[BA30Participant]

 I have been watching Tyler Zeller’s game for the last 2 seasons at UNC fairly closely. As the North Carolina/Ohio game winds down, it is not difficult to see how good Zeller really is. He has great footwork and body positioning when posting up, boxing out and playing defense. He has a variety of post up moves even though the majority are hook shots. He has a solid face up game but really doesn’t have to use it in college. He has great hands and runs the floor as well as any big man in the country. He has a high basketball IQ and to top it off he is an 80+% free throw shooter for a (depending on where you read) 7 foot center. 

The best I can tell his only weaknesses are strength, which can be fixed by a good strength/conditioning program at the next level and the fact that he is a senior. I have no idea how anyone could put Meyers Leonard, an unathletic, slow footed lanky center ahead of Zeller in any draft, let alone 8 draft spots lower. I am curious what your thoughts are on Zeller and his draft position, because he has improved every single year and I don’t believe in the slightest he is done improving/maturing as a player.

Ultimately I see Zeller as a 15 PPG scorer and 8-12 RPG at the next level, and that is a lottery pick in almost any NBA draft.

[HaleParticipant]

He’s far better then I thought. He’s improved quite a bit as the season has gone on. I really like him at the next level now.

[D7H7NParticipant]

He is a very fast runner at his size, very finesse forward.  Doesn’t have much range on his shot and a lot of his hooks look ugly but the ball still goes in somehow.   He’d be ideal with a run and gun team I think since that’s the type of offense he’s been playing in his 4 years at UNC.

[Mr. 19134Participant]

 I see him translating to the NBA as a skinnier version of Marcin Gortat.  He’d be a great fit for a team like the Warriors or Wizards that like to get out in transition and the fact he can play PF or C is a huge plus.

[Future_Scout]

 prettiest hook shot in all cbb… ability to run the floor makes him that much better.

very important, i knew he was good at "taking charges" but recently learnt that he leads unc, 26 this season.

[D7H7NParticipant]

Idk, I think it looks awkward.

It looks like a fling.  I guess Hansbrough taught him that.

Except for that one hookshot he did tonight against Ohio near the baseline, that one looked really good.

[rickybobbyParticipant]

 I watched Zeller develop his whole 4yrs at Carolina and to me he is what college basketball should be about. Guys who take an opportunity to grow on and off the court. Basketball wise he has improved his game every year. If it wasnt for his slow and somewhat incosistent start to the year i would say he could have made a case for Player Of the Year. It might not have been a big case but he could have been in the discussion. 

As a prospect to me he looks like a poor mans Pau Gasol, I said this in a early post but he does. Maybe not as skilled and fluid of an athlete as Pau but there game is similar.  They are around the same height and size for one, both are good in the post and have array of post moves, can run the floor, finish around the basket, rebound, shoot fts at a high percentage,underrated defenders and have high basketball IQs, And both were labeled soft early in their careers but have slowly but surely shown they are not.

Im not saying he going to be Gasol or have a career like him but he has the skills and worth ethic to become a very good pro. All he needs is to get stronger and show that mean streak and aggressiviness he’s shown flashes of and he would good. Maybe it will take a player like Kobe to help him show it like he helped Gasol. 

Now a days NBA players and prospects are just athletes with no skills especially big men, but Zeller is different he’s skilled and work to become good and will work to become better in the NBA. If i was a gm i would take him mid to late lottery because he’s that good.

[Author]

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