NBA Comparison: Von Wafer

Strengths: Young is a 6’3 soph. guard who enjoyed a strong Fr. season in the SEC … Showcased some very promising potential and production … Playing in the up-tempo Arkansas scheme, Young flashed some explosive offensive talent … Has a natural ability to simply put points on the scoreboard getting his own shots or playing off the ball … Very good athleticism, has high level explosiveness, speed and quickness, and uses all of them to make impacts on games on both ends … An aggressive offensive player who can put points on the board in bunches … Possesses shot making ability ... Had outstanding per minute scoring numbers last season, especially for a guy who was just a Fr. in a tough league like the SEC … Really flies around the court, plays with a live motor … Excellent first step … Is a monster threat in the transition game, where his speed and ability to weave in and out of traffic allows him to get to the bucket and convert shots efficiently … Will finish above the rim with his leaping skills … Pretty shifty ball-handler, able to hesitate and blow by very quickly and effectively … Understands how to attack his man off the bounce, good at attacking defenders who aren’t moving their feet properly … Effectuve floater … Shot the ball well as a Fr., making nearly 40% of his 3’s … Has a very “unorthodox” quick and compact shooting motion, that allows him to get off shots against contests … Has range out to 25 ft., but is most effective around 20-22 … Could be a tough guard in pick and roll offense, given his quick jumper and his freakish speed … Is a threat in the passing lanes, having the length and quickness to get steals…Has good defensive potential, especially with his energy level…Still has untapped potential, which is scary given how efficient and productive he was a Fr. in a tough league

Weaknesses: A tweener lacking true PG skills and ideal size at the SG position ... Very thin and needs to fill out his frame, although he seems to have the build to do so … Can be knocked off his path by stronger, more physical defenders ... Some think he may be able to play some PG, but even though he’s unselfish, he doesn’t have the feel for setting tempo that a true PG has … Needs to develop a few more moves off the dribble, just in case his initial burst isn’t quick enough to get him blow by’s … He shot well as a Fr. from the perimeter, but he doesn’t have a natural jumper and it often looks like he just has the raw shot making ability to get a pass, but he will need to develop more touch and better form on his shot … Kind of a gambling defender, likes to take risks on D, for better or worse … Struggles getting through screens, given his size … Doesn’t have the best fundamentals on either end of the court … The Mike Anderson pressing style that he plays at Arkansas is highly effective in college ball, but he will have to learn some of the more intricate principles of man to man half court D in the NBA ...

Overall: Young is an intriguing offensive talent who lit up scoreboards for Arkansas in relatively limited minutes … He is a really tough assignment due to his jet-like speed and quickness, and he is also a threat with his ability to stick the jumper, so he will be able to score … Young needs to get stronger and learn to play with more pace to maximize his potential though …

Notes: Measured 6'3 (in shoes) 176 lbs, with a 6'7.5 wingspan at the 2012 Deron Williams Skills Academy

Jorrye Nixon 7/18/12

July 4, 2011