7 minute read
DRAFT DAY AGE: 18
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*2021-22 Stats
Cam had a strong showing at the U18s and could be a top 5 pick next June. He has all the tools to fit the modern NBA as he s strong, athletic and versatile, which will allow him to play both forward spots. I love his motor and toughness and think he s going to develop into a reliable shooter, but I want to see him make strides as a passer. I know he can score, but if he can make others around him better it takes his game to another level. — Rafael Barlowe
I m extremely high on Cam. He s a dog, he s young and the skills have come a long way in a short time. He s a freak on both ends of the floor with an incredibly strong lower body. He s one of those guys that looks way bigger in person. — NBA scout
CAM WHITMORE
Strong frame with wide shoulders Good shot maker off the dribble Has the size and versatility to play 3 and 4 Excellent transition finisher Quick and first step off the bounce Explosive powerful athlete Plays bully ball — Punishes smaller defenders Rebound and run threat Loves to push the ball after rebounds Plays hard — Active motor Crashes offensive glass — Scores on putbacks Streaky but capable shooter Good off-the-ball cutter Downhill attacker — Can attack closeouts Terrific finisher around the rim Finishes through contact Nose for basketball Good post scorer against smaller players Shooting consistency Tendency to play out of control Soft touch finishes around rim Turnover prone Lacks midrange game Poor free throw shooter Playmaking/passing instincts/vision
*2021-22 Stats
Nick has a chance to be the first college player off the board on draft night. I first saw him at the Wootten Camp in Dallas a couple years ago and he was the best player at the camp and has continued to progress. I m curious to see how he plays with Anthony Black this season. I believe both need the ball to maximize their gifts but I think Smith will have the easier adjustment. I ll also be paying attention to how effective he is scoring at the rim. I know he has great touch on his floater, but can he finish at the basket? — Rafael Barlowe
He’s hesitant getting all the way to the rim, he’s got a great floater but he relies on it way too heavily for me, but he’s a really good shooter. — NBA scout
NICK SMITH JR
Good size for point guard at 6 5 Broad shoulders and good frame Smooth athlete with excellent fluidity Plays with good pace Changes speeds off the dribble Shifty and creative ball handler Uses an array of floaters and soft finishes Excellent touch on floaters/runners Crafty scorer — Creates off the dribble Effective pull-up shooter Draws fouls at high rate Capable and respectable shooter from deep Good athlete but not explosive Finishing at rim against length Questionable shot selection Prefers floater over finishing at rim Can drive without a plan Effort on the glass 3-point shooting consistency More of a scorer than shooter Streaky shooter
*2021-22 Stats
I like shot makers and Dariq fits the description. I m a fan of his confidence and think he s at his best when he s attacking downhill and creating for others. Sometimes his confidence leads to poor shots, but that s expected with a shot maker — Rafael Barlowe
I’m super high on Dariq. He’s young, which is a big thing for me. He’s been at Montverde since he was in 8th grade and he’s super mature given his age. I think his game is scalable to the NBA and that’s probably the biggest thing for him. He’s a great kid off the court, his brother is in the NFL and he has all the bloodlines. He’s going to shoot the ball, he’s going to defend and he’s a solid athlete. — NBA scout
DARIQ WHITEHEAD
Good positional size, length and strong frame Good athlete Fast in open floor with quick first step Aggressive downhill slasher Tough shot taker and maker Extremely confident scorer Nice soft touch finish/floater package Comfortable shooting on the move Solid pull-up shooter off the bounce Active — Moves off the ball to get open Can play on or off the ball Playmaker with court vision and instincts Shot selection — Takes difficult shots Tendency to play too fast Can play out of control Takes a lot of off-balance shots Sometimes shoots on the way down Drives without a plan More of a scorer than shooter Streaky shooter Below-the-rim finisher Settles for too many jumpers Free throw percentage Efficiency Can be predictable on offense
ALL STAR TOP STARTER
*2021-22 Stats
I m a big believer in Keyonte George and have been since he was a freshman in high school. It will be interesting to see how he s used at Baylor since he ll be sharing the backcourt with their top two returning scorers from last season. He s a big-time scorer that can play on and off the ball, and I don t think he gets enough love as a passer. — Rafael Barlowe
The decision-making is a massive question for me. He’s looking to score and put the ball in the hoop. He’s a gifted scorer, he can get to his spots and can rise up [over defenders], but I’m looking to see how he processes things offensively. He’s looking to score 10 out of 10 times. — NBA scout
KEYONTE GEORGE
High upside as a microwave scorer Aggressive scorer — Exudes confidence Effective scorer on 3 levels Picture perfect form on jumper Good combination of burst and pace Can change gears and switch speeds Shot creator off the dribble Offensive creativity Quick trigger on pull-up - Stop pop jumper Great elevation on his jumper Advanced ball handler Creates space and separation Promising playmaker with good vision Major threat out of pick roll Excellent scoring instincts Plays through contact Can play both guard positions Draws fouls Can be used off pindowns and motion plays Decision-making Tendency to force the issue Shot selection Balancing scoring and playmaking Telegraphs passes Angles finishing at the rim Defensive effort
STARTER AUSAR THOMPSON
HEIGHT 6 6 WEIGHT 1 0 DRAFT DAY AGE 20 4 TEAM OVERTIME ELITE CLASS N A
*2021-22 Stats
PTS REB AST STL FG 3FG 14 7 2 3 0 1 7 50 4 21 7
Like his twin brother, Ausar is going to have to spend major time in the gym to improve his jump shot and extend his range. He s considered the better shooter of the two, and he s still a ways away from being an average shooter. I m intrigued by the ball handling, athleticism and passing. I think he can also be a high-level defender with his motor and elite tools. With the right work ethic and developmental program I think he could be a solid secondary playmaker. — Rafael Barlowe
It’s something [the shooting] I’ll be monitoring all season. But I remember Andre Igoudala being a non-shooter as a 19-yearold freshman at Arizona and he turned out pretty good. — NBA scout
