NBA Comparison: Lawrence Moten

Strengths: McRae is a tall and long wing prospect who plays a fairly unorthodox game … Stands 6’5, and has an outstanding 7’0 wingspan, and he uses it well on both ends on the floor … Good athlete with solid leaping skills and fluidity … Likes to shoot the ball, and can make shots from deep or from mid-range effectively … Showed the ability to shoot with range in college … Shows some good shot-making skills, and can hit contested jumpers at times … Has an unconventional release (puts the ball around his forehead when he shoots), but he has a very quick release and is consistent with his mechanics … Good at using screens to get shots, and only needs a little daylight to get shots off given his release and size … Probably is a more consistent mid-range player than 3-point shooter, and shows good footwork and ability to make moves to create space for himself … Can put up points in bunches … Has shown more and more confidence in himself offensively over his career … Able to hit shots off the dribble pretty well…Can finish when attacking the rim on straight-line drives, and covers a good amount of ground with his long strides … Not a selfish player, usually can find the open man when he gets extra defensive attention…Has excellent defensive potential, and already shows the ability to be a tough and active defender … His length allows him to be a factor in the passing lanes and he can smother guards with on-ball pressure … Very good shot-blocking skills for a wing … Versatile on D, could be able to defend the 3 perimeter spots in the NBA, if not at least the wing positions … Should benefit from more floor spacing and a lighter scoring load, as Tennessee was often crowded inside the arc offensively and didn’t have any real perimeter scoring options besides him in his last 2 seasons … Developed nicely after starting his career as a pretty raw prospect, could have more untapped potential despite being a 4-year player … Knows when to be vocal and knew when to try and carry his team, showed some leadership skills as a Sr.

Weaknesses: Though McRae has good height and exceptional length, he is a twig at 179 lbs and will need to get much stronger ..  Has a narrow frame and thin shoulders, so it will be harder for him to put on weight without losing athleticism more so than some of the other more thin prospects … Some real question marks about his ability to add legitimate strength .. Struggles to deal with contact…Though he is a confident shooter, his efficiency can definitely stand to improve … Didn’t really shoot the 3-ball well down the stretch last season … His shooting mechanics also need to tighten up, as his inconsistencies can likely be related to his unconventional form … Sometimes forces contested shots … Ball-handling skills need work … Doesn’t hold up that well to tight ball pressure … Not a truly good isolation player, though he at times had to look to score in these situations due to a lack of perimeter scorers around him…A big high-waisted, and can be a little stiff moving laterally … Though he has matured and become a smarter player, his feel for the game and basketball IQ can still improve … Is 23 years old, so he is older than many other prospects …

Overall: McRae’s ability to score, mixed with his really good physical tools could make him a draft day selection … He could be a good defender in the NBA and if he gets his jumper more consistent, he will have a real good chance at a nice career for himself … Problem is, he never developed the consistency he needed with his shot in college, and he’s a pretty thin guy who doesn’t handle the ball that well and is an older prospect … Moving on from Tennessee, McRae has some of the tools to be an intriguing prospect, and could hear his name called in the 2nd round of the draft …

Notes: Measured 6’5 (in shoes) 175 lbs, with a 7’0 wingspan at the 2013 Kevin Durant Skills Academy

Jorrye Nixon 5/26/14