He can switch onto bigger players and defend inside, and switch onto guards/wings and keep up with them on the perimeter. Good off-ball defender who has a high IQ. Good midrange scorer, but needs to show that he can knock down NBA 3s consistently. Overdribbles and it often leads to nothing since he’s a limited scorer off the bounce and a subpar passer.

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Shades of: Khyri Thomas / Patrick Beverly

Scouting Notes: Russell Larkin

Perimeter Defender—Russell Larkin is nuisance on defense who provides complementary offense with his 3pt shooting. Larkin is an elite perimeter defender who has great lateral movement. He’s able to turn defense into offense with steals, deflections, and rebounds. He’s a good finisher at the rim who’s at his best when feeding off of teammates on straight-line drives, slashes, and cuts. Larkin is already a good shooter, but must extend his range to assure it translates to the NBA level. Pick-and-roll feel can improve by mixing in different speeds and more hesitations. Needs to improve his handle and playmaking skills.

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Shades of: Gary Trent Jr. / Jeremy Lamb

Scouting Notes: Gabriel Araujo

Shooter—Gabriel Araujo is a knockdown shooting wing who needs to become a committed defender in order to stay on the floor. Araujo is a great spot-up shooter who can hit from deep even with a defender draped all over him. He’s capable of hitting basic one-two dribble pull ups. Races up the floor in transition and intelligently fills passing lanes on the wing. Araujo is a subpar athlete who doesn’t explode at the rim and easily has his shots altered by the defense. He displays some chucker habits; he stops the ball instead of attacking or shooting. Poor defender who ball-watches and struggles moving laterally

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Shades of: Dakari Johnson / Justin Hamilton

Scouting Notes: Kobe Goodson

Interior Big—Kobe Goodson is a throwback center who can score inside and throw his body around on defense, but lacks ideal athleticism to thrive. Goodson has good touch around the rim using either hand; he has a knack for finding openings to get his shot up. Fights to establish positioning right underneath the rim to receive entry passes or clean up the offensive boards. Solid free throw and mid-range shooter. Strong frame to defend the low post, box out, and rebound. Lacks the length and athleticism necessary to be an elite interior presence or shot blocker. Struggles defending pick-n-roll due to lack of mobility.

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Shades of: Luka Garza / Brook Lopez

Scouting Notes: Alec Reeves

Stretch Five—Alec Reeves is a skilled offensive big man who plays with contagious effort, but his athleticism must improve for him to survive defensively. Reeves is a great finisher around the rim with slick footwork in the post. At Villanova, he often plowed through double-teams and even triple-teams to score. Reliable 3-point shooter who can score off screens, which should translate well to NBA pick-and-pops. Smart rebounder who makes a beeline for the ball and displays elite coordination going up for putbacks. He consistently boxes out. Matador on defense despite his effort level. He’s stiff when changing directions and regularly gets punished by quicker players. He’ll be exposed by teams who runs a lot of pick-n-rolls.

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Shades of: Jakob Poeltl / Aron Baynes

Scouting Notes: Julio Oakley

Paint Defender—Julio Oakley is an old-school center with a thick frame and a propensity for blocking shots. He’s an active off-ball player—sets hard screens and carves out space inside. Great upside as a dropping or hedging defender in the pick-and-roll. His length is a natural deterrent, and effort isn’t a question. Displays a soft touch on hook shots, suggesting he could eventually develop a jumper. Only average quickness changing directions when defending the pick-n-roll. He’ll be prone to blow-bys if he’s caught flat-footed or out of position. Gets into foul trouble by biting on too many pump fakes and swiping at guards, though he showed more discipline as last season went on.

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Shades of: T.J. Ford / Brandon Knight

Scouting Notes: JP Alston

3pt Playmaker—JP Alston is a spark-plug guard who projects as backup due to his lack of speed and explosiveness. Alston is a dynamic shooter who can splash 3s from NBA range off the catch, the dribble, and screens. He’s a slippery interior finisher who has a soft touch on layups with either hand and floaters to score against length. He’s an unselfish passer with good vision. Alston lacks burst and has an average first step with the ball in his hands, which hinders his scoring upside. He has unremarkable measurable which will limit him defending elite point guards.

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Shades of: Dion Waiters / Lance Stephenson

Scouting Notes: Miroslav Jeremic

Shooter—Miroslav Jeremic is a muscular wing with microwave-scorer upside. Jeremic is an excellent scorer in the open floor. He’s a bowling ball attacking closeouts and slashing in transition. He’s strong enough to finish trough contact. Jeremic has defensive upside, despite his flaws. He has a thick, muscular frame with a solid wingspan—does a good job rebounding for his position. Ruffin’s mediocre basketball IQ leads to him taking too many contested midrange jumpers early in the clock. He also forces contested shots rather than passing to open teammates. He’s a subpar spot up shooter with shaky mechanics.

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Shades of: Josh Hart / Wes Matthews

Scouting Notes: Tyree Anthony

Shot Creator—Tyree Anthony is an accomplished, well-rounded guard who could play a meaningful role on a contender’s bench. Anthony has all the intangibles: great teammate, competes hard, can easily fill a role-player hole if his core skills improve. Good spot-up 3-point shooter. He can run the pick-n-roll, which would make him a complementary player alongside more experienced starters. He’s a predictable ball-handler with a slow first step…drives left, spins right far too often. He’s an average finisher at the rim who doesn’t get much lift.

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Shades of: Tony Allen / Justice Winslow

Scouting Notes: Dragan Katic

Perimeter Defender—Dragan Katic is team first type of player who can make an impact on both ends of the floor and as a shooter and on-ball defender. Katic is a good playmaker who can make every basic pass and push the ball up the floor on the break. He also displays vision to make more complex plays. Excellent shooter with a quick release and NBA range. He’s at his best when spotting up for corner 3’s, but can hit shots off of screens as well. Good on-ball defender who relishes getting stops every time his man has the ball—high IQ and good fundamentally sound player. Lacks shake as a primary ball handler. He doesn’t have dynamic moves like step backs or sidesteps, and he’s not a speedy or explosive athlete. He’s more likely a secondary shot-creating presence.

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Shades of: Rip Hamilton / Danny Green

Scouting Notes: T.J. Anderson

Shooter—T.J. Anderson an elite shooter who could stick in the league for a long time, especially if he becomes a good on-ball defender. Anderson is not a dynamic shot creator, but he is a knockdown shooter off the bounce, able to punish defenders for going under screens or pull up and side-step defenders off spot-up situations. Active and aware in passing lanes as an off-ball defender. He makes reads like a defensive back and creates tons of steals and deflections. Likely not a switchable defender, as he’s not quick enough to handle speedy guards or big enough for larger, stronger players. He’s already 23 years old so might not have much room to grow.

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Shades of: Dwayne Bacon / Malachi Richardson

Scouting Notes: Arthur Lacombe

Mid-Range Slasher—Arthur Lacomben has all of the requisite physical traits to become a high-end role player. Lacombe is an aggressive ballhandler with good footwork on drives. Uses euro-steps and side steps. He can pull up on a dime off the dribble and drain jumpshots. He’s at his best going downhill, and can navigate the pick-n-roll well. Has upside as a screen-game threat if his shot translates. Lacombe is a low effort defender with poor fundamentals. Doesn’t fight over screens or close out hard. Needs to improve his off-hand so he’s not predictable—usually tries to drive to the right and rarely uses his left at the rim.

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Shades of: Vince Edwards / Ryan Gomes

Scouting Notes: Garlon Gamble

3 Level Scorer—Garlon Gamble is an all-around scoring forward who will need to be more disciplined defensively to carve out a 3-and-D role. Gamble is a terrific shooter off the catch, though he has clunky wind-up mechanics. His size, length, and frame give him potential to be a versatile defender. He’s a good interior finisher and capable of beating mismatches on the low post using his smooth footwork. At this point he’s too passive to be an elite defender; he disappears far too often and doesn’t show activity with blocks or steals. Lazily fights over screens and closes out on shooters.

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Shades of: Thrift Shop Eric Bledsoe / Aaron Mckie

Scouting Notes: Cole Hawes

Perimeter Defender—Cole Hawes is an energetic, athletic, and burly guard who projects as a versatile defender and spot-up shooter. Hawes is a tone-setter on defense; plays with consistent defensive effort and as a sophomore—got better at avoiding fouls. His thick frame, long arms, and athleticism give him potential to defend guards, wings, and some forwards. He’s a quality spot-up shooter with NBA range. Hawes should be a better rebounder considering his size and athleticism. His athleticism doesn’t always show when attempting layups, and he too often ends up settling for floaters.

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Shades of: Speedy Claxton / Brandon Jennings

Scouting Notes: Ryan Briggs

Deep Range Shot Creator—Ryan Briggs is a shoot-first guard who needs to improve his playmaking ability but could thrive as a spark plug scorer off the bench. Briggs is a slick ball handler with a bevy of advanced dribble moves. Knockdown shooter from anywhere on the floor with NBA range. Projects as a versatile off-ball shooter due to his ability to balance himself in midair, though he largely shot off the dribble in college. Impressive at-rim finisher who can score acrobatically though contact—has a nice floater. Forces too many contested midrange jumpers. Streaky shooter who misses wildly on jumpers, including airballs. Undersized player who will get picked on defensively.

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Shades of: Andray Blatche / Jared Sullinger

Scouting Notes: David Stribling

Stretch Five—David Stribling fits the mold of a modern big with his floor spacing and effort level, but his subpar athleticism could limit his upside. Stribling is a good finisher at the rim who uses his long arms to extend for layups and dunks. He’s a solid spot up shooter with NBA range—he shot 38% from 3-point range at Syracuse. Decent ball handler for his size who’s a threat to shoot off the dribble—does a good job transitioning into his pull up jumper. His guard-like habits can be friend or foe—he’s a shaky decision-maker who dribbles into crowds and forces contested shots. He needs to focus more on making simple plays. Lack of speed on the post and subpar vertical limits his scoring upside near the rim.

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Shades of: Lou Williams / Salim Stoudamire

Scouting Notes: Guy Sellers

Deep Range Shot Creator—Guy Sellers is an undersized guard with a knack for performing in clutch moments. Sellers is a proficient shooter with in-the-gym range off the dribble. He uses a mixture of moves using his tight handle to create space to launch from anywhere. He can change the game with his scoring ability, either fueling a break or generating something out of nothing in the half-court; at LSU, he thrived despite intense defensive attention. Not a good at-rim finisher—would benefit from adding a floater to his game. His size will make him a target on defense by opponents when he’s on the floor. Tasked with scoring at LSU, not passing. His lack of progress as a playmaker is worrisome.

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Shades of: Old Vince Carter / Wes Matthews

Scouting Notes: Matthew Lyles

Prospect—Matthew Lyles is a well-rounded wing who could play a meaningful role on a contender’s bench. Lyles had a very productive college career and has all the intangibles of a high-end role player: great teammate, plays hard, passes, shoots. He’s a versatile defender and active rebounder, winning many 50-50 balls. Lyles is a good spot-up 3-point shooter with NBA range. He struggles creating his own shots because he lacks burst and can’t create space to score. Lacks the natural court vision to take on a playmaking role. Absorbs contact, but needs to add crafty finishes to avoid getting swatted.

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