NBA Comparison: Rick Fox

Strengths: A 6’7’’, 215-pound forward with effortless scoring abilities … A catch and shoot threat, lets the ball go with a high and quick release … His feet are almost always set when he catches the basketball … As a sophomore at Louisville, he took advantage of his expanded role, leading the team in scoring (17.0 ppg) … Excels at navigating his way to the rim, where he proceeds to finish effectively … Possesses a high IQ and awareness, which is critical to his scoring ability … Plays a controlled, cerebral game … Knows to pull up for floater when he sees a defender stepping in position to take a charge … Above average ball-handling skills … His height and length allows him to shoot over smaller defenders … A great off ball defender … Makes the right reads, knowing when to switch or help … Crashes the boards, averaged 7.6 rebounds per game this past season … His height, wingspan, scoring skillset and strong rebounding abilities make him a very versatile and attractive prospect … Sneaky athlete. Will surprise defenders and get up for a dunk, more athletic than he appears … High character, mature, well spoken individual …

Weaknesses: He is an average athlete, which may prove to be problematic when competing against stronger, faster wings … Underwhelming speed and athleticism … Somewhat between positions as a 3/4 without a great ability to defend either position … Tends to hoist up questionable shots … Often forces the action with the shot clock winding down, tossing up a difficult 3-pointer … For the amount of 3-point attempts he takes per game (6.1), he could improve some in that area, shooting 37.4% from beyond the arc as a sophomore … Needs to bulk up his thin frame or else he may get pushed around by more physical players at the next level … Not particularly quick laterally, and lack of a quick first step could limit his offensive effectiveness … 1.3 assists to 2.4 turnovers shows that he needs to get better at protecting the ball. Though being such a focal point of Louisville’s undermanned offense surely played into those numbers …

Outlook: After just averaging 5.7 points per game as a freshman, Nwora was not on anyone’s radar at the start of the 2018-19 season … His increased playing time as a sophomore and cementing himself as Louisville’s go-to guy has molded him into a potential first round for the 2019 NBA Draft …

Notes: Measured: 6’5.75” barefoot, 6’7.00” in shoes, 8’8.00” standing reach, 223.0 lbs, and 6’10.25” wingspan at the 2020 NBA Combine … Measured 6′ 5.75” barefoot, 6′ 7.5” in shoes, 8′ 7” standing reach, 220.0, and 6′ 10.5” wingspan at the 2019 NBA Combine … Native of Buffalo, NY … Led the Cardinals in both scoring and rebounding … Was the second-most improved scorer this college basketball season with his scoring average up 11.5 points from his freshman year …  Recorded nine double-doubles this season … Named ACC’s Most Improved Player … All-ACC Third Team …

Kailey Jackson 4/9/19