NBA Comparison: John Henson

Strengths: Versatile forward with a good face-up game.  Has power forward size as well as some guard skills … Has the ability to drive the ball from the perimeter and finish … Serviceable enough jump shot to be a stretch 4 … Long (7’2" wingspan), rangy, athletic defender who blocks shots (2.6 per game) and is fairly disruptive all-around on the defensive end … High energy (usually; can be a little lethargic in fighting for post position) guy who goes all out on the boards.  Averaged 10 RPG despite his thin frame … Garbage man.  Gets all kinds of put-back tips and dunks due to his effort and instincts on the offensive glass … Uses the shot fake to get defenders off their feet, then drives on the defender, who is usually too big and slow to stay in front of him … For a big man, does a great job of getting up the court in transition, putting himself in great position to finish on a number of alley-oops … Raised his game when it mattered most, scoring 24 in a huge upset of Arizona …

Weaknesses: Very skinny.  Needs to bulk up if he’s going to be an NBA 4 …  Gets bullied in the post when he tries to defend or post up on bulkier big men …  Also struggles to finish through contact or gain post position … Questionable shot selection …  Tends to settle for jumpers or throw up floaters while out of control on the drive … When guarded by a smaller defender, Wood’s quickness is negated, and he doesn’t quite have the strength and post game to take full advantage of the height difference … Shows questionable defensive awareness.  Gets caught out of position multiple times every game … His shooting has improved, but he still only shot 28% from 3 last season, which needs to be higher if outside shooting is going to continue to be a key part of his offensive game … Needs to develop more post moves … 2.4 turnovers per game, too many for a big man … Has put up rebounding numbers at the college level, but his fundamentals on defensive rebounds are very shaky and will be exposed at the next level, where he won’t have a size and athletic advantage … All in all, he’s still sort of a tweener.  He’s still developing the strength and post game to play the 4, but he’s a bit too big and ineffective as a perimeter defender to play the 3 on a regular basis …

Overall: Wood is essentially your typical, talented power forward coming out of college … Lots of skill, lots of talent, lots of athleticism, and good face-up game, but still needs to develop strength, a post game, more polished rebounding fundamentals, and more of a willingness to play inside in order to thrive in the NBA … He shows a lot of promise as a face-up 4, and, unlike some talented college prospects, he has a great motor which makes him an excellent rebounder … At age 19, Wood is very young for his class and has plenty of time to develop, but he has already put up great numbers in a solid conference at the college level … He should garner a first round selection and perhaps flirt with the lottery …

Notes: Named Mountain West First Team All-Conference for 2014-2015 … Measured 6’10 (in shoes) 200 lbs, with a 7’2 wingspan at the 2012 LeBron James Skills Academy …

 Jacob Stallard 4/11/15