NBA Comparison: Trevor Ariza

Strengths: Thompson is a 6’7 215 wing with the physical tools to fit seamlessly on the perimeter … Also possesses explosive athleticism, easy lateral movements and dynamic speed, possessing an extra gear that can stack players on their heels in a hurry … Great 1st step … An asset as an open court player with his ability to run the floor and jump out the gym; good finisher who gets plenty of alley-oops and projects be able to get himself some easy points just by filling lanes in transition … High level defensive potential … Can adjust in mid-air to convert pretty well against contests at the rim … Doesn’t always need plays drawn up for him to be effective; will make backdoor cuts and aggressively attack the offensive glass & generally displays a high motor … Unselfish player who shows good timing & feel as a passer from the wing (5.1 APG in ‘22-23), especially on the move … Makes good outlet passes … Pretty good at reading help defense and finding the open man … Solid rebounder (6.1 RPG) who can initiate offense and reward teammates who leak out with hit-aheads after missed shots … Has the tools and the right approach to be an impact player on the defensive end; moves his feet to deny penetration, gets steals (2.1 SPG) and likes to turn defense into offense … His willingness to help when his teammates get beat is commendable; rangy enough to freelance and disrupt action … Plays with good energy and is competitive; has been lauded for his intangibles and work ethic by many associated with the Overtime Elite program …

Weaknesses: Can be too reliant on his athleticism; doesn’t really know how to improvise when his quickness and burst don’t suffice, at the moment … Not a natural scorer and doesn’t have much nuance to creating his own offense … Jump shot is a work in progress both spotting up and off the bounce … Only shot 65% from the FT line…Shot selection isn’t always the best in halfcourt offense; takes too many off-balance shots off the dribble that seem like bailouts … Would be well-served to work on his jumper with his feet set; would compliment his live athleticism well … Can get out of control and make wild passes and shot attempts when the defense corrals him … Doesn’t always play to his strengths offensively and needs to have a better understanding of his limitations to maximize his value on the court … Can be careless with the ball at times, particularly as a passer, and has a much higher turnover rate than your typical wing (3.3 TOPG) … Fundamentals on defense need some work; doesn’t get in a stance consistently leading to him giving up more dribble drive lanes than he should … Gambles and can leave his team defense out to dry at times, particularly when trying to come up with steals … Advanced age for OTE at 20 years old, which is worth note …

Overall: Ausar Thompson who, alongside his twin brother and projected 2023 Draft lottery selection Amen, has been a prospect since around 2019 when he moved from California to South Florida prior to HS … He had a decorated HS career and solidified his standing as a top 50 prospect but decided to sign a 2-year contract to play in the Overtime Elite program based out of Atlanta in 2021 to prepare for the NBA Draft … He was productive, putting up over 16 PPG 6 RPG 5 APG and 2.1 SPG this past season while showing his outstanding athleticism that’s build for transition play, unselfishness and potential on the defensive end … He also showed that he’s a bit raw and has some work to do on his fundamentals on both ends of the court, could use some fine-tuning on his shooting both when stationary and off the dribble, and a need to work on his half-court skill level … The strides he made as a shooter are encouraging, and if he can continue to keep putting in work as a shooter, especially with his feet set, he has a good chance to carve out a role for himself given his unique athletic traits, defensive potential and ability to pass the ball in transition and when on the move … His work ethic has been praised, particularly by Kevin Ollie, a former NBA vet and college head coach who is a main person overseeing the Overtime Elite program, which is encouraging and something to build on, and we may not be looking at anything close to the finished product with Ausar Thompson … Thompson is currently being mocked as high as the top 5 and he definitely projects to be a lottery pick in the 2023 Draft, where he could be a productive player for a team that doesn’t rush him and allows him to play at his strengths while working hard to round out his game to help him maximize his ability ..

Notes: Measured 6′ 5.75” barefoot, 8′ 8.00” standing reach, 218.2 lbs and a 7′ 0.00” wingspan at the 2023 NBA Draft Combine …

Jorrye Nixon 5/25/23