NBA Comparison: Neemias Queta

Strengths: Athletic, lefty, center with great size … A very good athlete for his size… Has solid length (7-2.5’’ wingspan and a 9-3.5’’ standing reach) … Pretty mobile for his size and light on his feet … Has an NBA body… A fairly good leaper off two feet… Has a nice second jump … Runs the floor very well… Has a blue collar mentality and a great motor… A classic rim runner… Very good in Pick and Roll actions as the screener … He always sets good, hard screens, making his opponents feel him and then rolls hard to the basket… A lob threat due to size, length and athleticism … Plays above the rim… Has shown some potential in Post Ups against miss-matches … Great offensive rebounder, puts pressure on opposing defense … Has the potential to become a fearsome defender… Size and athleticism help him on defense, he just shrinks the court … A true rim protector, has nice timing and quick hands… Knows the law of verticality when he defends the rim … Not afraid to become physical on the defensive end … Has solid lateral quickness for his size … Versatile Pick and Roll defender, equally good at playing high flat/show or Drop … Has shown potential in switches … Can hold his own in Post Ups … Very good defensive rebounder

Weaknesses: Feel for the game still needs work … 22 years of age. There is a fear he has already reached his plateau … At times he is just too hyped and energetic, which leads to turnovers and bad fouls … Plays through his instincts, which isn’t always good… Pretty limited offensively … His Post Up game needs a lot of work … Has no shooting range, he basically does all his damage in the paint … At times he goes too hard or too quick to set a ball screen and gets called for an offensive foul … Doesn’t read the game well, he has the tendency to force things and telegraph passes… He must find a way to slow down when he takes the ball and has to make a decision … Below average passer  … Has a terrible assist/turnover ratio, which has actually always been negative … Should add a Short Roll to his game, to be able to become a bigger threat either as a roller, or as a passer … Bad free throw shooter … A player with his size and athleticism should be a better finisher at the rim… Foul prone, can be too physical on defense and pays the price… Has the tendency to bite on pump fakes because he hunts for blocks …

Overall: Ariel Hukporti is an athletic German center, whohas been on the draft radar for some time … He  fits the case of a rim runner/rim protector big that everyone is always looking for… His combination of size, athleticism and defensive versatility always intrigued the scouts… Truth to be told, his profile hasn’t really changed since he was a teenager… He hasn’t added many things to his game, if any… His skill set though might be just enough for him to have a consistent role in the NBA, despite his limitations… Not everyone has to be a star, some players can just be a star in their role… If Hukporti manages to become just that, then he could have a solid career …

Notes: Measured:  6’10.75” barefoot 7’0.0” in shoes, 9’3.5” standing reach, 246.0 lbs, 7’2.5” wingspan at the 2021 NBA Draft Combine … Measured 6′ 10.75” barefoot, 9′ 3.00” standing reach, 246.2 lbs and a 7′ 2.50” wingspan at the 2024 NBA Draft Combine …

Stefanos Makris 6/26/24