NBA Comparison: Brad Daugherty

Strengths: Young center with excellent size and coordination … Runs the floor well possessing very good mobility … Has a great frame, showing the ability to carry a lot of weight and remain fast and athletic … Strength shouldn’t be much of an issue for him at the next level after a season or two … A stellar defender with good lateral quickness, especially for his size … Has a versatile offensive game with solid post skills as well as the ability to face up and hit midrange and outside shots … a fiery competitor, he gets agitated when he’s beaten or challenged, and generally channels it in a positive way … Possesses a very nice shooting stroke with the form to extend his range to the NBA 3 point line … Showed the ability to knock down the college three, having hit 10/21 on the season (47.6%) … Solid rim protector and shot blocker averaging 1.7 boards per game in limited minutes … Plays on balance, and doesn’t rush things … Not afraid to mix it up and seems to enjoy contact … Does a good job of forcing contact and getting to the free throw line … Has good hands, with good control of the ball on post entries and rebounds … A very effective socrer, with a 67.8% eFG% according to Hoop-Math.com … Gutsy player. Showed the ability to be a clutch shooter hitting a huge three in the closing minutes against South Carolina in the Final Four …

Weaknesses: Remains somewhat unproven having played sparse (17.3 mpg) minutes as a back up to Przemek Karnowski in his freshman season at Gonzaga … Hit 74% from the FT line and while solid, with his form and touch he should be in the 80s … Can improve upon his overall feel for the game and decision making … Lacks great vision and passing ability, had just 16 assists on the season, and can be forced into mistakes with double teams … The majority of his season was against the WCC, meaning that he didn’t play a ton of NBA caliber bigs … Being a freshman that played limited minutes in a smaller conference will mean he has a sharper adjustment curve upon entering the league … May need to be careful with fouls at the next level as he fouled out of the Xavier game in the tournament in just 13 minutes …

Notes: Possesses a solid, 7’1 wingspan … A 2016 McDonald’s All American … Was overshadowed in high school at Bishop Gormon in Las Vegas playing behind upperclassmen Stephen Zimmerman and Chase Jeter, but has blossomed into a much bigger prospect than the two … Averaged 10 points and 6 boards in just 17.3 minutes per game as a FR at Gonzaga … Had a monster 14 pts, 13 rebs and 6 blocks, and a clutch three pointer in the closing minutes, proving instrumental in Gonzaga’s Final Four win over South Carolina … 

Aran Smith 4/2/17