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USA Basketball U18 Training Camp Scouting Reports: Big Men

USA Basketball U18 Training Camp Scouting Reports: Big Men
Jun 20, 2016, 01:33 pm
A look at six of the most intriguing big men prospects in attendance at the USA Basketball U18 Training Camp, including scouting reports and video interviews.
More USA Basketball Coverage
-U18 Scouting Reports: Point Guards
-U18 Scouting Reports: Shooting Guards
-U18 Scouting Reports: Forwards
Jarrett Allen, 6'10.5”, St Stephens Episcopal, TX, 2016 Class, Texas

Strengths
-Impressive length and reach for a center prospect – 7'5.5” wingspan with a 9'2.5” standing reach. Frame hasn't improved all that much (224 pounds – lost three pounds between Nike Hoop Summit in April and USA Basketball U18 Training Camp) but he has plenty of room to fill out. Huge hands and feet.
-Fluid, coordinated runner. Quick off the floor. Can finish above the rim when he's able to load up, largely because of his length and reach.
-Impressive instincts and timing as a shot blocker. Not afraid to rotate and challenge athletes at the rim. Challenges almost every shot around the rim.
-Solid pick and roll defender with the fluidity to switch and compete as his fundamentals improve.
-Uses his length and mobility to keep plays alive on the offensive glass. Uses his tools to snatch defensive rebounds in traffic.
-Soft hands. Solid touch around the rim. Shows occasional flashes as a post scorer – can make a right-handed jump hook, decent footwork.
-Will make an occasional 15-footer. Inconsistent mechanics and doesn't shoot it with confidence but has some natural touch with nice rotation.
-Stays in his lane for the most part. Shows some potential as a post passer.

Weaknesses
-Frame still has a long way to go – 224-pound center. Light in the chest and rear. A bit hunched. Slightly short for a center prospect at 6'10.5”. Not the most physical big out there, especially as a post defender.
-Can improve his toughness on the defensive glass.
-Fluid and quick off the floor but doesn't have much pop as a leaper. Limits him as a finisher versus length.
-Not very advanced offensively. Limited to mostly finishes and basic jump hooks. Lacks a degree of confidence in his mid-range jumper. Mechanics vary. Can improve his left hand and post moves to his right shoulder.
-Shows potential as a passer but isn't the most instinctual player offensively.
-Very quiet on the floor. Will call out basic pick and roll coverages but doesn't bring much emotion to the floor aside from that. Needs to play with more consistent fire. Gets down on himself at times.
-Overall upside is slightly limited by his lack of elite leaping and scoring ability in the half court.

Outlook Allen isn't a flashy prospect, but he's very effective in a couple of key areas that translate well to the NBA. He protects the rim at a high level, runs the floor, can guard pick and roll, and has the hands, length and touch to be effective around the rim offensively. The Austin, Texas native has a ways to go with his frame and offensive skill set, and he may end up needing more than one season at UT, but whenever he does decide to make the jump, he has first round potential written all over him.


James Banks, 6'10.5”, La Lumiere High School, IN, 2016 Class, Texas



Strengths
-Tremendous physical profile for a center prospect – 6'10.5” with a 7'5” wingspan and 9'3” standing reach. Extremely developed 242-pound frame that still has room to grow. Very proportionate frame – tree trunk legs, strong upper body.
-Fairly mobile for his size
-Steadily improving motor and toughness. Shows some relentlessness on the offensive glass. Uses his body to carve out space. Will chase down rebounds outside of his area.
-Has value as a rim protector thanks to his length and compete level. Solid instincts and timing. Blocks shots as a primary and secondary defender. Uses his body well around the rim. Solid understanding of verticality.
-Can make a right handed jump hook. Occasionally shows touch from the free throw line.
-Has made great strides since we first evaluated him at Adidas Nations in 2015
-Well spoken with a vibrant personality

Weaknesses
-More long than explosive, which limits him as a finisher and rebounder in traffic. Plays mostly below the rim from a standstill despite his elite length. Slightly knock kneed. Can be a bit uncoordinated at times.
-Very limited offensively – 10.6 points per 40 minutes on 49.2% from two in 28 Adidas games. Bobbles passes. Doesn't have great touch or much in terms of go-to moves. Limited to put backs and uncontested finishes. Plays five feet in.
-Feel for the game is a work in progress – 9 assists and 26 turnovers in 516 minutes. Strong motor but can improve his timing and instincts on the defensive glass.
-Has room to improve his defensive fundamentals, especially on the perimeter.
-Has improved considerably but still has a long way to go in terms of refining his skills, becoming a threat as a scorer and improving his feel for the game.

Outlook Banks, who at times in the past has been more prospect than player, showed great improvement, notably in terms of consistent effort, physicality and rim protection. His physical tools speak for themselves, and it was good to see the Georgia native putting them to good use on the defensive end. He's still a ways away from being much more than an energy big off the bench, but his progress is most certainly a positive as he heads to Austin to play for head coach Shaka Smart. Any player with Banks' physical profile is an NBA prospect, and it will be interesting to see how he develops under Smart, and alongside Jarrett Allen, over the next few years.

Interview


Brandon McCoy, 6'10.5”, Cathedral Catholic, CA, 2017 Class, Uncommitted

Strengths
-Big body at 6'11”, 244 pounds. Solid standing reach for a center prospect – 9 1.5”. Impressive frame with a strong base.
- Mobile for his size. Can get up and down the floor.
-Shows potential as a rebounder when motivated. Carves out space on the offensive glass with his strong frame. Solid timing. Not overly explosive from a standstill, but quick off the floor. 13.7 rebounds per 40 minutes in 40 Nike EYBL, Global Challenge and Adidas Nations games.
-Can protect the rim by way of sheer size and reach – 3.1 blocks per 40 minutes.
-Shows flashes as a scorer. Solid mechanics on his mid-range jumper. Can make right-handed jump hooks. Scored 21.9 points per 40 minutes in 40 Nike EYBL, Global Challenge and Adidas Nations games.

Weaknesses
-Average length relative to his height – 7'0” wingspan. Shoulders aren't overly wide.
-Not all that explosive from a standstill, which when coupled with his average length, slightly limits his long-term upside as a rim protector and defensive rebounder.
-Feel for the game is a work in progress. Can do a better job of simplifying the game and playing within himself. Tries to put it on the floor in traffic. Takes contested jump shots early in the clock. Tries advanced moves in the post that he doesn't quite have the footwork to execute at this stage. Not the most willing passer – 0.9 assists and 3.0 turnovers per 40.
-Overall skill level has room to improve – 46.8% from two. Shows some potential as mid-range threat but doesn't fully snap his wrist. Hands can be shaky at times. Can improve his left.
-Poor fundamentals on the defensive end of the floor. Doesn't always get in a stance on the perimeter. Struggles to stay up and down as a rim protector. Reaches aimlessly.
-Can improve his awareness as a rim protector and defensive rebounder.
-Inconsistent motor. Goes into a rut when things don't go his way. Can do a better job of developing a “next play” mentality.

Outlook McCoy, a consensus Top 10 2017 recruit according to most scouting services, really struggled in Colorado Springs. Without elite length and explosiveness, and an average feel for the game, McCoy was unable to stand out on either end of the floor, and it was somewhat disheartening to see him respond to his struggles without much fire or resolve. There's no question there are some things to like about McCoy – he has natural size and strong frame at 244 pounds, he's very mobile for a 6' 11” big, he protects the rim and cleans the glass when motivated, and he shows flashes as a scorer in the half court. But with all of that said, McCoy's skills and consistency in the effort department will have to continue to grow as the level competition steepens and he can no longer rely as much on his natural size and physicality.

Interview


P.J. Washington, 6'8”, Findlay Prep, NV, 2017 Class, Uncommitted

Strengths
-Strong 232-pound frame with a 7'2.5” wingspan.
-Very fluid. Can play above the rim in space. Nimble diving to the rim.
-Plays mostly 15 feet and in, but has a budding skill set offensively. Soft hands. Nice touch around the rim. Can straight line drive from the perimeter. Good footwork getting to his jump hook in the post.
-23 points per 40 minutes on 59.4% from two in 58 career Nike EYBL and Global Challenge games. Gets to the free throw line at a high rate – 8.9 times per 40 minutes. 31.8 points and 15.1 free throw attempts per 40 minutes on 64.5% from two in 2016 Nike EYBL.
-Not a shooter at the moment but his jumper has potential. Sound mechanics with good rotation and soft touch. Should be a weapon in time.
-Capable passer who's fairly unselfish when surrounded by talent.
-Good instincts on the glass – 20.0 rebounds per 40 minutes in 2016 Nike EYBL. Soft hands, length and physicality contribute to his rebounding success.
-Nice timing rotating for blocks. Can cover ground on defense quickly. Good understanding of verticality at the rim. 1.0 steals and 2.5 blocks per 40 minutes.

Weaknesses
-Short for an interior player at 6'7.5” in shoes.
-More long than explosive from a standstill.
-While he shows potential as a shooter, he plays mostly in the paint at this stage – 8-for-34 from three and 55.1% from the free throw line. Not very polished as a ball handler. Struggles to create much offense from the perimeter.
-Not all that fast-twitch on either end of the floor. A bit slow getting into his jumper and offensive moves. Has room to improve as a perimeter defender.
-Lack of elite size slightly limits his upside as an interior defender.
-Very productive and solid in a lot of areas, but what's his calling card?

Outlook Washington, one of the most productive players on the EYBL circuit, carried his impactful play over to Colorado Springs. With a strong frame, long arms, impressive agility and a budding offensive game, there's a lot to like about Washington as a college player. He's always around the ball, can score inside the paint, find open teammates, attack the glass and make plays defensively. From an NBA perspective it will be beneficial for Washington to polish his perimeter play, extend his range and really buy into becoming a guy who can step out and defend the perimeter. It remains to be seen what Washington's most translatable NBA skills will be, but he'll most certainly be an instant impact player at the college level who's worth keeping an eye on as the rest of his game develops.

Interview


Mitchell Robinson, 6'11”, Chalmette HS, FL, 2017 Class, Uncommitted

Strengths
-Good size for a center at 6'11 in shoes. Also has a 7'2 ½ wingspan and a big 9'2 standing reach
-Strong upper body. Big shoulders
-Reasonably mobile, can cover ground. Runs the floor well
-Can play above the rim in space
-Makes his presence felt on the glass, on both ends of the floor. Can go out of his area
-Has excellent potential defensively with his mobility and length. Blocks shots and shows some ability to cover ground on the perimeter
-Shows flashes of toughness and effort
-Only started playing basketball in the 10th grade

Weaknesses
-Frame still has a long way to go. Only 215 pounds. Very skinny legs. Struggles to bend his knees
-Very limited offensively. Strictly a catch and finish guy at this stage. Doesn't have the best hands
-Lack of strength makes it very difficult for him to assert himself at this point in his development. Doesn't handle contact well. Doesn't know how to dish it out
-Still at a very early stage of his development, which is not surprising considering how late he picked up the game. Basketball IQ is a major work in progress.
-Fundamentals and awareness are poor. Looked lost early on. Effort level comes and goes. Plays at half speed at times. Sets poor screens. Foul prone
-Lacks confidence. Drops his head at the first sign of adversity. Reacts to everything on the floor

Outlook Late bloomer who has only started to get serious about basketball recently. Committed to Texas A&M early on, but recently elected to open his recruitment back up. Arrived late in Colorado Springs and really struggled early on. Came out of his shell and started to show more flashes as the week moved on. A long-term project, both physically and skill wise, but has some intriguing characteristics thanks to his physical tools and how new he is to the game.

Interview


Javin Delaurier, 6'9”, St Anne's-Belfield School, VA 2016 Class, Duke

Strengths
-Strong, developed frame
-Mobile at 6'9”, 222 pounds.
-High energy level. Flies around on defense – 1.9 steals and 2.6 blocks per 40 minutes in 37 Adidas games. Solid feet guarding the perimeter.
-Shows some toughness on the glass – 12.0 rebounds per 40 minutes. Quick off of his feet. Has a good understanding of his strengths and weaknesses.
-Can make an occasional spot up jumper – 9-of-22 from three in 2015 Adidas tournaments.
-Shows potential as a passer. Can make basic high low feeds.
-Very intelligent and well spoken.

Weaknesses
-Has the physical profile of a power forward but the skill set of a center at this stage. 6'9”, 222 pounds with a 7'0” wingspan and an 8'10” standing reach.
-Fairly limited offensively. Can make an open jumper but shoots on the way down at times. Forward jumper. Doesn't always finish his follow through.
-Doesn't have much of a post or face up game. Right-hand dominant. Lives mostly off put backs and shots around the rim.
-Quick leaper but not all that explosive off the floor. Struggles to finish versus length. Misses out on rebounds and blocks. Doesn't have great defensive versatility at this stage.
-Doesn't appear to possess huge long-term upside right now given his average tools and skill level

Outlook The Duke commit is a high motor, blue collar big man who does an excellent job of staying in his lane. He plays team basketball and can have an impact on the game simply because of the energy he brings. On the flip side, there isn't a whole lot to Delaurier's game on top of his fairly average physical tools. His intangibles and IQ off the court should help him maximize his potential and carve out a niche in a loaded upcoming Blue Devil recruiting class.

Interview

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