2015 NBA Draft Watch List: Seniors, Part Four

We are less than 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.

Norman Powell, UCLA, Guard, 6’4, 215

(2013-14, 25.7 mpg) 11.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.7 apg, 1.4 spg

53.3 FG%, 78.0 FT%, 29.4 3FG%, 61.1 TS%, 56.8 eFG%

20.2 USG%, 6.4 REB%. 11.8 AST%

Powell has spent the last few seasons as a dependable role player alongside some bigger name prospects, but now as a senior, he has the opportunity to step into the spotlight himself.  This past season, Powell started every game for the Bruins, and he did a very good job showing off some high-level athletic ability along with playing smart basketball.  He is a good ballhandler and he has the ability to attack the basket from either direction with either hand. Powell has good acceleration off the dribble and he can finish in a big way if he gets a step on the defender. He has also shown the ability to hit the mid-range jumper off the dribble, using his speed well to force defenders on their heels to create space. Powell has also shown some good ability to make good reads and passes off the dribble, as well as post entry passes, and with more touches this season, it may become a more prominent part of his game.  Defensively, Powell is fundamentally sound and his athleticism allows him to guard either backcourt position. He has good defensive instincts and uses them well to create turnovers on and off the ball. Powell uses his speed well in transition, especially when pushing the ball up floor, and he keeps tremendous control for the quickness he displays.

What he needs to show this season: With Jordan Adams, Kyle Anderson, and Zach LaVine all in the NBA now, as well as the Wear twins graduated, Powell will be the leader of this Bruins’ team, which is already going to be shorthanded this season. Along with being leader, Powell will also need to deal with added defensive attention he hasn’t had before. He will need to work on becoming a more consistent perimeter shooter, especially from long-range. A career 31 percent shooter from three, if Powell can raise that even a bit, he can force defenders to come out on him and give him space to attack the basket. He does a good job being active without the ball, but he needs to work on using screens and making sharper moves to get open. Defensively, Powell is a good on and off-ball defender, but he can have some difficulties dealing with screens, especially when guarding a good perimeter shooter. He needs to do a better job staying close to his man through screens and working harder to get over them when needed. Powell took some big steps as a junior, and there is no reason to think that he can’t do the same as a senior, but the key will be playing within his ability and not trying to force too much just because he is getting more touches.

Shannon Scott, Ohio State, Guard, 6’1, 185

(2013-14, 26.9 mpg) 7.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 3.4 apg, 2.0 spg

43.2 FG%, 68.3 FT%, 30.2 3FG%, 51.8 TS%, 49.1 eFG%

18.0 USG%, 1.9:1 A/TO, 25.5 AST%, 20.5 TO%, 4.6 STL%

Finally, after a few years playing behind and alongside Aaron Craft, Scott will have the Buckeyes’ point guard spot to himself. Scott is a good ballhandler, able to use both hands well and a nice ability to use a change of pace dribble or crossover to get his man off-balance. He is patient, very good at protecting the ball and doesn’t look to force plays or passes.  Scott can get into the lane in open space or coming off screens and he shows good body control around the basket to get shots off. Scott’s strength is on the defensive side where he has a very combination of balance, speed and lateral movement. He is also good off the ball, where he is capable of pressuring and denying passing lanes or staying with his man through screens. In transition, Scott has shown strong decision-making, and he uses a combination of speed and his change-of-pace handle to get to the basket, often drawing contact.

What he needs to show this season:  Scott has provided a nice compliment to Craft the past couple of years, but as the lead guard now, his game will need to adjust in some ways.  On offense, he needs to show more ability to score. He uses his speed and ballhandling ability well to get into the lane, but he has trouble finishing around the basket and instead of going strong, he will fade away or take underhanded scoop shots to avoid being blocked. Scott’s jumper, especially from long-range, showed some improvement last season, especially when he had time to get square and get his feet set, but a tendency to hesitate can lead to some poor shots. While he uses screens well to get into the lane and can make basic reads off the screen, he needs to go through the process quicker, especially when he ends up with an open teammate off the defensive rotation. Scott runs the Buckeyes’ offense well, but he is not much of a playmaker, especially off the dribble. On defense, Scott needs to watch overplaying, especially off the ball, unless he knows he has the help he needs in position. Also, he has some issues getting through screens when on the ball, though he has improved. He just needs to watch going under screens against a good shooter.

Jonathan Holmes, Texas, Forward, 6’8, 240

(2013-14, 28.3 mpg) 12.8 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 0.9 spg, 1.3 bpg

 50.5 FG%, 74.4 FT%, 33.3 3FG%, 59.8 TS%, 55.6 eFG%

24.1 USG%, 12.1 OREB%, 19.2 DREB%, 15.6 REB%, 5.6 BLK%

Holmes was a major part of the Texas turnaround from a disastrous 2012-2013 season.  He handles the power forward position fell and makes a nice partner to Cameron Ridley in the frontcourt. Holmes is at his best when he is moving around the lane area, looking to get position in the high or low post.  If he gets the ball in the low post, he uses his body well to back down the defender and create space for an easy shot. Holmes has also shown that he can hit a nice turnaround jumper out of the post, as well as facing up and making a quick move to the basket, high or low. He has also done a good job expanding his perimeter game, from becoming a more consistent mid-range shooter to improving his long-range shooting, especially as a spot-up shooter or an option out of the pick-and-pop.  With Ridley, Holmes has made a good high-low duo, and he has become very good at seeing the floor out of the high post and hitting open teammates in good spots.  Holmes is very good on the offensive glass, using his long reach and quick leaping ability to get to missed shots.  He is quick to the basket and if you don’t put a body on him, he will make you pay. On defense, Holmes is an average defender in the post and on the perimeter. He uses his body well to force post players away from the basket, and he does a good job sealing off on box outs to get rebounds. On the perimeter, he has shown improvement in his movements, but his reach allows him to disrupt passing lanes and shots. Holmes runs the floor well in transition, and he is a good option heading to the basket either on the wing or coming down late as a secondary option.

What he needs to show this season:  Holmes has been a great role player, but you get the feeling he could do more. Holmes needs to be more aggressive in calling for the ball, especially when he has good position on his man. In the low post, he can improve his footwork, especially being able to make moves over either shoulder. Also, he could improve his ballhandling so he can attack the basket more from the perimeter. He has made very good strides as a perimeter shooter, so he just needs to expand his range more to be more consistent from deep. Defensively, Holmes works hard and his versatility is an asset. The improvements he should make are minor – being a bit quicker, especially changing directions, and having a better read on who he is guarding and knowing not leave shooters with too much space. Holmes may not have eye-popping numbers, but he does everything a coach could want, and this should be his key to a successful pro career, even in the NBA.

Cady Lalanne, Massachusetts, Center, 6’10, 253

(2013-14, 29.0 mpg) 11.3 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 2.2 bpg

55.3 FG%, 67.2 FT%, 58.4 TS%, 55.7 eFG%

18.9 USG%, 12.1 OREB%, 17.4 DREB%, 14.9 REB%, 6.8 BLK%

Lalanne has showed steady improvement, both physically and skill-wise, over the past three seasons, and he should be prepared for a bigger role in his senior year. He has good size and a solid body, but he moves well and shows constantly improving footwork. Last season, his role in the offense seemed to drop off in the second half of the season. His post offense has improved, though he still prefers to take a few steps into the lane and take a short hook. His accuracy around the basket has also improved. Lalanne uses his body well to back down defenders, and with some added strength, he could become a real force in the post. Lalanne is very good on the offensive boards, using his body and reach well to get to missed shots and getting easy put backs. Defensively, Lalanne has also improved over the past few years. He has done a good job adding weight to handle defending the low post, and he does a better job using his body well to keep his man away from the basket. Lalanne is a decent help defender in the lane, but he is a very good shot blocker, and he uses his 7’3 wingspan well to protect the rim and disrupt shots.

What he needs to show this season:  The key for Lalanne will be continuing to build on what he has done the past few years. He has added weight, now he needs to add muscle, while also working on getting his feet quicker. Lalanne has a couple of go-to post moves, but he should work on adding some new ones, especially secondary moves after his first one is stopped. I’d also like to see him not try and avoid contact by making moves away from the rim, but go strong at it. Improving his foot speed should also help Lalanne on the defensive end where his shot blocking ability would go a long way if he was quicker to help position.  Also, it would help him avoid unnecessary fouls by being late to rotate over to protect the basket. Lalanne is still coming into his own as a basketball player, so the most important thing he needs to do is continue to show improvement in his all-around game.