NBA Comparison: Channing Frye

Strengths: Long forward with great fluidity and touch from midrange … The wingspan gods were very generous with Ashley … Even though he’s short for a power forward at 6’8" his 7’3.25" wingspan allows him to play bigger than he stands … This shows most in his ability to be a presence on the boards … He was at his best on the defensive boards, which will be crucial if he wants to remain a power forward in the NBA … With the NBA venturing further and further into small ball and position less basketball, Ashley has a shot to find a niche … Offensively he has a great face up post game … Capable of putting the ball on the floor and knocking down a jump shot out to 17 feet effortlessly … Along with his productivity in the mid range area, Ashley is a better than average free throw shooter as he made 72 percent for his career at Arizona … Is very good running the floor and in transition … Has worked well with other talented players in college, should have no problem adjusting to a role in the NBA … Not an explosive athlete but is very quick for his size … Has developed good footwork and uses an array of fakes on the low block … Ashley also possesses broad shoulders that suggest he should be capable of filling out his body and improving on his strength once part of an NBA workout program …

Weaknesses: Does not have the strength to battle with most NBA big men … Really needs to fill out his body and quickly … Despite an outstanding wingspan, he struggled to score against bigger defenders, both in terms of height and weight … Also, wasn’t as impactful on the defensive end … Was barely a presence in the paint on the defensive end … Often got lost or was late to rotate as the help defender … Doesn’t have one skill that he is great at … Very poor offensive rebounder … Rebounding never reached the numbers most would’ve expected from Ashley … Too dependent on his jump shot at times … Settled for contested jumpers instead of taking his defender into the paint … Seemed stuck in between becoming a perimeter based player and developing a post game … Needs to figure out what type of forward he wants to be …

Notes: Ashley, a former McDonald’s All-American, is small for his position at 6’8" but has the length to make up for it with a 7’3.25" wingspan … Tore a ligament in his right foot midway through his sophomore year … Named to All Pac-12 Honorable Mention in 2014-15 … Most Outstanding Player in the 2015 Pac-12 Tournament … Measured 6’8.5 (in shoes) 217 lbs, with a 7’2.5 wingspan at the 2013 Nike Big Man Skills Academy

Overall: Ashley was a highly-touted recruit out of high school that never reached his full potential in three seasons of college … However he is coming into the NBA at the perfect time … While not the ideal makeup of a traditional power forward his ability to play facing the basket will be highly valued by most teams compared to similar players in previous drafts … His wingspan being so long (7’3.25") will keep him on team’s radars even if he goes undrafted …

Brandon Jefferson 6/18/15