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| Team: Texas, Senior |
| Physicals | Positions | Rankings | Misc |
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H: 6' 10"
W: 310 lbs
Bday: 03/02/1988
(21 Years Old)
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Current: C
NBA: C
Possible: PF/C
| Round: 2 Pick: 27 in 2010 Mock Draft
Rank 31 in NCAA Seniors
Rank 82 in Top 100 Prospects
RSCI: 82
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High School: Terry
Hometown: Rosenberg, TX
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| Basic Per Game Statistics - Comprehensive Stats - Statistical Top 25s |
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| Top NBA Draft Prospects in the Big 12 (Part Two: #6-10)
September 7, 2009
Joseph Treutlein
After weighing nearly 400 pounds as a high school senior, Dexter Pittman has come incredibly far in his journey toward becoming an NBA player, with last season’s emergence being his biggest step. Now weighing around 300 pounds with a fraction of the body fat he once had, Pittman has become a productive and highly efficient college player, and he’s still just tapping the surface of his potential.
While he only played just under 17 minutes per game last season, Pittman managed to average double digit scoring while ranking in the top 25 of our database in a slew of categories including PER, TS%, EFG%, EFF/40, WS/40, points per 40 minutes pace adjusted, and rebounds per 40 minutes pace adjusted. With reports of Pittman getting into even better shape this summer, he will look to maintain these numbers while playing more minutes and more of a central role for the Longhorns as a senior.
Looking at Pittman’s game, the first thing that stands out is his ability to physically dominate the opposition, namely by getting good post position and finishing with power in the paint. With his back to the basket, Pittman has raw but developing footwork, decent awareness when he isn’t being rushed, and a solid repertoire of raw, albeit effective moves. He doesn’t have anything resembling a go-to move just yet, but he shows the ability to turn off either shoulder, making use of turnaround jumpers and hook shots with both hands. He’s clearly more comfortable going off his left shoulder, though where he is now compared with three years ago is impressive. His gaudy per-minute stats and terrific efficiency is a great indication of that.
Range-wise, Pittman only works out to about five feet away from the basket, as his touch isn’t great and he struggles with finesse moves beyond there. Closer to the basket, Pittman shows solid hands and finishes well around the basket, though there are some concerns projecting to the next level, namely with his inability to quickly explode vertically, likely due to his only being in shape for a year or so. Pittman’s biggest priority right now should be developing his explosiveness and working on getting off the ground quicker, as this would vastly improve his effectiveness around the basket, and also help him down the road in the pick-and-roll game, where he shows considerable potential with his size and mobility (though he’s rarely ever used in this situation at Texas).
As a passer, Pittman is extremely raw, posting just 13 assists in 35 games last season. Once the ball goes into the post, it rarely if ever comes out, for better or for worse. He averages around four turnovers for every one assist he garners, which helps highlight his struggles in this area.
In terms of perimeter game, Pittman is extremely raw, barely being capable of putting the ball on the floor and not having an even semi-reliable jump shot. His free throw form isn’t awful, and he’s steadily improved his efficiency from the line in each of his three seasons, but he has some things to work on for him to improve at the line, and to have his shot translate into game situations. His shot at the line is all upper body and it lacks fluidity, leading to inconsistent touch. Considering how often he spends there, he would be wise to improve substantially here.
Defensively, Pittman shows good attention and effort levels, being a pretty active player and not missing many rotations. He shows a willingness to step out onto the perimeter and he really tries in pick-and-roll situations, though his lack of change of direction abilities and lateral quickness in general are concerning in both areas. In the post, he shows solid fundamentals and does a good job keeping his hands up to contest every shot, while also using his massive frame well to hold good position. Helping on the weakside, he is active in stepping up to alter shots, but his lack of leaping abilities don’t allow him to block as many shots as he could if he were in better shape. He’s extremely foul prone at the moment, which is one of the main reasons he was unable to stay on the floor for long stretches last season.
Looking forward, this will be a huge season for Pittman, and if he has continued making strides with his conditioning as offseason reports have suggested, he could plant himself firmly in second round discussions, as his size, raw ability, and the learning curve and work ethic he’s shown over the past two seasons will be attractive to teams. Staying on the floor longer, both from staying out of foul trouble and not getting winded will play a big part in how his stock fares this season, but just as important if not more so is how the rest of his game develops, both with his skills and with how much closer he comes to reaching his athletic potential, which he still is not quite near.
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