NBA Comparison: Mike Sweetney

Strengths: A gifted and unique blend of scoring and playmaking from a frontcourt player … Four-year contributor and star at Purdue averaging 11 points and seven rebounds during his career … Extremely high usage rate because of his ability to contribute in so many ways at the offensive end … Can bully opponents down low to get to his spot and knock down hook shots … Seemingly has eyes in the back of his head at points to read defenses and cuts with his back turned to the action … Very accurate passer who can rack up assists on post-ups and face ups … Hits a ton of tough shots around the rim … Decent ball-handler who worked on hesitation crossovers a ton in face ups on the perimeter and the high post … Good things usually happen with him working in the post whether it is a shot for him or an opportunity to surround him with spacing and open looks for others … Competitive rebounder who is always looking ahead to start fast breaks … Moves well for his size defensively, but better athletes will cause him problems at the next level … Uses shimmies and an array of post moves to get opponents off balance and draw contact that sends him to the line at a high rate … Playmaking big men can allow coaches to be creative with their sets and off-ball movement and Williams has the potential to be an elite playmaking big with the right coaching … Unique skill set that can make him a solid impact player in the right system with the right players around him … Selfless leader who plays with a ton of energy …

Weaknesses: Not very mobile defensively and could be taken advantage of a lot in screening action at the next level … Doesn’t pose much of a threat on the perimeter with only 29 3-point attempts in four years in college … While he makes tough shots around the rim, this suggests he doesn’t get a lot of separation and he can be over reliant on knocking these shots down … Can be a bit too flashy with his passes leading to more turnovers than he should have. Can make up his mind immediately after the entry pass whether he wants to shoot or pass, causing him to make poor reads on some possessions … Efficiency isn’t great in the post and he can throw up some crazy shots … More of a traditional post scorer making him less accustomed for the modern game from a scoring standpoint … Without the development of an outside jumper, his scoring style won’t fit in today’s NBA and his lack of efficiency could be frustrating and cost him minutes early on …

Notes: Measured: 6’7.25” barefoot, 6’8.75” in shoes, 9’0.5” standing reach, 264.6 lbs, 7’2.75” wingspan at the 2022 NBA Draft Combine …Durable player who appeared in nearly every game during his career at Purdue … Went from First-Team All-Big Ten and Honorable Mention All-American to Sixth Man of the Year and Third-Team All-Big Ten in his senior season … Averaged 8 points and 8 rebounds at Nike EYBL last summer … Invited to NBPA Top 100 Camp last June

Derek Bast 6/1/22