NBA Comparison: Josh Richardson

Strengths: A smooth operator as a 6’6 190 wing prospect with nice length (6’10 wingspan) … Solid speed and overall athleticism on the perimeter, can turn the corner & finish above the rim at times when he gets going downhill … Opportunistic offensive player who at his best can subtly score in a variety of ways ….Has a nice shooting touch, can make shots off the bounce or spotting up from 3-point range (35% 3FG as a Jr.) with decent success … Also effective attacking close outs, can stick 1 or 2 dribble pull-up jumpers going in either direction when chased off the 3-point line … Gets his fair share of points by being a good cutter to open spots on the court too, showing his on-court awareness … Adequate ball-handler, mostly prefers to go north and south but does use basic crossovers and the occasional spin as counter moves … Slips pick and rolls Projects to be a solid defensive player on the perimeter, has the size and athleticism to comfortably defend all 3 positions … More of a conservative defender at Maryland but will jump passing lanes and get run-outs occasionally … Good rebounding skills for a perimeter player (around 6 rpg as a JR.) and willing to crash the glass for offensive boards…Uses his body to shield defenders in the lane well, and has a decent turnaround jumper in his arsenal … Appeared to be hitting his stride as a one-year starter after generally being used as the teams top reserve his 1st 2 college seasons (was the B10 6th Man of the Year as a Soph.), and began to emerge as his team’s best player down the stretch of last season … Solid from the foul line (career 77% FT) … Already has gained experience as a 3-and-D type player, which bodes well for him as a player who likely fits that mold at the pro level …

Weaknesses: A solid overall player, but isn’t particularly outstanding at any one aspect … Shoots a soft jump shot, but he can tend to be streaky with it and it may be due to some flaws in his fundamentals that need work … When spotting up he at times sticks his leg out in front of him when following through, and also tends to fade away when contested which leads to some of his shots falling short …. Lacks a degree of explosiveness, more of an open court finisher and when he did get to the rim in the half court he saw some of his shots rejected/altered at the rim … Doesn’t always show great shot selection, settles for jumpers at times (only 1.8 FTA per game for his career) and is more likely to look for his own offense than make the extra pass (1.6 apg for his career)…Often at Maryland it seemed Wiggins played to the level of his competition, would look outstanding at times against strong teams or down the stretch of the season (ie his 27 point point outburst against Alabama in the NCAA tournament) and then disappear against struggling teams (ie 1-11 in loss to Penn State)

Overall: Projected as a likely second rounder … Wiggins tested the waters for the draft shortly after his Jr season and had largely flown under the radar as a prospect despite some solid production at Maryland, but after continuing the strong end to his Jr season by standing out at both the NBA Combine and G League Elite camp with his measurables and solid play in scrimmages, he showed he does have some talent and certain skills that project well at the pro level…He is the type of player that can produce with or without having plays drawn up for him offensively, and he brings solid athleticism and defensive potential to the table as well…He can be a bit of a streaky shooter, and he did have moments when he disappeared from games, but there is plenty to like…He could have more upside to improve, which is encouraging for a prospect who spent 3 years in college, and he fits well as a 3-and-D type player in the Norman Powell mold …

Notes: Measured: 6’4.5” barefoot, 6’5.0” in shoes,  8’7.0” standing reach, 190.0 lbs, 6’9.75” wingspan at the 2021 NBA Draft Combine … Four star recruit out of Greensboro, NC …

Jorrye Nixon 7/22/21