NBA Comparison: Damion Lee

Strengths: Quality long range shooter that is comfortable shooting off the catch or off the bounce … Career 38% shooter from three on 6.2 attempts per game … Very consistent player that produces on a night-to-night basis even in games where his shot isn’t falling … Really improved as a rebounder as a junior and senior … Cuts hard when utilizing an off-ball screen and is able to create separation from his defender … Has good balance on his step back jumper, forcing defenders to crowd him when he’s got the ball … Is willing to make the extra pass and not force shots … Relocates to open space after passing which results in good looks for him and tough defensive rotations for his opponents … Sets his feet naturally and quickly when making a catch which puts him in a position to attack closeouts … Is a solid to good on-ball defender who guarded top tier opposing wings … Understands defensive concepts and is a good help side defender – is usually in very good position and can force turnovers as a result … Has had a significant uptick in steals over the previous two seasons (2.2/game as a senior) … Does a good job of putting pressure on opposing offenses by playing passing lanes without giving up good defensive position … Solid size for a shooting guard at 6-6, and with a 6-9 wingspan …

Weaknesses: Despite his long range accuracy, curiously is not a good free throw shooter – career 70% shooter, and never shot better than 73.4% in four years … Doesn’t create a lot of good looks for his teammates as a playmaker – had more turnovers than assists every year of his career … Doesn’t have great end-to-end speed and thus doesn’t look to run in transition as much as he probably should … Wasn’t utilized in as many off-ball actions as his skill set should be conducive to – stood around as a floor spacer a lot in Nate Oats’s offense … Isn’t a high level shot creator – can get his own shot but won’t carry an offense as a heavily featured player … Can be invisible at times on offense when he isn’t getting the basketball … Will turn 23 in December giving him less upside than a lot of available prospects … Doesn’t always display the highest level of intensity or motor throughout games … Stats fell off slightly from his junior to senior year, both scoring and 3 point efficiency …

Outlook: Petty is not likely to become a star, but could be a 3 and D guy in the league. He will need to add muscle mass to his frame, which teams would have liked to see from him by now because of his age, but he has the shot making ability and intelligence to play a role on a contending team … While he isn’t the most gifted athletically, he’s athletic enough and smart enough to find ways to help his team win, even if it’s in ways that don’t directly show up in the box score … He’s not the type of player that will demand the ball at the next level, and thus can be trusted to create space for his teammates, play solid on-ball and help side defense, and rebound well enough to carve out a role at the NBA level for a decade. While he has a well deserved reputation as a shooter, it’s his intelligence and willingness to do whatever his team needs of him that will likely allow him to stick around the league …

Notes: Measured: 6’4.5” barefoot, 6’5.75” in shoes, 8’7.5” standing reach, 186.2 lbs, 6’9.5” wingspan at the 2021 NBA Combine … Measured at 6’4, 177 lbs, with a 6’6 wingspan at the 2014 Nike Elite 100 … Measured 6’6’’ in shoes, with a 6’8’’ wingspan and 181 lbs at the 2015 Nike Basketball Academy

Eric Yearian 7/20/21