JNixon-Iggy9’s Countdown to the Draft: 60 Prospects in 30 Days (38&37)

38: Shelvin Mack, 6’2 209, PG/SG, Butler, Jr.

A guy who went from low major recruit status to 2-time National title participant, the 6’2 combo guard Shelvin Mack is largely an overachiever and a self-made prospect. A great college player who plays his best in big-game situations, Mack was the leader of Butler’s unexpected tourney run this past year and overcame a mid-season slump to play well when it mattered, during the end of the conference slate until the season ended against UConn. Physically, Butler is a bulldog. He’s got average height for a PG at 6’2, but well short for a combo guard. Probably one of the 2 or 3 strongest guards in the draft, and it translates to the floor. Has an above average 6’7 wingspan to help him play taller than he is. As an athlete, Mack is better than advertised. He’s not very explosive or fast, but he has functional quickness and leaping ability.

On offense, Mack has tools but was never consistently efficient for Butler in the Horizon League. His main weapon is his jump shot. He possesses a nice shot with quick-striking and compact mechanics. One of those rare players that is much more of a weapon off the dribbling shooting, than he is spotting up or coming off screens. Can kill you if you sag off. Can make rhythm shots off the bounce from as far back as 25 feet, but is most consistent from about 22. Plays better with the ball in his hands, and his shooting shows that to be true. There are questions as to whether his shot is good enough from a % standpoint for him to be considered a pure shooter (never shot better than 39%, and shot 35% this past year). As a slasher, Mack doesn’t seem great. He’s capable of slashing because he’s strong and has a low center of gravity when going to the rim, but he’s not more than average for an NBA PG in terms of his quickness and handle and he doesn’t have the explosiveness to finish over most NBA defenders. Pretty right hand dominant. Not a true PG. Does have 1 main quality of a PG though, he is a nice threat in pick and roll situations. Can shoot off the bounce well if sagged off, make basic passers to his pick man particularly if they can shoot (him and Matt Howard were good at it this year), and he has enough athleticism and strength to take it to the rim if the lane is there. Only OK floor vision, and no flashiness. Didn’t play a lot of PG at Butler, not as much as the majority of the other prospects for sure. Plays his best in big games. Not afraid of the big shot.

Mack is a bulldog on D, as all of Butler’s guards are. Plays great on-ball D. Not overly quick laterally, but certainly good enough. Has the length, strength, energy and tenacity to deny penetration pretty well. Closes out on shooters. Length will eventually allow him to defend SG’s in spurts. Solid rebounder for a PG.

Mack’s D and streaky shooting will be the keys to him being a good role player in the NBA. He’s good enough as a pick and roll player to play in the NBA as a PG reasonably well, but he’ll always be a tweener or combo. His game reminds me of Anthony Johnson, a journeyman who played in the NBA forever because he was smart, defended, was strong and big for PG, and could pick his spots well enough to make shots. Mack will make a good 2nd unit utility guard. 37:

Iman Shumpert, 6’5 222, PG/SG, Georgia Tech, Jr.

Did anyone kill the combine more than this guy? The former McDonald’s American from Chicago proved true to claim that he was one of, if not, the most physically gifted guard in the class, and has a lot of generated interest among fans and GM’s alike. Had a moderately successful career at GT, but one that was filled with bouts of inconsistency, selfish play and empty stats, team underachievement and disappointment, and even some attitude problems. Physically, Shumpert is about as blessed as any guard prospect since Tyreke Evans. A big-time, long 6’6 222 frame that he could choose to add about 5 lbs of muscle to, 6’9 wingspan, and a strong overall body composition. Athletically, he’s also great. Has outstanding fluidity, great leaping ability (particularly off 2 feet), and above average quickness and speed.

On offense, Shumpert has raw tools. Very aggressive, for better or often worse. At 6’6, he plays as a combo guard. Likes to create on offense for himself and others, and will turn the ball over and take really ridiculous shots a lot because of how much freedom he had and how aggressive he is. A threat in the drive and dish game, and has the 1st step and handle to slash with effectiveness. Capable of some truly dazzling forays to the bucket, and has the ability to get to the rim and drive and dish. Likes to make the flashy play, and will succeed at times. Has some solid passing skills and nice floor vision too. But his flash also leads to WAYYY too many ugly, ugly turnovers and possessions. GT’s offense has been pretty stagnant since Shumpert was a Fr. (and a few years before too though…), but he’s responsible for a lot of what goes on too. Really struggles to organize an offense. Simply, his physical and athletic talent hasn’t equaled leadership, and it shows with how he operates. Will make a nice play, and then make 4 or 5 straight bad possessions and decisions. Ridiculously ball-dominate, mistake prone and selfish. Coach Paul Hewitt (who was a terrible coach over the last 5 years, by the way) made a rare smart decision and made Shumpert play a lot off the ball this past season. Probably the lowest basketball IQ of any perimeter player in the draft. Seriously. As a shooter, Shumpert takes a lot of what I call “who do you think you are?” shots. About 2/3 of his overall field goals were jumpers, and he converted 29% of his jumpers on the season. -__-. Also takes about any many pull-up jumpers as any player in the draft, and converts at a great total of 19% of those shots. Double -__-. He has solid mechanics and even a decent touch, but he won’t become efficient until he shoots smart shots and gets practice repetition. Looks good in transition where he effectively shows his size and athleticism very well, and he usually finishes when he was a head of steam and numbers on the break. Still, prone to blow opportunities by throwing the ball away. Very good offensive rebounder for a guard.

Defensively, Shumpert was a big-time threat in college. He likely will be a defender at the NBA level 1st and foremost as well. Has the length, strength, energy, and athleticism to be an outstanding defender on or off-ball against PG’s or SG’s. Still, not quite smart enough to defend NBA guards as well as he did in college as of now. Super quick hands and feet, and is the best ball-thief in the draft. A big time rebounder overall for a guard.

Overall, Shumpert is a work in progress. A physically and athletically gifted….work in progress. He’s got to show that he’s a student of the game and show more of a winning attitude than he showed at GT the past 3 years. A combo guard, but who will let him play PG if he’s going to be as dumb with the ball as he’s been? His shot selection is the worst I’ve ever seen from a college player who can’t shoot in a long, long time. I do think he can defend though, potentially extremely well and that will keep him in the NBA. As well as his physical profile. He has the upside AT ABSOLUTE BEST to be like Larry Hughes in Washington. But I see him as a Smush Parker or Javaris Crittenton-type likely, as I don’t get the feeling that he’ll work to get better like Hughes did. Shumpert didn’t grow much at all while at GT.