NBA Comparison: Derrick White

Strengths: McBride is a scrappy lead guard with excellent scoring ability and underrated athleticism … Tremendous defender, especially on the ball, where he utilizes his huge (6’9) wingspan and lateral speed to make things difficult for opposing lead guards … Has a fearless demeanor and rises to the challenge when it presents itself … A gutsy competitor … Played extremely well when he matched up with likely number one overall pick Cade Cunningham, picking his pocket for a steal and score at one point, and ripping the ball away from him with both hands on a drive … He made numerous plays that showed that he was not intimidated going up against an elite player. He essentially played Cade to a standstill over 80 minutes  … Incorporates a solid floater in his game when driving to the basket when bigger players are impeding him from getting to the basket … Showed very solid improvement from his freshman to sophomore year, including raising his 3-point percentage from 30.4% to 41.4% … Bought into Bob Huggins defensive system and really improved, showing equal effort and energy on both ends of the floor … Very active and aggressive hands … Deceptively bigger than he appears. Has a huge wingspan at 6’8.75 on a 6’1 (barefoot) frame … Standing reach at 8’3.5 is nearly that of a prototypical shooting guard … Uses his size well to finish plays with dunks at the rim … Great anticipation on the defensive end, and often gets to the spot before opposing guards do, making it extremely difficult to initiate the offense against him … Excellent 4.9 to 1.8 assist to turnover ratio … Shows the ability to score around the basket and understands how to use his size to post up smaller guards … Smooth, fluid shooting motion … Knocked down over 41.4% from 3 and 81.3% from the FT line … Very shifty with the ball in his hands, and understands how to use fakes and hesitation to create space … Shows the ability to pull up off the dribble and knock down shots effectively … Likes to back down opposing point guards and utilize a turnaround jumper (as he did against standout defender Davion Mitchell) … Very capable ball handler …

Weaknesses: McBride is a hard worker, so don’t bet against him. But at this point his feel for the game needs some improvement … Plays a little sporadic as a floor general and will need to learn to control the tempo of the game and become a better facilitator in order to be a full time starting PG at the next level … Not a great ISO guy … As good as he is laterally, he lacks a great burst off the dribble  … First step is good but not elite … Struggles at blowing by defenders and getting to the rim … 2P% just 43%, he shoots a high volume but low productivity … Transition game needs improvement, decision making must improve as well as his ability to finish … Doesn’t have an elite skill at this point, but does a lot of things well … Body type gives the impression that he is less athletic than he really is … Considered by some as more of a combo guard than a point guard … Doesn’t get much lift on his jumper, which may or may not be so terrible as it helps him to get his shot off more quickly, but limits his ability to shoot over bigger guards … Can be too aggressive at times defensively and gamble for steals, instead of playing sound defense on his man … Needs to gain better consistency from game to game … Deferred a little too much at times, instead of taking over the way he was capable. Some of that may have been due to the system and being a team player … Added core strength. Bulking up his arms and upper body will allow him to play more physical and absorb contact and finish plays at the rim … has the skills and was solid as a sophomore but can improve as a pick and roll facilitator …

Notes: Measured: 6’1.0” barefoot, 6’2.5” in shoes, 8’3.5” standing reach, 195.2 lbs, 6’8.75” wingspan at the 2021 NBA Draft Combine … Nicknamed Deuce … Native of Cincinnati, Ohio …

Aran Smith 7/14/21