NBA Comparison: Julius Randle/Danny Fortson

Strengths: Physical specimen type of athlete with great frame including long, well developed arms, muscular legs and broad shoulders … He possesses excellent leaping ability and strength to battle inside … A highly mobile big, possessing raw explosiveness … Also has good agility for a player his size, showing nimble footwork to weave through opponents and finish plays when attacking the basket … Fast when exerting himself running the floor… Tremendous athlete for his size and appears as though he will be able to carry additional weight without affecting his speed and mobility much … Equally adept at making plays in the half court and in transition … Gets low and knows how to fight for space to receive entry passes, as well as position himself for rebounds … Shows a solid feel for playing post offense and has a few moves that he can go to in order to create offense … Understands how to set up defenders with secondary moves, utilizing drop steps to create easy baskets … Was too strong for many college opponents to contain as he could use his physical strength and athleticism and power right through them on the block. … Shows nice touch around the basket and is not bothered by contact … Can use turn around hook shots effectively … Excellent rebounder showing a willingness to go after loose balls and fight for rebounds. Averaged 10.1 rebounds per game … 3.1 offensive rebounds a game shows his willingness/ability to out-hustle opponents … There’s intrigue in his offensive game as he shows a nice shooting form and was able to knock down 21 threes in his sophomore year on a promising 32%, he also upped his FT shooting from 71% to 76% … A testament to hard work as he was not a great shooter in high school, but his form and efficiency have improved considerably … Versatility. Should be able to play either post position as he has the strength to match up with NBA centers and if his shot continues to develop, he fits the role of the modern big … Has great (huge) hands to catch rebounds as well as receive the ball on the block or in transition … Ball handling is very good for a big. Shows some ability to face the basket and create offense either off the dribble or pulling up … Has a good deal of upside left, having turned 20 in March …

Weaknesses: Not a big shot blocker or rim protector … All around feel for the game has come under question as there are times when he will make a head scratching play, and can go through stints of inconsistency … Also prone to losing his cool emotionally and can become frustrated with teammates when they make mistakes … Thick legs make him a little slow to get moving and anchor him to the floor to some degree defensively … Slightly pre-programmed moves. When he faces tougher defenders that take away his first and second moves, he can get caught forcing things. Not the most creative of players in improvising moves on opponents on the block, pump fakes and footwork have room to improve … While sheer force got the job done a lot of times at the college level, he will need to develop more finesse to find the same success scoring on the block in the NBA … Gets tunnel vision. Forced things a little too often, even when faced with double teams, he would look to create instead of kicking it out for better looks … A solid passer but at times gets caught up in trying to dazzle making a great pass, when a good (and safer) pass would suffice …

Notes: Measured: 6’8.25” barefoot, 6’9.25” in shoes, 8’10.50” standing reach, 249.6 lbs, 7’0.25”wingspan at the 2020 NBA Draft Combine … Measured 6′ 8” barefoot, 6′ 9.25” in shoes, 8′ 10” standing reach, 250.8, and 7′ 0.5” wingspan at the 2019 NBA Combine … Measured 6’6.5 without shoes, 6’7.25 with shoes, 197 lbs, with a 6’10 wingspan and 8’8 standing reach at the 2014 USA Junior National Team Mini Camp … Native of Thomasville, GA … Averaged a double-double as a sophomore at Mississippi State with 17.4 ppg and 10.1 rpg … Earned MVP of the USA Select team that brought home a gold medal from Greece in the summer of 2019, following his freshman year … Ranked 35th in 247 Sports and 29th on ESPN in their final high school rankings …

Aran Smith 5/27/20

Strengths: 6’9 mobile big man … Solid length with a 6’11 wingspan and 8’10 standing reach … Strong frame with strength in both the upper and lower body. Finishes through contact. Likes to bang and wears on physically weaker opponents … Good aggression … Shot 5.8 free throws per game over the adidas Gauntlet and 6.2 at adidas Nations in 2017 … Well coordinated. Good mobility and solid athleticism. Runs the floor and gets good lift around the basket. Gets off the ground quickly. Very good motor and highly active. Good speed for size … Shows a foundation as a face up midrange jump shooter … Potential in pick & roll and pick & pop situations … Averaged 17 points per game while shooting 47.7% FG% over the adidas Gauntlet. Averaged 13.2 points per game while shooting 46.7% FG% at adidas Nations in 2016 and 17.2 points per game in 2017. Finished second in scoring at the adidas Eurocamp with 15 points per game while shooting 45.2% FG% … Good rebounder on both ends. Averaged 8.4 rebounds (2.6 offensive) per game over the adidas Gauntlet. Finished second in rebounding at adidas Nations in 2016 with 8.8 (1.8 offensive) per game. Led adidas Nations in rebounding in 2017 with ten per game (4.4 offensive). Led the adidas Eurocamp in rebounding with 8.5 (3.5 offensive) per game … Good shot blocker. Rotates well defensively and has the size to switch onto bigger defenders yet the quickness to if he has to switch onto a perimeter player. Averaged 2.4 blocks and one steal per game over the adidas Gauntlet. Averaged 2.5 steals per game at the adidas Eurocamp. Averaged one block and one steal per game at adidas Nations in 2017 …

Weaknesses: Still expanding his shooting range and jump shot consistency. Shot 22.7% 3P% and 54.3% FT% over the adidas Gauntlet. Shot 14.3% 3P% and 56.2% FT% at adidas Nations in 2016 and 64.5% FT% in 2017. Only shot 40% FT% at the adidas Eurocamp … Lacks post game and offensive technique within close, especially with his left hand. Although he hasn’t any trouble putting points on the board, he’s still doesn’t have a consistent way to score. Improved shot selection will improve his shooting percentages … Lacks the finesse game. Can be a bull in a China shop at times … Can rotate on defense but can roam too often, sometimes too aggressive when gambling on passes, getting out of position and leaving no one to protect the basket … Can limit the turnovers. Gets stripped and loses the ball on drives and in traffic. Averaged 3.4 turnovers per game over the adidas Gauntlet.  Averaged 3.2 turnovers per game at adidas Nations in 2016 and 2.2 per game in 2017 …

Outlook: Mississippi State freshman … Finished with 15 points and seven rebounds (three offensive), shooting 6-11 from the floor and 2-3 from three in the McDonald’s All-American Game …

Evan Tomes 8/23/18