NBA Comparison: Rashad McCants

Strengths: Explosive scoring guard with deep range and fearless confidence … Love has legitimate NBA shooting range and is capable of catching fire quickly … Showed growth as a decision-maker and improved efficiency after transferring from North Carolina … Cut down turnovers and shot a career-best 42.5% from the field and 34% from three on high volume (298 3PA) … Comfortable shooting off the dribble, particularly from deep pull-ups and step-backs … Can create separation with sharp crossovers and changes of pace … Dynamic in transition—explosive leaper who uses speed and physicality to finish through contact and convert tough drives … Has NBA-level shot creation instincts and isn’t afraid to take big shots late in games … Solid frame at 6’4”, 205 lbs, allowing him to absorb contact and defend both guard spots … Averaged 4.4 rebounds per game and competes hard on the glass for a guard … Defensively, Love has shown stretches of real engagement, particularly guarding the point of attack … Moves well laterally when locked in and uses his strength to stay in front of opponents … Puts a lot of pressure on defense attacking the rim … Showed improved maturity and leadership in his lone season at Arizona, helping the Wildcats to a 27-win season and the Pac-12 regular-season title … Career 83% FT shooter, and shot 88% as a fifth year senior … Depute the “advanced” age, has potential to be a steal as a late pick or undrafted player that ends up being a solid pro ….

Weaknesses: Turns 24 in September. Upside limited by his age  … Still struggles with consistency and shot selection … Love’s biggest weakness is his tendency to settle for tough shots early in the clock, especially contested pull-up threes … Despite the volume scoring, he shot below 34% from three in three of four college seasons … Career FG% is just 38%,and 3p% 32% highlighting concerns about efficiency at the next level … Though improved, his decision-making can still be erratic, particularly under pressure … Has a tendency to predetermine reads or force drives into traffic … Not a true point guard, and can be turnover-prone when asked to run pick-and-roll actions consistently … Defensively, he has tools but tends to gamble or lose focus off the ball … Needs to improve communication and awareness in rotations … Not an elite athlete vertically—lacks above-the-rim explosion at the NBA level, which may limit his finishing in traffic … May struggle to convert inside against length without drawing fouls or using craft …

Outlook: Averaged 17.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in his senior year at Arizona … Love projects as a microwave scorer off the bench at the next level with potential to grow into a sixth man or spot starter role … His ability to create his own shot and hit tough jumpers makes him valuable in end-of-clock and high-leverage situations … If he can continue improving his efficiency and decision-making, he could have a long NBA career as a scoring combo guard … While his role may be limited early on, his competitive fire, experience, and shot-making give him a path to impact games, especially for teams needing perimeter offense … His strong senior season at Arizona, paired with maturity and growth, helped revitalize his stock after an up-and-down tenure at UNC …

Notes: Named 2024 Pac-12 Player of the Year and First Team All-Pac-12 … Helped lead Arizona to a 27–9 record and a No. 1 seed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament … Scored in double figures in 32 of 36 games and led the team in scoring 21 times … Transferred to Arizona after three seasons at North Carolina, where he played in the 2022 national championship game and made multiple deep tournament runs … Ended college career with 2,051 points, 562 rebounds, and 393 assists over 132 games … Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, and starred at Christian Brothers College High School … Majored in General Studies … Known for his confident demeanor, clutch shot-making, and ability to rise in big moments …

Aran Smith, 4/14/25

Strengths: An uber speedy and athletic combo guard with tremendous skill to get to the basket and let it fly from well beyond the arc … Iso skills are his calling card … Crafty ball-handler with a phenomenal first step and downhill speed going toward the basket … Contorts his body around the rim to avoid shot blockers for driving layups and reverses … Limitless range and plenty of confidence to shoot it from these long distances … Vision and accuracy to lead the break with full-court passes and blazing speed to get out in front of defenders … Big-game player who shined the brightest at the 2022 NCAA Tournament, leading the Tar Heels to the national championship game … Can spend time at either guard position with terrific ball-handling and off-ball scoring instincts … Smooth shooting stroke at the free-throw line suggests his poor shooting numbers as a freshman were more of a fluke (shot selection related) than his resurgent sophomore campaign … Roy Williams considered him “one of the best defensive guards I’ve ever coached” and he does it with strong hands, great footwork, quickness, anticipation and physical strength on the defensive end. He also uses these traits to help him in his developing offense game … Almost floats with great leaping ability and body control, which helps him around the rim as a scorer and rebounder … Passionate player who is willing to and capable of putting a team on his back and performing down the stretch (as he showed in the tournament) … Potential to be a star with his incredible athleticism and scoring instincts …

Weaknesses: He is only a year removed from shooting splits of 31/26/81 and to consider efficiency a problem is quite the understatement … While he has the ability to score at will from anywhere on the floor, getting him to do it consistently and efficiently is a major problem … Bonehead mistakes are more common than they should be and three turnovers per game in his career indicates that … Needs to value the ball more and become a more disciplined decision maker … Has the skills to be an excellent playmaker, but 3.6 assists per game, and no improvement as a sophomore, is troublesome, especially with 2.9 TO per game … Has the confidence to take any shot on the floor, which isn’t always a good thing and his future team will have to live with some of these wild shots and coach him into better shot selection … Tends to settle for outside shots despite his greatest strength being getting to the tin …

Notes: East Regional all-tournament team and Final Four all-tournament team in 2022 … Father, Dennis Love, served in the military and played college football … Duke was his dream school, but he didn’t commit after Jeremy Roach committed in 2019 … 2020 Gatorade HS Player of the Year in Missouri … Played for Justin Tatum (Jayson’s dad) at Christian Brothers College High School in St. Louis …

Derek Bast 4/11/22

Notes: Measured 6′ 2.75” barefoot, 8′ 4.00” standing reach, 206.4 lbs, 6′ 8.75” wingspan, 29 standing vert, 33.5 max vert at the 2024 NBA G-League Combine …