| Brandon Paul |
|---|
 | | Recent Tweets |
|---|
| All Tweets | DraftExpress: Meyers Leonard, Brandon Paul request feedback from NBA undergraduate advisory committee on draft stock: http://t.co/2Y7TpReg
2012-03-19 01:11:01 | DraftExpress: Top NBA Prospects in the Big Ten #16-20 - Victor Oladipo, Maurice Creek, Brandon Paul, Jordan Morgan and Draymond Green http://t.co/WwCEqRY
2011-09-14 09:41:15 | DraftExpress: ESPN: Jereme Richmond separates truth from rumors http://es.pn/hoORxL - addresses entering draft, drug test, Brandon Paul fight, etc
2011-04-21 10:09:00 | DraftExpress: Received multiple reports that Jereme Richmond was involved in an incident w/Brandon Paul. Reason didn't play this wk'nd. Haven't confirmed.
2011-03-20 11:48:37 | DraftExpress: Scintillating first half in NYC. Illinois-Texas tied at 45. Tristian Thompson, Brandon Paul, Demetri McCamey & Jordan Hamilton playing great
2010-11-18 09:38:33 | | Top 25s - Full List |
|---|
|
|
| Team:
Illinois, Junior
|
| Physicals | Positions | Rankings | Misc |
|---|
H: 6' 4"
W: 195 lbs
Bday: 04/30/1991
(21 Years Old)
|
Current: SG
NBA: SG
Possible: SG
| Round: 2 Pick: 15 in 2013 Mock Draft
Rank 19 in NCAA Juniors
RSCI: 50
|
High School: Warren
Hometown: Gurnee, Ill.
|
|
Basic Per Game Statistics - Comprehensive Stats - Statistical Top 25s |
Player Page | Player Stats | Mock Draft History | Related Articles | Add to My Draft Express
| Top NBA Draft Prospects in the Big Ten, Part Two (#6-10)
September 3, 2010
Matt Kamalsky
While some freshman guards are able to step onto the floor and make an immediate impact, the majority of them take at least one season, if not more, to acclimate themselves to the college game. Brandon Paul saw considerable playing time in his first season with the Illini and did contribute a few strong performances, but it was abundantly clear that his time on the floor was meant to accelerate his learning curve more than anything else.
Bruce Weber threw Paul into the fire, letting him learn on the job, make mistakes, and gain invaluable experience. The former Mr. Illinois Basketball struggled for stretches in a moderate offensive role, but has some very intriguing tools and plenty of time to figure things out.
While it is hard to be overwhelmed with Paul's play last season considering his glaring lack of efficiency, it is important to remember that he was one of the younger players in our freshman rankings. He won't turn 20 until the end of this coming season. Considering his age, it seems fair to expect his game to mature considerably moving forward.
Paul made his mark at Warren Township HS using his athleticism and outside shot. Slightly undersized for a shooting guard from an NBA perspective and a bit on the skinny side, Paul has the leaping ability, quickness, and wingspan to compensate for his lack of size. He has a great first step and runs the floor well in transition. Though there's a lot to like about his physical profile, one of the biggest challenges Paul faced last season was learning how to use those tools.
Paul was considered a capable shooter on the high school circuit, but had an extremely hard time finding any kind of rhythm or consistency last season, but was just as aggressive from the perimeter as he was at Warren. His mechanics aren't awful, highlighted by a high release point and nice follow through, but he tends to take far too many difficult shots with a hand in his face and is prone to altering his release whenever he's defended. He's the type of player that will drill a 21-footer on one possession before throwing up an airball from the same spot on the next. Considering that half of Paul's field goal attempts came from beyond the arc ( ranking him in the top-25 in our database in three-point attempts per-40 minutes pace adjusted), but he made only a quarter of his overall jump shots according to Synergy Sports Technology, it is clear that his shot-selection needs quite a bit of work.
The flashes he showed putting the ball on the floor make his tendency to settle for tough jump shots that much more problematic. Despite some 64% of his shots coming from perimeter jumpers, the young guard had moments of brilliance attacking the rim off the bounce. He changes gears in a hurry, and while he still needs to tighten up his ball handling ability and show more poise and vision looking for teammates, his knack for turning the corner in one-on-one situations can become a huge asset down the road. At the basket, his lack of physical strength limited him at times, and he gets a bit out of control even when he's not under pressure, but as he matures and adjusts to the speed of the college game, he'll have the chance to become an incredibly productive shot-creator.
Similar to the way he shows signs on the offensive end, Paul had some excellent defensive possessions as well. His lateral quickness makes him a very solid defender in isolation situations, and he's willing to step in and take a charge. However, his focus and effort level can be inconsistent, and he was prone to making the mistakes that plague most freshmen when playing off the ball. Paul needs to continue to improve his physical strength and become more disciplined, but he has the tools to be a quality defender.
Paul had a rough freshman season, as evidenced by his incredibly poor 33.3% shooting from the field—which ranked him dead last in that category amongst all prospects in college basketball. If he can cut back on the mental mistakes and continues to improve, though, his development could allow him to blossom once Demetri McCamey moves on, possibly in a combo guard type role. Paul isn't likely to see his role expand too much this season, but 2011 will be a pivotal year for his development as he could definitely stand to prove that he can be an efficient role player.
 [Read Full Article]
| |
