NBA Comparison: Josh Hart

Strengths: A strongly built 6’5 210 wing, has the size and adequate length (6’8 wingspan) to match up fine on the perimeter physically … Decent athlete … Operates mostly as a floor spacer offensively, does the majority of his damage from beyond the 3-point line (40% 3FG as a JR, on a healthy 8.3 attempts/game) … Has moments where he can really get rolling and be very dangerous, and isn’t just an in-rhythm spot up threat like he was early in his career … Houston was 29-1 in games that he made multiple 3-point shots during his Jr. season … Has NBA range and is effective coming off screens or running to open spots along the perimeter, making him a nice valve to have in transition or with slashing guards who collapse the defense … Also showed ability to stick some pull-up 3s with range .. Solid pre-shot mechanics, squares his body to the rim and rises into his shot under control and with consistency … Pretty nice perimeter defender overall, gets into his stance and shows the strength and active feet to deny penetration and force tough shots … Was solid on that end in the Big 12, but had huge success smothering smaller, less athletic perimeter players in the AAC…With his frame and active feet, he be able to comfortably defend SGs and most SF’s at the pro level … Unselfish and plays off the strengths of his teammates well … Also contributes on the glass (5.7 rpg as a Jr.), especially offensive boards, using his strong frame & nice motor to throw his body around and come up with loose balls…Fits nicely as a 3-and-D prospect …

Weaknesses: Not a shot creator, really struggles at times with creating his own offense … .Though an adequate athlete, he lacks quickness and struggles to get separation because of poor ball-handling … Struggles to go left and is a predictable slasher with limited moves … Can become passive and ineffective if his shot isn’t falling…A bit mechanical, lacks fluidity to his game … His in-between game needs improvement, especially considering he will have a tougher time getting to the rim off the bounce at the pro level … Really struggles to convert near the rim, even at the mid-major, so it is difficult to project him as more than just a floor spacer on offense at the NBA level … Shot just 41% inside the arc as a Jr. and 46% for his career, illustrating his lack of finishing ability …

Overall: Grimes won the AAC Player of the Year award after a breakthrough Jr season for a Houston team that made a trip to the Final 4 this past season … He is a former top 5 recruit who started his career in the Big 12 at Kansas, but revitalized himself into a potential 2021 draft pick … He has good potential as a clear cut 3-and-D wing prospect given his sound jump shooting ability and ability to match up and play defense on the perimeter…He isnt a high level shot creator for himself or others, and can have moments when he disappears, but when he’s on he can get rolling from 3, as seen when he made 7 shots from distance and put up 27 points in a NBA Combine scrimmage …

Notes: 6’4.0” barefoot,  6’5.25” in shoes, 8’5.0” standing reach, 209.8 lbs,  6’8.0” wingspan at the 2021 NBA Draft Combine …

Jorrye Nixon 7/24/21

Strengths: 6’5 combo guard … Solid length with a 6’7 wingspan and 8’4 standing reach … Good athleticism. Quick first step … Finishes plays at and at the rim with good body control … Good strength. Plays physical … Good aggression and confidence … Stays in attack mode … Good shooting and scoring ability … Heats up and develops rhythm quickly … Shoots well from midrange and three. Shot 40% from three over the adidas Gauntlet. Good step back and pull up jump shot … Unselfish … Possesses solid court vision, passing ability, and decision making … Finished with 3.4 assists to 1.4 turnovers per game at adidas Nations … Solid ballhandler … Plays well off the ball … Reads opportunities to cut to the basket for alley oops and knows how to space the floor … Draws fouls at a good rate … Good rebounder for position … Averaged 5.7 per game over the adidas Gauntlet … Good potential as a perimeter defender with his size and quickness … Averaged 1.1 steals per game over the adidas Gauntlet and 1.2 per game at adidas Nations …

Weaknesses: Can be an inconsistent performer … Over the first session of the adidas Gauntlet, he had a 23-point (10-17, 58%) game sandwiched between two six-point games (1-12, 8.3% & 1-10, 10%) … In the second session, he erupted for 41 points (16-23, 69.6% and 7-12, 58.3% from three) and followed up with a four-point (2-11, 18.2%) game … Doesn’t beat or break down the defense much off the dribble, needs triple threat … Creating offense against players with his size and athleticism will be a challenge … Settles for outside and contested shots at times … Can cut down on his 2.6 turnovers per game over the adidas Gauntlet … Can improve as a free throw shooter. Shot 66.7% from the line over the adidas Gauntlet and 40% at adidas Nations … Solid in multiple areas but doesn’t have a specific area where he provides top shelf ability or separates himself …

Outlook: Incoming Kansas freshman … Scored 14 points and passed out six assists in the McDonald’s All-American Game … Scored 15 points, grabbed five rebounds (four offensive), and passed nine assists to two turnovers in the Jordan Brand Classic … Finished with 15 points, six rebounds, and four assists in the Nike Hoop Summit … Talented combo guard for the 2018 high school class. Averaged 29.5 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game as a senior … Helped USA Red 2018 to win the championship scoring 14 points (4-6) from three in the championship game …

Notes: Notes: Measured 6′ 4” barefoot, 6′ 5.25” in shoes, 8′ 4.5” standing reach, 209.6 lbs, and 6′ 7.75” wingspan at the 2019 NBA Combine  … Measured: 6’4.5″ in shoes, 6’3″ barefoot, 204 lbs, 6’7″ wingspan, 8’4″ standing reach at the 2018 Nike Hoop Summit …

Evan Tomes 7/18/18