JNixon-Iggy9’s Countdown to the Draft: 60 Prospects in 30 Days (22&21)

22: Trey Thompkins, 6’10 239, PF, Georgia, Jr.

After being projected as a lottery pick before the season and flirting with declaring for the 2010 draft, UGA’s Trey Thompkins has slid to a possible 2nd round pick. I don’t see why. At the beginning of the season Thompkins was injured and it caused him to miss 5 games or so. Still effected by the injury clearly, it effected his play and caused teams to cool down on him. He’s healthy and put up some great games in the conference stretch to show for it. Just like Travis Leslie, I’ve had the opportunity to meet Thompkins before. Very well-spoken, humble guy with a nice personality. Physically, he’s pretty good. He has very good height for a PF at about 6’10, and a solid 7’1 wingspan with nice-sized hands. Athletically, Thompkins will always be mediocre. He’s a bit vertically challenged as a leaper, and he’s not particularly explosive or quick in his movements.

Offensively, Thompkins is extremely skilled. Has a very developed post game for a player his age. Has up-and-unders, a turnaround jumper he loves to utilize, a develop jump hook with both hands. Outstanding footwork and touch. UGA ran a modified triangle offense under Coach Mark Fox with Thompkins functioning from the foul line extended, low and high post, and even out to the college 3-point line. Has the ability to straight-line drive to his right side very well. Likes to spin and post with the ball if he doesn’t blow by his matchup on straight-line drives. Good handle for his size, but not quick enough to consistently beat his man off the dribble. Might have to make some adjustments in how he shoots down low given his lacks of vertical explosiveness, but it appears he will be able to function down low a good bit sooner rather than later. His developing 3-point range is a good improvement. Wasn’t highly efficient as a 3-point shooter from college range as a Jr. (esp. compared to his Soph. season) and still is a raw face-up shooter, but he showed much more confidence than he has in the past and didn’t come to college with consistent range that far. Will likely spend a very good bit of time facing up like he did at times for UGA, so his development of a face-up doesn’t hurt. Can function as a triple threat to shoot, post/slash, or pass. Is a better passer than his A:TO shows (1.4:2.5), but still should look to improve his decision-making. Not as physical as some teams like, and settled for more jumpers than most would’ve liked. Not a great offensive rebounder.

Thompkins is a below average defender. He isn’t all that bad in straight-up post D, as he plays fundamental and contests. When he faces guys who have quickness facing up he struggles though, and he often is sluggish and doesn’t do things, like closing out of shooters, with a sense of urgency. Will give up offensive rebounds for being slow to box out. It is most noticeable that Thompkins has suspect conditioning on this end. Below average on the defensive glass.

The biggest knocks on Thompkins revolve around him not being very athletic, struggling with conditioning, and how those 2 things tie in with his ability to consistently get off shots, rebound and defend. Thompkins has big talent as a post scorer and potential as a face-up shooter though. He’s a gifted offensive big guy who just has to continue to get in better shape. He could be anything from Jason Thompson, to Channing Frye meets David West at best.

21: Darius Morris, 6’4 190, PG/SG, Michigan, Soph.

Morris is a prospect I mentioned prior to the season as a guy to watch out for as a breakout player despite a pedestrian Fr. season (4 ppg and 2.4 apg on 40% shooting). Was held back by Manny Harris being a ballhog and flashed some brilliant passing and ball-handling skills that made him interesting. Had a monster season for Michigan (15 ppg, 4 rpg, 6.7 apg) and made them a tourney team despite being projected to finish about 10th in the Big 10. Physically, Morris has big-time size for the PG position at 6’5 190. His build is already pretty strong and mature, as well as having adequate length on top of that. Athletically, Morris is very shifty and fairly quick for his size. He’s not a particularly explosive leaper, but he’s very agile and moves well east-to-west as opposed to north-to-south.

On offense, Morris bulldozed Big 10 guards to the rim and was a great creator for a team where he was the only player that was capable of handling the ball for extended times of the game. He’s a very good slasher with a powerful 1st step and an aggressive mentality. He’s not a jet-quick guard, but his lateral quickness and hesitation dribble are both superb. He’s not as fast in a straight-line as most other PG’s are, although he’s not slow. Has the size and strength to keep guys on his waste on the way to the rim. Is probably the best drive and dish guard in the draft. Outstanding ability to draw the D and kick out to shooters, with Michigan had a few of. Can be overaggressive and dribble too much at times. As a shooter, Morris struggles mightily. He has poor range and lacks a good touch, and also shows with his elbow out. Lacks confidence in his shot and teams like to dives his screens, and he usually won’t even attempt a shot. Weird in that he’s more comfortable shooting off the dribble than he is spotting up, although he’s not efficient in either facet. As a passer, Morris is very good. Can hit guys in the drive and dish, stationary via ball swings, and he’s a good pick and roll passer/player. Doesn’t really excel in transition. Doesn’t play above the rim. Not as pure a PG as people like to believe, and is along the Tyreke Evans line of combo guards who need the ball to be effective. Benefitted from being the only true penetrator on Michigan’s team, so he got to handle the ball a whole lot. Can be a bit turnover prone.

As a defender, Morris was pretty average at Michigan but he does have big upside on this end. Didn’t defend PG’s all the time, but has the size to defend both backcourt positions. Lateral quickness allows him to move well on D. Rebounds pretty well for a guard. Capable of getting some steals, even though he doesn’t gamble that much.

Morris’ upside is as a big playmaker who can play some of both guard spots. He’s not all that polished a player yet and can’t shoot much at all though, so he’ll need time to develop. He was pretty ball-dominant at Michigan and I question if an NBA team will had him an offense in that manner, but he’s a good playmaker for himself and others, and although he’s not super explosive, his lateral quickness and strength will serve him well against PG’s as a slasher and defender.