|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Team: DePaul, Junior |
| Physicals | Positions | Rankings | Misc |
|---|
H: 6' 10"
W: 240 lbs
Bday: 00/00/0000
|
Current: PF
NBA: PF
Possible: PF
| Round: 2 Pick: 20 in 2010 Mock Draft
Rank 17 in NCAA Juniors
Rank 75 in Top 100 Prospects
RSCI: 46
| PULLED OUT
|
High School: Boys To Men Academy
Hometown: Chicago, IL
|
|
| Basic Per Game Statistics - Comprehensive Stats - Statistical Top 25s |
|
| Top NBA Draft Prospects in the Big East Part Three (#11-15)
October 15, 2009
Scott Nadler
With an 8-23 record including a dismal 0-18 mark in the Big East, there was very little to cheer about for the DePaul Basketball team last season. Despite the struggles, the one silver lining for the Blue Demons came in the emergence of Mac Koshwal. A relative unknown on the national scene, Koshwal has impressed the DePaul faithful for the past two seasons with his physical play and great knack for the ball. After testing the NBA waters this past spring, Koshwal decided to return for his junior year with the hope of turning things around for his team while improving his draft stock as well.
Koshwal is 6’10 245 pounds and uses his great frame to the best of his ability. He’s a space eater inside and plays hard and aggressive every night, regardless of what the scoreboard says. Those characteristics along with his high motor contribute to his efficiency as a rebounder and his knack for rebounding in traffic. Koshwal pulled down 9.6 rebounds a game last season including 3.8 on the offensive end in 32.1 minutes a game – further illustrating his excellence on the boards.
His fundamentals are outstanding, as he makes a concerted effort on every possession to box out and chin the ball – making it difficult for the ball to be taken away. All of these skills are important for Koshwal as he doesn’t possess the world’s greatest athleticism, lacking great explosion and lift.
This lack of athleticism affected his ability to finish around the basket on put backs, but even more so in the post. He shot 54.4% on opportunities around the basket on 5.4 attempts a game, and only 31.5% on shots in the post on 2.5 attempts a game. He has a tendency to rush his moves inside and flip shots up at the rim as opposed to gathering himself and going up strong. When he's patient, he becomes a more productive player.
This is certainly true when he plays with his back to the basket, where his post game is a work in progress. He’s shown glimpses of advanced moves and good footwork, showing up and unders and quick spin moves – although those plays are few and far between. He prefers to face up, using inside pivots to power his way to the hoop or beat his guy off the dribble. He does a fairly good job of getting where he wants to go, but as mentioned earlier, he must improve his ability to finish.
Another area in the post where he struggled was with his passing. He had a negative assist to turnover ratio last season of 1.5 assists to 2.7 turnovers – often forcing passes cross court and in traffic. With that said he does possess some guard skills and is not afraid to dribble behind his back or spin past his defender on the perimeter.
He also showed a nice shooting touch from the outside as well, albeit on few attempts. Currently his range extends out to 17 feet and shoots the majority of his shots off the inside pivot or spot up opportunities. Further enhancing his consistency as a shooter will surely open up more options for Koshwal on the offensive end.
On the defensive end, Koshwal has a difficult time coming away from the basket. He lacks great lateral speed which hinders his ability to prevent dribble penetration. His pick and roll coverage when defending the screener leaves a lot to be desired as well, as he often sags back into the lane – forcing switches to occur resulting in mismatches. In the post, he fails to meet his man early which allows his opponent to gain solid position. On the catch, he does a fairly good job of playing physical and using his hands to strip the ball away, averaging 1.3 steals a game accordingly.
With more experience this season, DePaul will look to erase last year’s memory and restore a certain level of competitiveness back in the program. With Dar Tucker out of the picture this season, it’s time for Koshwal to be the featured player. If he can improve his scoring around the basket and establish more of a post up game, look for the Blue Demons to put up more of a fight in 2009-10.
 [Read Full Article]
| |
|
|
