NBA Comparison: Giorgos Printezis

Strengths: Niang is an incredibly skilled and versatile player with great basketball IQ and feel for the game … His scoring efficiency jumps off the page.  He shot 54% from the field last season, including 39% from 3 and 61% from 2.  He seldom takes a bad shot, and he knows how to convert from all distances … Has a strong frame and a decent array of post moves, which allows him to play the 4, but he also has a good shooting stroke (shot 39% from 3) that allows him to play outside and stretch the defense … His excellent body control and strength allow him to both finesse and bulldoze his way to the rim despite his lack of speed … Was a huge part of the offense at Iowa State and just manages to do a bunch of little things to keep the offense flowing.  He’s an outstanding passer for his size and he also sets screens which opens up the pick-and-roll and pick-and-pop for him … Fundamentally sound rebounder who is hard to push off the block … Has the size and strength to hold his own defending NBA post players, but also is surprisingly competent as a perimeter defender … Great FT shooter at 81% … Uses a variety of ball fakes to score in the post, get past his defender, and shift the defense to create open looks for himself and for his teammates … A hard worker and an excellent leader, Niang is everything a franchise could want from a mental/leadership standpoint …

Overall: Niang was a fascinating player at Iowa St. and he’s now a fascinating prospect.  He’s immensely skilled but he’s not a good athlete by any metric.  He could find his role in a very specific style of offense, but at the same time, many teams are unlikely to even give him a look in the second round…

Notes: Measured 6’8 (in shoes) 236 lbs, with a 6’9 wingspan at the 2014 Nike Big Man Skills Academy … Measured 6’8’’ in shoes, with a 6’9’’ wingspan and 231 lbs at the 2015 Nike Basketball Academy … 2-Time AP All-American and winner of Karl Malone award for best collegiate power forward …

Jacob Stallard 6/17/16