NBA Comparison: Kenneth Faried

Strengths: An extremely explosive athlete who unleashes ferocious dunks on the rim … Oliver plays with ferocity, intensity and aggressiveness … He is a terrific rim protector, having EIGHT games this season with four or more blocks … He gets after it under the boards too, having 11 double-doubles in points and rebounds and 13 games with double digit rebounds … His scoring went up this year and he was always confident banging down low and getting to the rim … His field goal percentage at the rim was a superb 75 percent … For as good as his paint presence was, he shot just as effectively from mid-range and three … In fact, he had just about an even split between his field goal locations (mid-range and three-point shots each were about 1/3 and shots at the rim were close to 25 percent) … If there is one thing to compliment Oliver on, it’s the fact that he came back to school this year and did what so many have failed to do: improve his skills and increase his draft stock … It’s always a huge risk but he did it … His scoring went up, his shot blocking got better, he established himself as a rim protector and glass eater and he elevated his team as a leader and led them into the Big Dance (where he played very well) … Versatility is one of the most heavily valued traits by NBA teams and execs and Oliver has it … He can score in a multitude of ways, has speed to blow by defenders off the dribble and he outworks bigger players down low in the trenches … He plays above the rim with his great physical tool set and we can’t talk about Oliver without talking about the explosiveness he has at the rim … He is so aggressive and thunderous when he dunks, he is essentially assaulting the rim with bad intentions …

Weaknesses: For all those positives to look at, there should be caution moving forward on him … For one, he never played elite talent … He played in the Mountain West, a mid major conference and rarely against power conference schools … He made one NCAA Tournament game and was bounced in the first round (even though he played very well) … His scoring was far too inconsistent and some scouts question his motor and desire to dominate … Some games he would go off in the high 20’s of points, and some he went cold and never cracked double digits in points … He also only shot 24 percent of his shots at the rim this past season, which isn’t bad since he was diversifying his shot selections but it wasn’t’ ideal … For a player with his size and speed attributes, one would expect him to be driving and dominating around the basket more …   Instead, he settled too often for outside jumpers and his offensive game has not become diversified … His ability to knock down 3s adds intrigue, but he hasn’t developed much of a post game … His vision has not improved in college … Too frequently he displayed tunnel vision and put his head down, failing to spot open players when he was double teamed or drove to the basket … He must improve this if he wants to be a stretch forward in the NBA … Speaking of stretch forward, what position will Oliver play? He lacks great height and bulk to be a power forward and isn;t skilled enough for small forward … Scouts have also knocked Oliver for his low basketball I.Q … Too often this was displayed on defense when he left his assignments or broke away from schemes. And even though he was a very good shot blokcer, as a small power forward, that skill doesn;t always translate …  Scouts also questioned his heart and consistency, since his senior season was marred by multiple games of very high numbers and games of very low numbers … If your passion or effort level are in question, that’s not a good sign to execs …

Overall: Measured: 6′ 7” barefoot, 6′ 8.25” in shoes, 238.6 lbs, 7′ 1.25” wingspan, 8′ 10.5” standing reach … One of the biggest facilitators and factors that led to Nevada winning the Mountain West regular season and postseason title was Cam Oliver … The sophomore skipped the draft, came back to the Wolf Pack after an impressive freshman campaign where he averaged 13.4 points per game, 9.1 rebounds per game, and 2.6 blocks per game … He lead Nevada to a Mountain West title and a 28-6 overall record. He picked up his scoring to 16.0 points per game, raised his three-point percentage to an impressive 38.4 and maintained his ridiculous 2.6 blocks per game … Expect Cam Oliver to be drafted this summer, at the end of the first round or early second … He should have a very good combine in the spring which will be encouraging to scouts and teams. He is too athletic,  intense and gifted not to be coveted by teams … His heart and basketball I.Q. have been questioned, but these probably just mean he’ll nbeed to fall in a good situation to get the most out of his abilities  … Draymond Green came out of college with similar traits and knocks on him, but he’s learned and adapted to a stretch forward and Oliver should look to him as inspiration. Oliver comes out of college playing more like Kenneth Faried though and can instantly improve a team’s rebounding, and glass presence …

Matt Harvey 3/23/17