NBA Comparison: Jermaine O'Neal/Marreese Speights

Strengths: Late blooming post player with a bright future (young for a sophomore - will be 19 in a week) ... Has an excellent combination of length and agility ... Explosive big who plays above the rim and displays good body control ... Moves exceptionally well for a player his size showing the ability to run the floor like a guard ... Plays a physical game with good strength and willingness to mix it up inside ... Solid offensive game with nice potential. Shows good creativity on post moves using spin moves and up-and-unders and good touch around the basket ... Likes to face the basket and take opponents off the dribble, but can also create with his back to the basket ... Can effectively take opponents off the dribble all the way out past the 3 point line (tremendous foot speed for a 4) ... Effectively utilizes the turnaround hook shot ... Good form on his shot with a solid baseline jumper ... An excellent rebounder (8.2 rpg as a freshman) with quick leaping ability and good length ... Has very quick feet and moves well to cover a lot of ground on rebounds ... Plays with a high motor ... Displays excellent hands, a necessity for quality post players ... Shows the ability to catch and shoot from 3 point range (shot 37 3s converting on 11 as a freshman) ...

Weaknesses: Should continue to extend range and improve on his outside shooting ... Free throw shooting was surprisingly low for a player who shows solid form (54 FT% needs to improve) ... Can be too enamored at times with facing the basket and neglect his physical strength inside ... Shows solid rebounding ability but could improve with a little more attention to details, boxing out and finding his man and using post position, instead of just relying on his physical attributes ... Not a great passer. Needs to cut down on the turnovers and improve on his a/to ratio ( 0.6 apg to 1.7 to) ... Shows the type of body that will be able to put on strength with no problem but currently (at 230 lbs) could stand to bulk up some ... Considering his size (length) and leaping ability he should be a bigger defensive (shot blocking) presence ... Should be able to double his 0.9 bpg output as a freshman ...

Notes: Impressed in Aukland, New Zealand at the 2009 U19 Championships as the top (gold medal winning) USA Team post prospect ...

Aran Smith 11/11/09

YouTube Clip - 7/16/2009