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| Team: Duquesne, Junior |
| Physicals | Positions | Rankings | Misc |
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H: 6' 7"
W: 205 lbs
Bday: 11/01/1988
(21 Years Old)
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Current: PF
NBA: PF
Possible: PF
| Round: 2 Pick: 8 in 2011 Mock Draft
Rank 26 in NCAA Juniors
Rank 83 in Top 100 Prospects
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High School: Crosby
Hometown: Waterbury, Conn.
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| Basic Per Game Statistics - Comprehensive Stats - Statistical Top 25s |
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| Top NBA Draft Prospects in the Non-BCS Conferences, Part Three
November 10, 2009
Joey Whelan
While senior guard Aaron Jackson earned the most acclaim for the Dukes last season as one of the premiere players in the Atlantic-10 Conference, it was power forward Damian Saunders who showed just as promise to emerge as a legitimate pro prospect as he continues to develop. The Connecticut native posted very solid averages across the board – 13.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and 2.1 steals – and proved to be an exceptionally efficient scorer. Early season outbursts like the 22-point, 10-rebound game he hung on Duke were enough to draw the attention of scouts, and now as the top returning scorer on his team, the upperclassman will have the opportunity to prove his name belongs on NBA draft boards.
Physically, there is a good deal to like about what Saunders brings to the table. Though he is listed as a severely undersized power forward at 6-7, he possesses the body and athleticism to eventually make the transition to the perimeter full time as his skill set continues to develop and become more refined. His 210-pound frame allows him to handle himself against more physical forwards, and his length allows him to wreak havoc on the defensive side of the floor – something we will touch on more later.
Offensively, Saunders is a mixed bag. While his stroke itself is soft and fluid, there is a good deal of wasted motion. The junior has a long wingspan so his shot tends to be a long slow process that often times features an inconsistent release point. He shot a modest 34 percent from beyond the arc last season, on a limited number of attempts, but was definitely a streaky shooter, something he will have to improve upon if he’s to show that he can play small forward down the road.
Where he really shows the most potential at this point is as a dribble drive threat. Saunders has pretty good quickness for a player his size, capable of beating most defenders off the dribble on a consistent basis. His ball-handling skills are adequate at this level, but could certainly get much tighter in order for him to cut down on his turnovers even further. Once in the lane he demonstrates excellent body control and leaping ability, but because of his thinner frame he will get bumped off his path a lot of the time and forced into a difficult shot. He has the athletic ability to elevate and score in the lane at a high level right now, but his lack of physical strength is definitely a hindrance to this process right now.
Saunders’ off the ball presence at the offensive end of the floor makes him a valuable asset. He rebounds at a very high rate on the offensive glass for a perimeter-sized player and does an excellent job of finishing on these attempts thanks to his hustle and touch around the cylinder. He also moves well without the basketball, showing a knack for finding openings in the defense near the basket to set himself up for easy looks inside. It is this knowledge of how to position himself off the ball that allowed Saunders to shoot a stellar 54 percent from the floor, including nearly 65 percent on two-point field goal attempts.
Defensively, Saunders is a machine and a big time difference maker – ranking in the top 15 in our database in blocks and steals per game at 2.4 and 2.1 respectively. His wingspan and lateral quickness allow him to deflect a tremendous number of passes and intercept a good deal of them as well. Inside, his leaping ability and timing make him a real shot altering presence when forced to play closer to the basket. He isn’t likely to see much time guarding the post at the next level – but if and when it does occur, Saunders has proven that he has the ability to play bigger than he is and to make his presence felt.
There is a lot of like about this junior’s game: he is long, quick, athletic and already shows promise operating on the perimeter despite being playing almost exclusively inside last season. Saunders still has a good deal of work to do in polishing his overall game, most noticeably his shooting range. Being able to consistently knock down perimeter jumpers while also getting a little stronger to handle attacking the basket will make him an intriguing prospect to pro scouts – especially considering his defensive prowess, versatility and athleticism. Now as the focal point of the Dukes attack this year, Saunders will get the chance to prove he deserves to have his name called on draft night in June.
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Day One: Atlantic-10 Tournament Blog
March 13, 2008
His teammate, 6’7 athletic freshman forward Damian Saunders had an underwhelming end (2 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 blocks in 13 minutes) to his impressive freshman season (6.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 1.6 apg/1.1 TOpg, 1.6 spg, 1.3 bpg), but continues to show the potential to turn into a Dominic McGuire type combination forward in the future. He did a good job doing the little things today considering the fact that it did not look like he had a single play run in his general direction. He spent most of his time on the perimeter rather than in the post, but must work on his ball handling ability and shooting stroke if he has any hope of converting into a full-time perimeter player in the future.
[Read Full Article]
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