NBA Comparison: Saben Lee

Strengths: An underrated prospect in the upcoming draft who can immediately translate as a solid backup point guard with the potential to be a star with elite quickness and speed attacking the basket … Turns the corner with speed on the perimeter and has the speed to get enough of an advantage so he avoids chase down blocks from larger defenders in mismatches … Pushes the tempo in transition and will flourish at the next level in these scenarios … Great understanding for floor spacing and sees these spaces well with timely passes and backdoor cuts to catch off-ball defenders sleeping … Forces defenders to be locked in at all times with his poise and calmness with the ball paired with an elite first step and hesitations that allow him to explode past his man … Prolific scorer who finishes with efficiency around the rim as a 51% FG from inside the arc on 10 attempts per game … Perimeter scoring took a hit in his junior season (25%) after taking major strides as a sophomore (43%) on similar attempts per game. His tremendous free-throw shooting (87%), indicates that the latter season was possibly the fluke and he should provide an outside scoring threat at the next level … Finishing around the rim is his biggest strength, but he can also pull-up in the mid-range and finish in the lane with a solid floater …

Weaknesses: The dip in his outside shot is definitely concerning, but as mentioned above, he has the FT% and mechanics to indicate that he can figure his shot out and be successful in the pros … Not a plus defender on or off the ball as he struggles to force turnovers or keep opposing guards out of the lane with a thin and small frame … Could easily be attacked consistently on the defensive end because of his lack of versatility on that end of the floor … Really good passer in the open floor, but struggles to make great reads in the halfcourt and looks primarily to score once he puts his head down on drives … His AST:TO ratio for his career is just over one … He needs to improve as a passer if he wants a consistent role, because he cannot rely on his scoring skills as much as he did at Mississippi State as the star player … Already 22-years old and will turn 23 early in his rookie season … Struggles to impact games to his ability, needs to become more assertive and consistent with his play …

Outlook: Projected as a likely second-round  pick and figures to be a potential steal as he has elite size and athleticism and could be molded into an effective NBA point guard over time … Seems to still be learning the nuances of the game and developing his basketball IQ and learning how to impact the game …

Notes: Recently hired an agent to stay in the 2022 NBA Draft … 2021 All-NIT Tournament Team and 2021-22 All-SEC Preseason First Team … Born in Panama City and moved to the United States when he was 14-years old … Represented Panama at 2017 FIBA AmeriCup …

Derek Bast 5/5/22

Notes: Measured: 6’2.25” barefoot, 6’3.25” in shoes, 8’5.0” standing reach, 183.2 lbs, 6’8.0” wingspan at the 2022 NBA Draft Combine …