NBA Comparison: Morris Almond

Strengths: Good all-around scorer … NBA bloodlines … Solid outside shooter.  Shot 37% from behind the arc last season … Good at picking his way through the defense and finding a look in the lane … At 6’6" (6’9" wingspan), has very good size for a shooting guard … Adequate defender with good natural length for keeping his man in from of him … Smooth athlete who seems to glide to the bucket with his long strides … He’s a very willing passer and he recorded around 3 assists per game over the course of his career.  Good at leading the break thanks to his very proficient floor vision … Pretty good ballhandler, especially at his size … Averaged nearly 2 steals per game last season.  Always looking to force the turnover … Plays with great energy and a constant sense of urgency … Good one-handed floater … Can post up smaller guards … Shoots well coming off screens, indicating that he may be more useful as, primarily, a spot up shooter at the next level … Was The Guy at Iowa his last two seasons, so he knows how to step into that leadership role and take on the bulk of the scoring load … With solid athleticism, Marble is an overall good physical package with a decent shooting stroke to boot …

Weaknesses: Doesn’t have a great first step or elite athleticism, which takes away some of the advantages he had at the college level … Has an awkward shooting stroke.  He has sort of a "chicken wing" when he shoots and needs to tighten up his elbows … Not very strong.  Needs to put on some muscle to finish in the lane … Not anything special as a defender, due in part to his strength, though he has good defensive potential … His 42% field goal rate as a senior was a bit low, although he was expected to score a lot for the Hawkeyes, so his shot selection couldn’t be as discerning as he might have liked. Also lowered by a high number of 3 point shots … Big game ability? Scored only 6 points in Iowa’s tournament loss this season and only 7 in their NIT loss to Baylor last season, despite Marble being the leading scorer for the Hawkeyes both years … Was a part of the Hawkeyes big-time collapse in the later stages of last season …

Notes: Father, Roy, played in the NBA and was a first round (23rd) draft pick … Named to All-Big Ten First Team last season …

Overall: Marble isn’t particularly quick or athletic, and his shooting stroke is good but not great, but he is a versatile scorer who had four years of good, veteran experience.  He brings leadership and offensive versatility to the table and could sneak into the second round…

Jacob Stallard 5/28/14