NBA Comparison: Jrue Holiday

Strengths: Late blooming shooting guard with a picture perfect shooting stroke … Undersized at 6’3 for the two position but has a 6’10 wingspan allowing him to play bigger … Very controlled game, stays on balance, won’t rattle easily, doesn’t bite on fakes, composed, mature game … Shows a lot of determination and competitiveness … Adept in iso situations. Hunts shots … Shows excellent hesitation moves and knows how to free himself for looks … Utilizes crossovers and stop and start dribble moves well to freeze defenders or get them off balance … Composed defensive player who anticipates well and generally doesn’t gamble or overplay passing lanes … Uses his big wingspan well to disrupt opponents looks and passing lanes … Hits nearly two 3s per game on a very solid 38% clip … A career college 40% three point shooter … His length gives him additional time and space for looks … Quality decision maker, showing a value for possessions … Solid a/to efficiency at 3 to 1.7, however more comfortable playing at the 2 position … Comfortable handling the ball in traffic and creating offense for himself … Very strong frame, excellent body strength to complete drives and not get knocked off his path by bigger opponents … Quality free throw shooter, showing improvement each season … Good rebounder for a guard, though his rebounding has curiously fallen off from his sophomore to junior seasons (5.8 to 4.1) … Very good midrange game, and understands how to post up a smaller defender and make plays around the basket … Doesn’t often settle for bad looks … Gets feet set quickly. Stays on balance and has good form with follow through … Good touch around the rim … Finishes well after contact … Has developed a tear drop that he utilizes to finish over bigmen in the paint … Solid drive and dish player … Uses his body well to screen off the defenders for shots and getting a body into shot blockers …

Weaknesses: The age of a senior. Turns 22 in May giving him less upside compared with most of the other prospects available for this year’s draft. Likely cannot afford to wait another season to enter draft … Not adept as a facilitator/ball handler in pick and roll situations … A solid athlete with good efficiency in transition, however he lacks elite explosiveness … Could be more aggressive taking the ball to the basket and drawing contact and free throw opportunities … At times seems too content to park in the corner and look for catch and shoot opportunities … May struggle to free himself against bigger and better athletes as he lacks a great first step … Solid passer though not a player that necessarily creates open looks for others with his passing … Appears to be more of a 2 foot jumper making him a little less fluid in finishing on the break … Could improve upon his ability to set up defenders running them off of screeens and staying more active off the ball …

Notes: Considered a likely 2018 draft entrant … A bit of a late bloomer who has flown under the draft radar until this his junior season … Reminds some scouts of Jrue Holiday as there is a resemblance in his body type and playing style …

Aran Smith 3/8/18