Kentucky Freshman NBA Comparison: Cuttino Mobley
Strengths: Speedy combo guard with crafty scoring ability and solid length … Excels at creating offense when attacking the basket both on the break and in pick and roll situations … Solid frame at 200 lbs at 6’3 with muscular shoulders and arms and solid ability to absorb contact and stay on balance… Has good length with a 6’6 wingspan and a 8’3.5 standing reach … Excellent shooter. Has a quick, fluid release and solid ability to shoot off the dribble … At his best when moving towards the basket and improvising … Quick decision maker … Solid at driving and dishing … Does a nice job of feeding teammates with lobs on the move … Shows an advanced ability to hit runners in the lane, an important attribute considering his lack of explosiveness … Has a patented one handed push shot that he utilizes within 10-12 feet of the basket when he gets space … Clever playmaker … Speed in the open floor and imagination to make quick and creative decisions makes him an effective transition player … Very efficient 83.3% from the FT line shows that he’s indeed a promising shooter … Seems to play well in big games, as he proved on opening night at MSG … Rebounded the ball at a solid rate pulling down 4.3 boards per game … Should be able to improve considerably as an outside shooter, as he proved effective when he’s given time to get shots … Does a good job of negating shot blockers by using the rim to shield the ball and convert lay ups … A solid on ball defender and could bring added value with an ability to defend both guard positions … Smart kid. High character individual, was an excellent student (3.7 GPA) in high school …
Weaknesses: Struggled with efficiency/consistency as a freshman at Kentucky … Shows a nice shooting stroke, but shot a concerning 29.2% from three in freshman year … Scored in single digits in 9 of his 28 games … Considering his shooting form, he underachieved as a spot up shooter … Struggles some to create space in isolation … Needs to improve his ability to create open looks and improve upon his shot selection … Too often forced contested shots, instead of moving the ball or working harder for an open look … Not the most explosive of leapers … Not what you would consider an above the rim athlete … Can get up and dunk at times, but really his skill set is more predicated on speed and quickness and scoring, utilizing his repertoire as opposed to relying on athleticism … Lacked consistency throughout freshman year … Would explode for 20+ one night and then have an off night in the following game or two … Lacks great point guard instincts … A little undersized for a shooting guard … a decent 3.2 to 2.2 assist to turnover ratio, but could stand to improve upon ball protection… Runs a bit hot and cold but some of that may have been due to some uncontrollable off court issues … Has a bit of a frenetic style of play which is both good and bad …
Overall: Considered a likely mid-first round pick … Projects as a potential NBA sixth man, instant offense type … Reminds some of a smaller Tyreke Evans …
Notes: Came into college as the 10th rated recruit by both Rivals and 247Sports and was ranked 13th by ESPN … Born in Dallas. Native of Garland, TX … Participated in the 2019 McDonald’s All American game … Also participated in the 2019 Nike Hoop Summit … Played within the USA Select Basketball system for a number of years and was a standout as a scoring lead guard … Has a charismatic, fun loving demeanor … Blew up for 26 points on opening night, in his first ever college game against Michigan State prompting some to hail him as a top 10 pick …
Aran Smith 8/31/20
Strengths: 6’2.5 scoring “combo” guard with a 6’6 wingspan and 8’3.5 standing reach … Great shooter and scorer … Can score from anywhere on the floor and puts points on the board in bunches when he gets hot … Shoots well off the dribble or catch … Catches the ball squared up, has a quick release, and gets it off with just a little bit of space. Will make the defense pay for going under screens. Shoots well from midrange and three. Pulls up from NBA three-point range and connects with confidence … Shot 36.9% 3P% at 5.3 attempts per game over the Nike EYBL in 2017 … Good ballhandler … Takes what the defense gives him … Unselfish, patient, and doesn’t force his offense … Great touch on floater, best in the class … Averaged 15.5 points per game over the Nike EYBL in 2017 and finished fourth in scoring with 21.9 points per game while shooting 47.9% FG% in 2018 … Finished fourth in scoring at the NBPA Top 100 in 2017 with 13.9 points per game while shooting 45.5% FG% … Reliable free throw shooter … Shot 86.2% FT% over the Nike EYBL in 2017 and 82.6% FT% in 2018 … Shot 80% FT% at the NBPA Top 100 in 2017 … Good court vision and passing ability. Although he still needs work developing as a point guard, his assist to turnover has been solid … While his assist numbers aren’t particularly high, he’s done a great job of minimizing the turnovers, which you don’t see often with a high caliber guard with the usage/volume of someone like Maxey … Averaged 1.4 (ten) to 0.6 (four) turnovers per game at the NBPA Top 100 … Averaged 3.1 assists to 1.4 turnovers per game over the Nike EYBL in 2017 and 4.8 assists to 1.2 turnovers per game in 2018 … Stays under control and doesn’t beat himself by trying to make the homerun play … Can play off the ball … Quick first step … Good defender on and off the ball. Puts pressure on the ball handler. Active and jumps the passing lanes … Averaged 1.2 steals per game at the U18 Americas Championship. Averaged 1.5 steals per game over the Nike EYBL in 2017 and led the league with 2.7 steals per game in 2018 … Named Nike EYBL Defensive Player of the Year in 2018 … Vocal … Plays with good confidence …
Weaknesses: More of a scorer than a true point, or even a combo at this point. Naturally plays better off the ball … Although he shows some passing ability and court vision, he naturally reads the game as a scorer and must improve as a playmaker … Has good size if he translates as a point guard but is very undersized as a two, which is his position currently … Has room to get stronger. Can improve finishing in traffic … Good athlete and smooth with the ball but not incredibly explosive. More of a below the rim finisher in the half-court … Handles the ball well but doesn’t break down the defense with his dribble often … Good patience and doesn’t force an attack against set defense but he has to find that angle when getting to the rim off the dribble in the half court … Needs to be able to offer more offensively if his shot’s not falling …
Outlook: Incoming Kentucky freshman … Scored 13 points in the 2019 McDonald’s All-American Game … Scored 13 points in the 2019 Jordan Brand Classic … Played in the 2019 Nike Hoop Summit … Won Gold in the U18 Americas Championship in 2018 … 2018 All-EYBL: First Team …
Evan Tomes 8/9/19
Strengths: 6’2.5 scoring “combo” guard with a 6’5.5 wingspan … Great shooter and scorer … Can score from anywhere on the floor and puts points on the board in bunches when he gets hot … Shoots well off the dribble or catch … Catches the ball squared up, has a quick release, and gets it off with just a little bit of space. Shoots well from midrange and three, has range out to the NBA three … Shot 36.9% 3P% at 5.3 attempts per game over the Nike EYBL in 2017 … Good ballhandler … Takes what the defense gives him … Unselfish, patient, and doesn’t force his offense … Good touch on floater … Averaged 15.5 points per game over the Nike EYBL in 2017 and finished fourth in scoring with 21.9 points per game while shooting 47.9% FG% in 2018 … Finished fourth in scoring at the NBPA Top 100 in 2017 with 13.9 points per game while shooting 45.5% FG% … Reliable free throw shooter … Shot 86.2% FT% over the Nike EYBL in 2017 and 82.6% FT% in 2018 … Shot 80% FT% at the NBPA Top 100 in 2017 … Good court vision and passing ability. Although he still needs work developing as a point guard, his assist to turnover has been solid … While his assist numbers aren’t particularly high, he’s done a great job of minimizing the turnovers, which you don’t see often with a high caliber guard with the usage/volume of someone like Maxey … Averaged 1.4 (ten) to 0.6 (four) turnovers per game at the NBPA Top 100 … Averaged 3.1 assists to 1.4 turnovers per game over the Nike EYBL in 2017 and 4.8 assists to 1.2 turnovers per game in 2018 … Stays under control and doesn’t beat himself by trying to make the homerun play … Can play off the ball … Quick first step … Good defender. Active and jumps the passing lanes … Averaged 1.2 steals per game at the U18 Americas Championship. Averaged 1.5 steals per game over the Nike EYBL in 2017 and led the league with 2.7 steals per game in 2018 … Named Nike EYBL Defensive Player of the Year in 2018 … Plays with good confidence …
Weaknesses: More of a scorer than a true point, or even a combo at this point … Although he shows some passing ability and court vision, he naturally reads the game as a scorer and must improve as a playmaker … Has good size if he translates as a point guard, but is very undersized as a two and currently much more of a 2-guard … Has room to get stronger … Good athlete and smooth with the ball but not incredibly explosive … Handles the ball well but doesn’t break down the defense with his dribble often … Good patience and doesn’t force an attack against set defense but he has to find that angle when getting to the rim off the dribble in the half court …
Outlook: Kentucky commit … Won gold in the U18 Americas Championship … 2018 All-EYBL: First Team …
Evan Tomes 9/28/18
Social
Tweets by nbadraftnet