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4 - Nick Richards

7-0, 240 Center
Kentucky Junior
Birthday
11/29/97 (26.4 yrs)
Hometown
Kingston, Jamaica
High School
The Patrick School
Team Site Profile
Statistics
Athleticism
9
Size
9
Defense
8
Strength
7
Quickness
8
Leadership
6
Jump Shot
7
NBA Ready
7
Rebounding
8
Potential
7
Post Skills
6
Intangibles
7

NBA Comparison: Willie Cauley-Stein

Strengths:  A long, athletic center who realized his potential in the past season …  Explosive leaper … Attacks the rim for ferocious dunks … Raised his scoring average considerably to 14 ppg and his FT shooting up to 75% … Legit 7-footer with 7’2 wingspan, excellent size for NBA center position … Shows potential as a rim protector, shot blocker … Although he averaged only 2.1 blocks per game, he can improve upon this skill with focus on timing and technique … Shooting has shown solid improvement … Solid mobility and fluidity … Very good leaper and runs the floor well … Rim runner. An excellent lob target as he skies above the rim with ease … Developing hook shot to both sides … Showed some ability to knock down mid-range shots, and his form has shown steady improvement … Also added a nice turnaround jumpshot from mid range … Added consistency and greater focus on both ends in his junior season … His great legs and feet give him potential to guard the perimeter better than most centers …

Weaknesses: Lacks great skill offensively … A bit robotic with his offensive movements, and at times looks like he struggles to adjust if his first move gets taken away … Feel for the game is below average and he gets lost on both ends of the floor at times … Doesn’t appear to have a great deal of offensive potential, granted his shot has improved … Will turn 23 at the end of November, limiting his long term potential … Rebounding could be better with improved technique, and more aggressiveness, 7.8 per game is solid but doesn’t stand out for a player with his size and athleticism … Post game, while improved remains at a low level … Passing and decision making remain a work in progress, though they have shown improvement …

Overall: Shaping up to be one of the real draft sleepers … If Richards lands in the right situation, he could turn out to be a solid pick up in the second round … He’s got an excellent athletic profile, with length and leaping ability as well as a strong frame … In the role of rim runner and rim protector, he could potentially develop into an NBA contributor in time. But at this point he should be looked at as a project that needs some time to adjust to the speed of the NBA game … Gets into foul trouble at times due to biting on pump fakes and lack of discipline playing on the ball …

Notes: Measured: 6’10.50” barefoot, 6’11.50” in shoes, 9’2.00” standing reach, 241.6 lbs, 7’2.25” wingspan at the 2020 NBA Combine … Kingston, Jamaica native …  Was second on the team in scoring at 14 ppg …

Aran Smith 11/14/20

 

Strengths: 6’11.75 center … Good size and length with a 7’3.75 wingspan and 9’0.5 standing reach … Good mobility and athleticism … Explosive and quick off the ground, measured the highest standing vertical at the Nike Hoop Summit at 30 inches … Runs the floor well … Good coordination and fluidity … Shoots a high percentage within close, 58% over the Nike EYBL … Hits 3s in warm up situations with time to set up showing nice potential as a shooter … Solid foundation for a post-game … Good footwork at this stage. Shows a fade away in the post that he uses sparingly right now … Doesn’t force his offense. Passes out of the post. Buys into his role as a big man … Stays within his scoring range, doesn’t step out to the perimeter … Stays ready for a pass when a guard penetrates to dump off to him … Good shot blocker, averaged 2.1 per game over the Nike EYBL … Good rebounder. Gets good lift and secures with two hands … Good stroke from the free throw line … Big frame and strength level …

Weaknesses: Can be passive at times … Lacks a consistent motor and intensity, “Laid back” … Doesn’t always assert himself … Can drift in and out of the action … Can be more physical … Has trouble finishing with contact or in traffic … Post game is raw … Needs work on his jump hook and lacks consistent touch inside. Is limited to simply catching and finishing most of the time … Lacks awareness and feel for the game. Gets out of position defensively. Struggles defending one on one especially in isolation … Leaves his feet on defense too much … Doesn’t handle double teams well. Tries to put the ball down in traffic. Needs to keep the ball high in the post and after rebounds … Limited face up game. Has much room to expand his range …

Outlook: Incoming Kentucky freshman … Played in the McDonald’s All American Game, Jordan Brand Classic, and Nike Hoop Summit … Richards is still a work in progress. He has a good combination of size, length, and athleticism but has a way to go into utilizing his physical tools and talent to consistent on court production … Averaged 11.9 points and 8.7 rebounds over the Nike EYBL.

Notes: Measured at 6’10, 217 lbs, with a 7’2 wingspan at the 2014 Nike Elite 100 … Measured 6’11.5’’ in shoes, with a 7’2’’ wingspan and 227 lbs at the 2015 Nike Basketball Academy

Evan Tomes 7/14/17

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