2015 NBA Draft Watch List: Seniors, Part Two

We are about two months from the start of college basketball season and the road to the 2015 NBA Draft has begun.  It’s time to start taking some early looks at players who are already on the NBA’s radar, or have enough skill or potential to break through this season.

Players will be broken down by class, starting with the seniors.  Overall, the list will contain between 50 and 60 seniors, 30 to 40 juniors, and 20 to 30 sophomores.

These are not meant to replace scouting reports, which will come out during the season.  These are not all-inclusive and just meant as a brief primer for those who want to track draft prospects throughout the season.  These are also not in any particular order other than who I choose to write about each post.

Alan Williams, California-Santa Barbara, Forward/Center, 6’8, 265

(2013-14, 31.1 mpg) 21.3 ppg, 11.5 rpg, 1.2 spg, 2.4 bpg

 53.3 FG%, 68.5 FT%, 57.0 TS%, 53.3 eFG%

36.5 USG%, 15.6 OREB%, 27.3 DREB%, 21.9 REB%, 9.0 BLK%

The 2014 Big West Player of the Year, Williams put up his second consecutive season averaging double figures in points and rebounds.  At 6’8 and 265 pounds, Williams is tough for many college defenders to handle alone around the basket, especially since he knows how to you his frame well to seal off and create space.  He has good hands and can handle tough passes in the post, and he has shown very good touch out to six or seven feet from the basket.  Williams has shown a few good post moves consistently, mostly going over his left shoulder to his right hand. He uses his wide body well as a screener all over the court, and he is capable of becoming a scoring option in pick-and-roll and pick-and-pop situations. Depending on the match-up, Williams has shown the ability to drive to the basket and finish, though he is much better going to his right. He is good at drawing and finishing through contact around the basket, using his strength to still get quality shots. Williams is a good mid-range shooter and continues to improve. He can be a terror on the offensive boards, and though he doesn’t have great leaping ability, he does a good job outworking others to keep balls alive until he or a teammate can grab them. Williams is a good post defender, and he is showing some improvement as a perimeter defender, but he relies on his body more than moving his feet. UCSB played a good amount of zone last year, and Williams showed good command of his area.  Expect Williams to likely take home the 2015 Big West Player of the Year as well before he moves to the NBA.

What he needs to show this season:  Williams uses his body well to advantage, but the downside is his footwork isn’t really where it should be, on both ends of the floor. I’d like to see him develop some quicker post moves when he gets the ball in good position. Also, I’d like to see him show some more consistency with moves to his left hand, as well as finishing around the basket with his left. I mentioned Williams’ improving mid-range jumper, but he has to watch a tendency to rush his shot to the point where he isn’t even really square to the basket. Defensively, working on his foot speed will be important, especially if he is forced to guard on the perimeter. Also, it will help him hedge better when defending in pick-and-roll situations. He will tend to fall back after the screen, giving the ballhandler room to make a play.  Williams can be a good help defender around the basket, and he has a good knack for blocking shots for his size, but he needs to work on not reaching or falling for shot fakes. Also, he could be a bit quicker in recognizing the need to help and getting to the spot.

Delon Wright, Utah, Guard, 6’5, 178

(2013-14, 36.4 mpg) 15.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 5.3 apg, 2.5 spg, 1.3 bpg

 56.1 FG%, 79.3 FT%, 22.2 3FG%, 63.9 TS%, 58.1 eFG%

 21.4 USG%, 2.1:1 A/TO, 11.3 REB%, 28.6 AST%, 17.3 TO%, 4.1 STL%

Wright made a tremendous impact in his first year in Division I, making the All-Pac 12 First Team after transferring from the JUCO ranks.  He is a versatile guard, capable of playing of playing either backcourt position. Wright is at his best when he is looking to attack the basket, using a very good first step and strong ballhandling to create scoring opportunities. He is a creative finisher around the basket, but he doesn’t shy away from looking to finish strong and he can handle contact and still get a shot off. Wright sees the floor very well and he has a good feel for where to find open teammates, especially when he draws the defense off a drive. He has shown he can knock down mid-range jumpers off the dribble, and he has a great feel for spacing, knowing where to find open spots on the floor. His ability to knock down the mid-range jumper, also allows him to draw defenders to him and use a good shot fake to get by them.  Wright is a good on and off-ball defender, showing good positioning and strong lateral movement. His size allows him to guard multiple positions. Wright reads the floor well and he uses good reflexes to jump passing lanes or get his hand on the ball, leading to turnovers and quick baskets. He uses his size and leaping ability well to challenge shots, and he blocks a good amount for his size. Wright also uses his size and a good nose for the ball to be a very good defensive rebounder. He has no problem chasing missed shots down wherever they are.  Wright is very good in transition, using long strides to get down the floor quickly, and having the ability to take the ball to the rim or finding an open teammate. There is no one who puts together a full stat line like Wright does, and if he can do it for another season, NBA teams will be very interested.

What he needs to show this season:  Wright seemed to do it all last season, though it can still be hard to pinpoint what he excels at. The biggest thing he needs to work on right now is being able to extend his range on his jumper and being able to hit threes consistently. Last year, he only attempted 54 three-point shots, hitting just 12. Though he had little trouble getting to the basket last season, the NBA will be different, and he will need to show he can hit the long-range jumper. Also, because it could be so easy to get to the basket, he could get sloppy and force penetration into the defense or get stuck and make a bad pass. Wright has shown a lot defensively, but he can be a bit of a wanderer, looking to make plays and forgetting about his man. There is a lot to like about Wright’s game, but almost every part of his game could use some improvement before he gets to the pros.

Le’Bryan Nash, Oklahoma State, Forward, 6’7, 235

(2013-14, 29.9 mpg) 13.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.6 apg, 0.5 spg

 52.0 FG%, 73.9 FT%, 57.5 TS%, 52.0 eFG%

23.6 USG%, 10.4 REB%

Nash, a former McDonald’s All-American, put together his best all-around season as a junior, and it was a result of him focusing on his strengths and not trying to do too much. Nash has always been a high-level athlete, and his offensive game has always been best suited within fifteen feet of the basket.  He is capable of driving to the basket to his left or right, and he is capable of finishing with either hand around the basket. Nash doesn’t have a great first step, but he uses his body well to get into the lane and he doesn’t shy away from contact. If he gets some space, he is able to finish his drives above the rim. Nash is also comfortable posting up other forwards and he has shown the ability to make a quick move to the basket or face up and drive to the rim.  He is most comfortable shooting his jumper from fifteen to seventeen feet, and he has shown some ability to hit the mid-range jumper off the dribble. Defensively, Nash has the size and athletic ability to guard multiple positions, though he may not have the foot speed to guard some players. Nash has shown that he will battle for rebounds and uses his body and leaping ability well to get to missed shots quickly. He can be a strong finisher in transition, especially if given some space to go to the basket strong.

What he needs to show this season:  Marcus Smart and Markel Brown are both gone, so it is time for Nash to step up and be the leader of this Cowboys’ team. While it will be important to have a point guard who can get him the ball in good spots, Nash will also need to do a better job looking to create his own opportunities. Smartly, he refrained from three-point shots last year after hitting only 28 of 118 his first two seasons, and he showed more patience in taking good shots. Eventually, he will have to find a way to be at least a threat from three-point range to give him the space he needs to get by his man and to the basket.  Defensively, he needs to work on the fundamentals, including a good defensive stance and moving his feet instead of using his hands. Foul trouble was a problem for Nash last season and the Cowboys need him on the floor more this season. Also, he needs to work on his defensive awareness, being able to see the floor and anticipating what the offense is looking to do.

Wayne Blackshear, Louisville, Guard, 6’5, 215

(2013-14, 19.6 mpg) 829 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 0.9 spg

 43.3 FG%, 74.4 FT%, 39.5 3FG%, 57.7 TS%, 53.7 eFG%

18.9 USG%, 8.7 REB%

Another former McDonald’s All-American, Blackshear has been little more than a role player for past three seasons, though he is starting to find his niche in that role. Blackshear has good size on the perimeter and has found his confidence in his three-point shooting stroke, which accounted for 53% of his shots last season. The last two seasons were tough for role players because the ball was dominated by the Russ Smith and the point guard position, but Blackshear made the most of his minutes. His size was also an asset on defense, where he showed a good ability to pressure the ball and move his feet, and he was capable of guarding multiple positions.

What he needs to show this season:  Blackshear has a lot of natural ability and he had a good skill set coming into college, but he hasn’t been able to put it all together yet. Part of that is due to scattered minutes, but even in extended runs, he often seemed an odd man out on offense.  Still with Smith gone, as well as Luke Hancock, there are points to be made up and with Blackshear’s good size at the shooting guard spot. If Blackshear gets more minutes, he needs to show that he can be a confident, versatile scorer. Defensively, he can hold his own, and his size can come in handy depending on match-ups.