NBA Comparison: Matt Carroll

Strengths: Cerebral 2 guard most known for his range and jump shot, Andy’s quick release and accuracy make him a deadly threat from outside …  He needs minimal space to get off his shot, while having enough range to knock down threes with ease … He is always active without the ball, constantly running through and around screens to free himself open …  More than just a 3 point specialist, it’s his play making abilities that make him a well rounded player … He has an excellent basketball IQ, along with tremendous court vision, his passing skills can sometimes go overlooked … When he does have an open lane to penetrate, Andy has the ability to take it, and set up his teammates for easy baskets … He understands where to put the ball when throwing entry passes into the post, making it easier for his big men to go up in a smooth and constant motion … He is an above average defender, with quick hands and an ability to read passing lanes … You might say he is a product of working in Jim Boeheim’s 2-3 zone for 4 years, but his awareness propels him to be a pest on the defensive end, on and off the ball …

Weaknesses: He lacks athleticism, size and strength, which hurt him on both ends when comparing him to other shooting guards at the next level … He does not have the quickest first step, which really makes him nothing more than catch and shoot threat when it comes to scoring … Just like any pure shooter, Andy gets a little streaky from the outside, and since he has trouble creating for himself, he can be ineffective at times when his three-ball is not falling that day … You don’t see him finish around the basket that much, mainly because he never gets there unless it’s in transition … His ball handling skills are average to above average, although it’s not a true strength of his game … Because he can see the floor well, he sometimes gets carried away with trying to make the tough pass, when the simple pass would be the better decision … Though you don’t see it often because of Syracuse’s zone, when playing man to man, Andy can be over matched against quicker and stronger shooting guards … He is not quick enough to guard the 1, and sometimes not strong enough to guard the 2 one on one … Born in November of 1986 so more than a year older than most Seniors, taking away from his potential …

Jonathan Wasserman 2/11/10