NBA Comparison: Mike Muscala

Strengths: Mobile big, with good size … Already has an NBA body, a bulked frame with nice wide shoulders and long arms … Has acceptable level of athleticism for the next level … Excellent coordination for a player his size … Good leaper off two feet, with a good second jump … Has a strong body and good center of gravity, which makes it difficult for opponents to move him … Has a great feel for the game and a high basketball I.Q … Has a lot of finesse to his game … Can either Face Up or Post up … Patient while posting up … Good footwork with his back to the basket … Can turn from either shoulder while posting up … Can finish at the rim with either hand … Has a dependable hook shot with either hand … Establishes good position in the post and knows how to position his body while waiting for an entry pass … Nice shooting mechanics, can shoot from mid-range and tries to add 3-point range to his shot … Good screener in Pick and Roll situations, who rolls hard to the basket … Can also do a short roll after setting a screen and either shoot from mid-range, or pass the ball … Above average passer while posting up, finds the open teammate consistently … Good entry passer in high-low situations … Very good rebounder, especially on the offensive end … Crashes the offensive boards with his good second or third jump … Can guard the Pick and Roll at a solid level, especially when he is asked to Hedge Out … Has above average lateral quickness and can stay in front of some guards … Good weakside defender … Good timing on blocks …

Weaknesses: He is a good athlete, but not overly athletic … Lacks elite burst … Although he has long arms, his wingspan is actually average … His motor can come and go … He doesn’t take over games as much as he could or should, which was a problem even at FIBA’s junior level … He should be more dominant based on his skill and talent level … There are times when he just leaves a lot to be desired. giving the impression that he is not playing to his full potential … Can have stretches in a game where he disappears and isn’t as involved as he should be … He must become a more physical player … Has problems against high motor guys who play physical … He has the tendency to finish plays with the least amount of energy necessary, preferring a lay-up from a dunk, making it easier for his opponents to stop him … Can be too focused on finesse plays, which causes him problems against physical opponents … His shooting still needs work … Not a real threat from the perimeter for now … His free throw shooting remains inconsistent … Turnover prone, either because he has the tendency to telegraph his passes or because he tries passes that just aren’t there … Must improve his ball handling if he wants to play as a power forward in the future … Not explosive or athletic enough to guard power forwards full time, and this could make it difficult for him to earn consistent minutes early on … Struggles in post defense against stronger, bigger opponents … Can be bullied in the post despite his size and body … Has problems boxing out strong opponents … Mysteriously shot just 65% from the FT line as a sophomore at Gonzaga, well below his capabilities …

Notes: Played two seasons at Gonzaga where he averaged a team high 17.5 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 0.8 bpg in just 26 mpg … Attended acclaimed Montverde Academy in Florida as a prep …

Stefanos Makris 11/7/20

Strengths: 6’10 mobile big man … Well coordinated. Can put the ball on the floor at times … Can score inside and out. Good footwork and scores well in the post with good touch around the basket. Can face up and scores well from midrange. Stretches the floor and has range out to the three-point line. Shot 40% from three over the Under Armour Association. Solid free throw shooter at 71.4% over the Under Armour Association … Spaces the floor and sees the court well. Consistently makes the extra pass and solid passing ability overall. Correlates well when paired with other big men, can play on either side of a high/low … Patient on offense and doesn’t force it … Alert and has good hands … Blocks shots at a high rate with 2.1 per game over the Under Armour Association …

Weaknesses: Good length but not outstanding with a 6’9.25 wingspan and 8’11 standing reach … Good mobility but not an explosive athlete and lacks speed … Finesse style, can play more physical … Although he blocks shots, his lack of speed and physicality decreases his ability as a defender … Doesn’t have a versatile offensive game, most of his points come from catch and finishing around the basket or in catch and shoot situations … Turnover prone with 2.9 per game over the Under Armour Association …

Outlook: Gonzaga freshman … Serbian native who played his senior year at Montverde Academy, finishing with a 35-0 record. Won the Geico National Championship and scored 15 points in the championship game against University High School … Averaged 12.9 points while shooting 46% from the floor and 7.4 rebounds per game over the Under Armour Association … Played in the 2016 Jordan Brand Classic International Game …

Evan Tomes 8/14/18