Post by Admin on Jun 23, 2022 12:39:54 GMT -5
Wings (SG/SF) that can shoot from perimeter, create own offense, score inside or find the opponent teammate for a better shot are favored by Brad. Here's what may be available ... you play GM and find the best options worth picking:
Ryan Rollins (SG)
6'4"180 lbs Toledo
11 POS RK
47 OVR RK
Pre-Draft Analysis
February 22, 2022: (Mock draft and Top 100 update) --
19-year-old, 6-4 combo guard Ryan Rollins has played his way onto the NBA draft radar thanks to his breakout sophomore season with Toledo, as he ranks in the top-3 in the MAC in scoring (19.3) and win shares through 26 games. Only two under-20 players in the entire country are averaging at least 19 points per game: Rollins and future top-10 pick Johnny Davis. I recently made the trip out to Toledo to get an up-close evaluation of Rollins and learn more about one of the top mid-major prospects in the country.
Despite suiting up for heralded AAU program The Family, in high school, the Detroit native played second fiddle to eventual high-major prospects such as Isaiah Jackson, Jalen Terry, and Lorne Bowman, garnering mostly low- to mid-major offers before ultimately signing with Toledo. He also cited a broken wrist and hamstring injuries as reasons for his lack of recruitment and up-and-down prep career, which ultimately landed him in the Mid-American Conference, which also produced Ohio guard and Clippers rookie Jason Preston a season ago.
Now standing 6-4, 185 pounds with a 6-9 wingspan, Rollins is a smooth guard who can make shots off the dribble, change speeds effortlessly with tremendous footwork to put pressure on the rim and make the basic reads to suggest he could evolve into more of a consistent on-ball guard with more reps. He can create space with step-backs, rise up in mid-range, punish smaller guards on his way to the rim or the post, and make heady kick-out and drop-off passes, even if he's more wired to score than distribute. "I'm a 3-level unselfish playmaker," said Rollins, who models his game after smooth guards including Devin Booker and CJ McCollum yet shares some physical similarities to Derrick White. "I can do a lot of things on offense. I'm long, athletic. I'm a jack of all trades."
We saw one of Rollins' worst games of the season from a productivity standpoint - 5 points on 10 shots in a narrow win over Central Michigan - but actually left encouraged by his talent and long-term potential. Calm, cool and collected on the court, his defensive intensity left much to be desired on film, both on and off the ball, but watching him battle through his offensive struggles to get defensive stops while making several smart reads showed he's more than capable on the defensive end of the floor when motivated. He has good feet, long arms and solid anticipation that has led to 1.8 steals per game in just under 33 minutes a night.
Overall, Rollins looks like he's a year away from maximizing his draft stock as there's still room to grow with his shooting consistency (32.8% from 3), defensive intensity, and floor game (3.4 assists to 2.5 turnovers). Rollins will surely get no shortage of interest if he does opt to test the NBA draft waters, especially if he can help lead Toledo, which sits at first place in the MAC, to a conference tournament title and an NCAA tournament bid. With that said, if Toledo doesn't make the Big Dance and Rollins doesn't have an opportunity to prove himself against more high-major opponents, he'll be firmly in the first-round mix in 2023 if he returns for his junior season, develops into a 40-percent 3-point shooter, gains more experience as the primary ball handler, and finds more consistency on the defensive end. - Mike Schmitz
February 22, 2022: (Mock draft and Top 100 update) --
19-year-old, 6-4 combo guard Ryan Rollins has played his way onto the NBA draft radar thanks to his breakout sophomore season with Toledo, as he ranks in the top-3 in the MAC in scoring (19.3) and win shares through 26 games. Only two under-20 players in the entire country are averaging at least 19 points per game: Rollins and future top-10 pick Johnny Davis. I recently made the trip out to Toledo to get an up-close evaluation of Rollins and learn more about one of the top mid-major prospects in the country.
Despite suiting up for heralded AAU program The Family, in high school, the Detroit native played second fiddle to eventual high-major prospects such as Isaiah Jackson, Jalen Terry, and Lorne Bowman, garnering mostly low- to mid-major offers before ultimately signing with Toledo. He also cited a broken wrist and hamstring injuries as reasons for his lack of recruitment and up-and-down prep career, which ultimately landed him in the Mid-American Conference, which also produced Ohio guard and Clippers rookie Jason Preston a season ago.
Now standing 6-4, 185 pounds with a 6-9 wingspan, Rollins is a smooth guard who can make shots off the dribble, change speeds effortlessly with tremendous footwork to put pressure on the rim and make the basic reads to suggest he could evolve into more of a consistent on-ball guard with more reps. He can create space with step-backs, rise up in mid-range, punish smaller guards on his way to the rim or the post, and make heady kick-out and drop-off passes, even if he's more wired to score than distribute. "I'm a 3-level unselfish playmaker," said Rollins, who models his game after smooth guards including Devin Booker and CJ McCollum yet shares some physical similarities to Derrick White. "I can do a lot of things on offense. I'm long, athletic. I'm a jack of all trades."
We saw one of Rollins' worst games of the season from a productivity standpoint - 5 points on 10 shots in a narrow win over Central Michigan - but actually left encouraged by his talent and long-term potential. Calm, cool and collected on the court, his defensive intensity left much to be desired on film, both on and off the ball, but watching him battle through his offensive struggles to get defensive stops while making several smart reads showed he's more than capable on the defensive end of the floor when motivated. He has good feet, long arms and solid anticipation that has led to 1.8 steals per game in just under 33 minutes a night.
Overall, Rollins looks like he's a year away from maximizing his draft stock as there's still room to grow with his shooting consistency (32.8% from 3), defensive intensity, and floor game (3.4 assists to 2.5 turnovers). Rollins will surely get no shortage of interest if he does opt to test the NBA draft waters, especially if he can help lead Toledo, which sits at first place in the MAC, to a conference tournament title and an NCAA tournament bid. With that said, if Toledo doesn't make the Big Dance and Rollins doesn't have an opportunity to prove himself against more high-major opponents, he'll be firmly in the first-round mix in 2023 if he returns for his junior season, develops into a 40-percent 3-point shooter, gains more experience as the primary ball handler, and finds more consistency on the defensive end. - Mike Schmitz
Gabriele Procida (SG)
6'7"194 lbs Fortitudo Bologna
12 POS RK
51 OVR RK
Pre-Draft Analysis
April 29, 2021: (Intriguing long-term prospects) -- Out of all the prospects I evaluated, Procida is the prospect I'd feel most comfortable stamping as a sleeper with a real chance to play in the NBA and outplay his projected draft slot -- whether he targets the 2021 draft or not. At almost 6-foot-8 with wide shoulders, a sweet shooting stroke and excellent fluidity, Procida has the ingredients to eventually carve out a role at the highest level if he can continue to improve as a ball handler, decision-maker and defender.
Watching him warm up in Brescia, Italy, for about an hour, it didn't take long to realize that he is one of the best shooters in this draft class, with the ability to knock down shots on the move and finish above the rim in space. On the season, the 18-year-old Italian player is shooting 42% from 3 on 81 attempts in his first full season at the first division level, shooting the ball with confidence, even sprinting off screens or rising into pull-ups.
As is often the case with young players, Procida was on a short leash the night I evaluated him, playing six total minutes after he was sent to the bench for the rest of the game following a missed dunk and blown defensive assignment at the end of the first half. The game can move a bit fast for him on both ends of the floor right now. and he is certainly not ready to play in an NBA playoff game tomorrow. He is still a bit slight in stature and far from a finished product physically. But from studying his film extensively, it became clear that he fits an NBA prototype and has the energy and baseline physical ability needed to hold his own defensively as his body matures.
Procida also does a lot of the little things you need from role players -- regularly crashing the offensive glass for tip dunks, jumping the passing lanes for a steal or scampering back door for an easy finish. Whether it's Kevin Huerter or Furkan Korkmaz, size and shooting is king on the wing in today's NBA, and Procida can offer both to an organization willing to invest in him long term as a draft-and-stash prospect. A late bloomer who is still somewhat unknown to most NBA executives, Procida is the type of prospect who could have broken out in a Nike Hoop Summit type of setting in a normal year without a pandemic. -- Mike Schmitz
April 29, 2021: (Intriguing long-term prospects) -- Out of all the prospects I evaluated, Procida is the prospect I'd feel most comfortable stamping as a sleeper with a real chance to play in the NBA and outplay his projected draft slot -- whether he targets the 2021 draft or not. At almost 6-foot-8 with wide shoulders, a sweet shooting stroke and excellent fluidity, Procida has the ingredients to eventually carve out a role at the highest level if he can continue to improve as a ball handler, decision-maker and defender.
Watching him warm up in Brescia, Italy, for about an hour, it didn't take long to realize that he is one of the best shooters in this draft class, with the ability to knock down shots on the move and finish above the rim in space. On the season, the 18-year-old Italian player is shooting 42% from 3 on 81 attempts in his first full season at the first division level, shooting the ball with confidence, even sprinting off screens or rising into pull-ups.
As is often the case with young players, Procida was on a short leash the night I evaluated him, playing six total minutes after he was sent to the bench for the rest of the game following a missed dunk and blown defensive assignment at the end of the first half. The game can move a bit fast for him on both ends of the floor right now. and he is certainly not ready to play in an NBA playoff game tomorrow. He is still a bit slight in stature and far from a finished product physically. But from studying his film extensively, it became clear that he fits an NBA prototype and has the energy and baseline physical ability needed to hold his own defensively as his body matures.
Procida also does a lot of the little things you need from role players -- regularly crashing the offensive glass for tip dunks, jumping the passing lanes for a steal or scampering back door for an easy finish. Whether it's Kevin Huerter or Furkan Korkmaz, size and shooting is king on the wing in today's NBA, and Procida can offer both to an organization willing to invest in him long term as a draft-and-stash prospect. A late bloomer who is still somewhat unknown to most NBA executives, Procida is the type of prospect who could have broken out in a Nike Hoop Summit type of setting in a normal year without a pandemic. -- Mike Schmitz
Dereon Seabron (SG)
6'7"180 lbs NC State
13 POS RK
55 OVR RK
Pre-Draft Analysis
May 24, 2022: (Winners and losers of the 2022 NBA draft combine) -- Few players helped themselves in the NBA combine scrimmages as much as Seabron, who averaged 16 points, 5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game on outstanding efficiency. Seabron's excellent size and length gives him intriguing potential as a big point guard, as he got virtually anywhere he wanted all combine long with his excellent first step, elusive handle and ability to change gears explosively, often dishing off unselfishly after collapsing the defense but also seeking out contact aggressively in the lane despite his thin frame. Seabron's perimeter shooting and inconsistent off-the-ball defense are still a major question mark, but that's something NBA teams may be willing to be patient with considering the way he moves at his size and the upside he displays as a big playmaker. -- Jonathan Givony
May 24, 2022: (Winners and losers of the 2022 NBA draft combine) -- Few players helped themselves in the NBA combine scrimmages as much as Seabron, who averaged 16 points, 5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game on outstanding efficiency. Seabron's excellent size and length gives him intriguing potential as a big point guard, as he got virtually anywhere he wanted all combine long with his excellent first step, elusive handle and ability to change gears explosively, often dishing off unselfishly after collapsing the defense but also seeking out contact aggressively in the lane despite his thin frame. Seabron's perimeter shooting and inconsistent off-the-ball defense are still a major question mark, but that's something NBA teams may be willing to be patient with considering the way he moves at his size and the upside he displays as a big playmaker. -- Jonathan Givony
Ron Harper Jr (SF)
6'6"245 lbs Rutgers
6'6"245 lbs Rutgers
14 POS RK
57 OVR RK
Pre-Draft Analysis
March 15, 2022: (2022 NBA mock draft: Drafting players competing in the NCAA tournament) -- Named second-team All-Big Ten, Harper carried Rutgers into the NCAA tournament with several heroic late game shots after a slow start to the season. While undersized for the power forward position he mostly plays, Harper's 245-pound frame and near 7-foot wingspan allows him to play bigger than his height. He made 39% of his 3-pointers this season, being especially effective with his feet set due to the low release on his jumper, but is also capable of scoring in the post, attacking closeouts and coming off screens, showing excellent scoring instincts as well as no fear with his approach.
Perhaps most intriguing are the competitiveness, technique and instincts defensively Harper shows, in addition to his extremely long arms, which gives some hope about his ability to guard wing players in the NBA like his height suggests he'll need to. Harper's thick, doughy frame has always been a concern dating back early in his career, and it's been disappointing to see him fail to get in better shape, something teams will certainly want to see him do in the pre-draft process. Playing with little help around him offensively, Harper has been forced to carry a heavy load for Rutgers this season, which has led to some inconsistent and especially inefficient performances. -- Jonathan Givony
January 22, 2021: Will Ron Harper Jr., Scotty Pippen Jr. follow in dads' NBA footsteps? (LINK) -- Jonathan Givony and Mike Schmitz
March 15, 2022: (2022 NBA mock draft: Drafting players competing in the NCAA tournament) -- Named second-team All-Big Ten, Harper carried Rutgers into the NCAA tournament with several heroic late game shots after a slow start to the season. While undersized for the power forward position he mostly plays, Harper's 245-pound frame and near 7-foot wingspan allows him to play bigger than his height. He made 39% of his 3-pointers this season, being especially effective with his feet set due to the low release on his jumper, but is also capable of scoring in the post, attacking closeouts and coming off screens, showing excellent scoring instincts as well as no fear with his approach.
Perhaps most intriguing are the competitiveness, technique and instincts defensively Harper shows, in addition to his extremely long arms, which gives some hope about his ability to guard wing players in the NBA like his height suggests he'll need to. Harper's thick, doughy frame has always been a concern dating back early in his career, and it's been disappointing to see him fail to get in better shape, something teams will certainly want to see him do in the pre-draft process. Playing with little help around him offensively, Harper has been forced to carry a heavy load for Rutgers this season, which has led to some inconsistent and especially inefficient performances. -- Jonathan Givony
January 22, 2021: Will Ron Harper Jr., Scotty Pippen Jr. follow in dads' NBA footsteps? (LINK) -- Jonathan Givony and Mike Schmitz
Keon Ellis (SG)
6'6"175 lbs Alabama
6'6"175 lbs Alabama
14 POS RK
61 OVR RK
Pre-Draft Analysis
March 15, 2022: (2022 NBA mock draft: Drafting players competing in the NCAA tournament) -- A junior college transfer who played a minor role last season, Ellis has emerged as a draftable option as a senior at Alabama, converting 36% of his 3-pointers while guarding everyone from point guards to power forwards. Looking the part of an NBA wing physically with his long arms and solid frame, he brings great energy on the glass, gets in passing lanes frequently, fills lanes effectively in transition and is an efficient scorer who does a lot of little things to impact winning. Ellis has been streaky with his shooting against better competition this season, and scouts will want to get a better feel for his ball-handling and decision-making, which has looked questionable at times.-- Jonathan Givony
March 15, 2022: (2022 NBA mock draft: Drafting players competing in the NCAA tournament) -- A junior college transfer who played a minor role last season, Ellis has emerged as a draftable option as a senior at Alabama, converting 36% of his 3-pointers while guarding everyone from point guards to power forwards. Looking the part of an NBA wing physically with his long arms and solid frame, he brings great energy on the glass, gets in passing lanes frequently, fills lanes effectively in transition and is an efficient scorer who does a lot of little things to impact winning. Ellis has been streaky with his shooting against better competition this season, and scouts will want to get a better feel for his ball-handling and decision-making, which has looked questionable at times.-- Jonathan Givony
Tyrese Martin (SF)
6'6"215 lbs UConn
15 POS RK
63 OVR RK
Julian Champagnie (SF)
6'8"215 lbs St. John's
16 POS RK
69 OVR RK
Johnny Juzang (SF)
6'7"215 lbs UCLA
6'7"215 lbs UCLA
17 POS RK
71 OVR RK
Pre-Draft Analysis
March 31, 2021: (NCAA tournament recap) -- The catalyst of UCLA's improbable Final Four run, Juzang scored over half of the Bruins' points in their upset win over Michigan. He finished with 28 on 19 shots in 38 minutes, including a clutch floater with just over a minute remaining.
The 20-year-old Los Angeles native has now scored 108 points in his five NCAA tournament games, showcasing his terrific scoring instincts and versatile shooting stroke in the process. At 6-foot-7 with a 6-foot-10 wingspan, Juzang proved he's far more than just a standstill shooter against Michigan and all throughout the tournament, sprinting around off ball screens into catch-and-shoot jumpers, attacking closeouts into pull ups, dropping in floaters in the paint and even creating space in mid-range spots at times.
After generating considerable buzz in the preseason going into his freshman year at Kentucky, Juzang was never able to carve out a consistent role under John Calipari in Lexington, knocking down just 33% of his 3s in 12 minutes per game on a team already loaded with perimeter talent in Immanuel Quickley, Tyrese Maxey and Ashton Hagans. Able to play right away after transferring back home to UCLA, Juzang wasn't all that consistent his first couple months of this season but started to show more and more of his microwave scoring as the season went along. That ultimately culminated in a monster month of March.
While he's proven he's more than just a spot shooter at the collegiate level, Juzang will have to be more efficient with his dribble, make quicker decisions, improve as a playmaker and defend with more consistency to play at the highest level. It has resulted in buckets more often than not for UCLA, but Juzang has a tendency to rely too much on catch-and-hold style isolations for stretches rather than using his jumper as a weapon out of quick-hitting actions. Not a run-and-jump athlete or overly physical, his margin for error on the defensive end will be thin on the wing at the next level.
But UCLA wouldn't be even close to the Final Four without Juzang's heroics, and he's certainly worked himself back onto the NBA radar with his play. The early NBA success of a player like Jordan Nwora certainly helps his case long term. With projected 2022 top-10 pick Peyton Watson joining him in Westwood next season, Juzang will likely see a boost in his efficiency, playing more of an off ball role that he'll be asked to function within at the next level. In the short term, scouts will have a close eye on how he stacks up against Gonzaga wing Corey Kispert in the semifinal. -- Mike Schmitz
March 31, 2021: (NCAA tournament recap) -- The catalyst of UCLA's improbable Final Four run, Juzang scored over half of the Bruins' points in their upset win over Michigan. He finished with 28 on 19 shots in 38 minutes, including a clutch floater with just over a minute remaining.
The 20-year-old Los Angeles native has now scored 108 points in his five NCAA tournament games, showcasing his terrific scoring instincts and versatile shooting stroke in the process. At 6-foot-7 with a 6-foot-10 wingspan, Juzang proved he's far more than just a standstill shooter against Michigan and all throughout the tournament, sprinting around off ball screens into catch-and-shoot jumpers, attacking closeouts into pull ups, dropping in floaters in the paint and even creating space in mid-range spots at times.
After generating considerable buzz in the preseason going into his freshman year at Kentucky, Juzang was never able to carve out a consistent role under John Calipari in Lexington, knocking down just 33% of his 3s in 12 minutes per game on a team already loaded with perimeter talent in Immanuel Quickley, Tyrese Maxey and Ashton Hagans. Able to play right away after transferring back home to UCLA, Juzang wasn't all that consistent his first couple months of this season but started to show more and more of his microwave scoring as the season went along. That ultimately culminated in a monster month of March.
While he's proven he's more than just a spot shooter at the collegiate level, Juzang will have to be more efficient with his dribble, make quicker decisions, improve as a playmaker and defend with more consistency to play at the highest level. It has resulted in buckets more often than not for UCLA, but Juzang has a tendency to rely too much on catch-and-hold style isolations for stretches rather than using his jumper as a weapon out of quick-hitting actions. Not a run-and-jump athlete or overly physical, his margin for error on the defensive end will be thin on the wing at the next level.
But UCLA wouldn't be even close to the Final Four without Juzang's heroics, and he's certainly worked himself back onto the NBA radar with his play. The early NBA success of a player like Jordan Nwora certainly helps his case long term. With projected 2022 top-10 pick Peyton Watson joining him in Westwood next season, Juzang will likely see a boost in his efficiency, playing more of an off ball role that he'll be asked to function within at the next level. In the short term, scouts will have a close eye on how he stacks up against Gonzaga wing Corey Kispert in the semifinal. -- Mike Schmitz
Tevin Brown (SG)
6'5"175 lbs Murray State
15 POS RK
72 OVR RK
Pre-Draft Analysis
March 15, 2022: (2022 NBA mock draft: Drafting players competing in the NCAA tournament) -- Brown looks like a Cinderella darling candidate, playing for a formidable Murray State team that is 30-2 and hasn't lost in nearly three months. Brown is one of the best shooters in the NCAA tournament, connecting on more than three triples per game while converting 39% of his attempts. He is the No. 1 scorer in the country making shots running off screens, per Synergy, giving Murray State a dangerous element to their half-court offense, while also being capable of relocating off closeouts and pulling up off the dribble with deep range.
Brown is more than just a shooter, playing an unselfish brand of basketball and being the type of player a team can run the offense through and expect to make good decisions for the most part. While thin, he's also a competitive defender who rebounds, gets in passing lanes and plays with outstanding energy. Brown could help himself significantly with strong showings against San Francisco and likely Kentucky in the opening weekend if the Racers advance, and will be studied closely by teams in the pre-draft process as he has a real NBA skill he can hang his hat on and might be able to carve out a roster spot, similar to Bryn Forbes or Garrison Mathews. -- Jonathan Givony
March 15, 2022: (2022 NBA mock draft: Drafting players competing in the NCAA tournament) -- Brown looks like a Cinderella darling candidate, playing for a formidable Murray State team that is 30-2 and hasn't lost in nearly three months. Brown is one of the best shooters in the NCAA tournament, connecting on more than three triples per game while converting 39% of his attempts. He is the No. 1 scorer in the country making shots running off screens, per Synergy, giving Murray State a dangerous element to their half-court offense, while also being capable of relocating off closeouts and pulling up off the dribble with deep range.
Brown is more than just a shooter, playing an unselfish brand of basketball and being the type of player a team can run the offense through and expect to make good decisions for the most part. While thin, he's also a competitive defender who rebounds, gets in passing lanes and plays with outstanding energy. Brown could help himself significantly with strong showings against San Francisco and likely Kentucky in the opening weekend if the Racers advance, and will be studied closely by teams in the pre-draft process as he has a real NBA skill he can hang his hat on and might be able to carve out a roster spot, similar to Bryn Forbes or Garrison Mathews. -- Jonathan Givony
Gui Santos (SF)
6'8"210 lbs Minas
18 POS RK
74 OVR RK
Pre-Draft Analysis
April 21, 2021: (Santos update) -- Brazilian forward Gui Santos has submitted paperwork to the league office to make himself eligible for the 2021 NBA draft, his agent Aylton Tesch of A11 Sports Management told ESPN.
Santos, the No. 33 prospect in the ESPN 2022 mock draft, is having a productive season as a starter in the Brazilian first division for Minas Tenis Clube, which is in second place with a 26-4 record. The 6-foot-8, 18-year-old forward is averaging 8.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game, shooting 37% on 3-pointers.
He was one of 13 players invited to the Nike Hoop Summit World Team earlier this month, a prestigious honor. He put himself on the NBA radar at the NBA's Basketball Without Borders Americas camp in 2019.
He was also a key member of the Brazilian senior national team lineup in the FIBA Americup Qualifiers window in November and was expected to do the same in the February FIBA window before Brazil's games were postponed due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.
Because of his youth and the lack of scouting opportunities caused by the pandemic, Santos was not originally expected to be a part of the 2021 NBA draft class. Positive feedback from teams and the removal of NBA travel restrictions for scouting purposes led him to enter the draft to evaluate his chances of hearing his name called, his agent said. The Brazilian playoffs will start this week, and Minas will attempt to win its first league championship in club history.
Powerfully built, with a 7-foot wingspan that allows him to play bigger than his height, Santos sees time at both forward spots, being asked to do a little bit of everything for the Belo Horizonte-based team thanks to his versatile skill set and ability to defend multiple positions. He's often tasked with bringing the ball up and getting his team into its offense, seeing quite a few possessions initiating pick-and-roll sets or attacking mismatches one-on-one. The freedom he enjoys offensively and the opportunity he's received this season is somewhat of a rarity at this level of competition, as he gets significant playing time in both the Brazilian league and the Basketball Champions League Americas, a pan-continental league for the top teams in South America in which his team finished in third place. -- Jonathan Givony
April 21, 2021: (Santos update) -- Brazilian forward Gui Santos has submitted paperwork to the league office to make himself eligible for the 2021 NBA draft, his agent Aylton Tesch of A11 Sports Management told ESPN.
Santos, the No. 33 prospect in the ESPN 2022 mock draft, is having a productive season as a starter in the Brazilian first division for Minas Tenis Clube, which is in second place with a 26-4 record. The 6-foot-8, 18-year-old forward is averaging 8.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game, shooting 37% on 3-pointers.
He was one of 13 players invited to the Nike Hoop Summit World Team earlier this month, a prestigious honor. He put himself on the NBA radar at the NBA's Basketball Without Borders Americas camp in 2019.
He was also a key member of the Brazilian senior national team lineup in the FIBA Americup Qualifiers window in November and was expected to do the same in the February FIBA window before Brazil's games were postponed due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.
Because of his youth and the lack of scouting opportunities caused by the pandemic, Santos was not originally expected to be a part of the 2021 NBA draft class. Positive feedback from teams and the removal of NBA travel restrictions for scouting purposes led him to enter the draft to evaluate his chances of hearing his name called, his agent said. The Brazilian playoffs will start this week, and Minas will attempt to win its first league championship in club history.
Powerfully built, with a 7-foot wingspan that allows him to play bigger than his height, Santos sees time at both forward spots, being asked to do a little bit of everything for the Belo Horizonte-based team thanks to his versatile skill set and ability to defend multiple positions. He's often tasked with bringing the ball up and getting his team into its offense, seeing quite a few possessions initiating pick-and-roll sets or attacking mismatches one-on-one. The freedom he enjoys offensively and the opportunity he's received this season is somewhat of a rarity at this level of competition, as he gets significant playing time in both the Brazilian league and the Basketball Champions League Americas, a pan-continental league for the top teams in South America in which his team finished in third place. -- Jonathan Givony
Vince Williams Jr (SF)
6'6"205 lbs VCU
19 POS RK
75 OVR RK
Gabe Brown (SF) < Brad had him back Wed for a 2nd workout
6'8"215 lbs Michigan State
20 POS RK
78 OVR RK < Low rank ... Will Brad take him #53 or sign him as an "Undrafted" prospect?
Jared Rhoden (SF)
6'6"210 lbs Seton Hall
6'6"210 lbs Seton Hall
21 POS RK
82 OVR RK < Low rank could mean "Undrafted"
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