Scouting Report – Devin Booker
By Ed Isaacson
Name: Devin Booker DOB: 10/30/1996 (18) School: Kentucky
Height: 6’6 Weight: 206 Projected Position: SG
2014-15 Stats:
10.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.1 apg, 0.4 spg, 1.0 tpg (21.5 mpg)
47.0 FG%, 82.8 FT%, 41.1 3FG%, 60.0 TS%, 57.1 eFG%
22.8 USG%, 10.9 AST%, 10.4 TOV%, 1.3 STL%
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SKILLS & ATHLETIC BREAKDOWN
Offense
Perimeter Shooting
Booker is a very good perimeter shooter, especially as a spot-up shooter from behind the arc. He does a good job getting square to the basket, though he can be quicker getting into his motion. He also has a high, consistent release on his shot. Booker is able to hit his jumper off the catch or dribble, and he is very good at using a simple head-fake and dribble to create extra space. Booker has range to the NBA three-point line, though he will likely need to add strength to hit the shot consistently. Booker’s shot selection is very good, and it’s rare that he will force a tightly-guarded shot, though he can be forced into rushing his shot at times. He can hit the mid-range jumper well off the dribble, both to his left and right, and he does a good job stopping and raising straight up for his shot. Booker moves well without the ball, using screens to get open, and using multiple moves to shake a tough defender, though he can improve how tightly he comes off the screens. He is very good at using screens in various ways to create space, including curling off the screen or fading to the corner, and he is almost always in position to shoot off the catch.
Ballhandling/Penetration/Passing
Booker is an above-average ballhandler in half-court situations, with the ability to use both hands well, and able to attack the basket in either direction, though he likes to go to his off-hand (left) often. He can have trouble handling the ball when pressured, forcing him into bad decisions. Booker doesn’t have a great first step to the basket, or good acceleration off the dribble, but his ability to knock down long-range jumpers forces defenders to come out on him, giving him the opportunity to get by them, especially if he uses a shot/head fake. He does a good job keeping his head up and has good body control. Booker can have trouble finishing around the basket, especially against length, but he can be creative when finding space for shots, and he won’t hesitate from going strong at a shot-blocker. He needs to work on using screens as a ballhandler, especially coming off them tighter and making quick reads of the defense. Booker protects the ball well when going to the basket, but his lack of speed to the rim means help defenders will usually be able to cut him off before the basket area. He doesn’t use many advanced dribbles when looking to get to the basket, preferring to just power straight to the rim. Booker has good vision and can be a strong passer. He is very good at making post-entry passes, though he has shown a tendency to try and force passes into tight spaces. Booker needs to work on his ability to hit open teammates off the dribble, especially when he draws help defenders. He has a good feel for spacing and is quick to make an extra pass to an open teammate instead of forcing his own shot.
Free Throw Shooting
Booker is a very good free throw shooter, with a consistent routine, smooth motion and good follow-through, but he just doesn’t get to the line that often. About 80 percent of Booker’s shots are jumpers, and even when he does look to get to the basket, it’s most often in transition. He got to the free throw line at a poor rate, even for a shooting guard, with a rate of .22 free throw attempts for every field goal attempt. Booker doesn’t have the ability as a ballhandler yet to get to the basket at the next level, but in time, if he can develop it, his reliable free throw shooting can have some benefits.
Defense
Perimeter Defense (On/Off Ball)
Booker is a fundamentally sound defender, and though he may not have great length for his size, he can still be effective on and off the ball. On the ball, he positions himself well between his man and the basket, and his lateral movement is good, but his foot speed needs work, and he can be slow to react to his man’s movements, especially changes in direction. Booker can be forced to play on his heels, and he can have trouble preventing players from beating on the corner off the dribble. Booker needs to work on getting over screens quicker, including choosing to go under screens or relying on switches to help him. Off the ball, Booker positions himself well and can play passing lanes tough, showing better reaction time away from the ball. He has good awareness and his active hands help him as a help defender against penetration. Booker can have trouble navigating through screens off the ball, and he needs to learn how to use angles instead of trying to force his way through screens. Booker closes well on perimeter shooters, though he needs to watch falling for shot fakes, especially when he is trying to recover after helping around the lane.
Rebounding
Booker didn’t show much as a defensive rebounder this season, though I wouldn’t rule him out being able to contribute some down the road. He tracks shots well, but doesn’t make much of an effort to get in position, even on long rebounds. Even with a bit of effort, he could use his size well to box out and prevent players from hitting the boards from the perimeter, or Booker himself can make a better plays on long rebounds.
Transition
Booker is somewhat capable of pushing the ball in transition himself, but he is much better at running one of the wings and spotting up behind the arc. Booker doesn’t have great speed or acceleration in the open floor, and he is a shaky ballhandler when he tries to pick up speed, letting the ball get too far away from him. When he is able to keep control handling the ball, Booker can be a strong finisher at the basket, as well as being able to knockdown mid- and long-range jumpers off the dribble. He shows good vision and passing ability for his age in transition, and if he becomes a better ballhandler, teams could have confidence in letting him push the ball himself. Also, Booker’s shooting ability allows him spot up behind the arc for a long-range jumper, forcing defenders to have to choose between him or stopping the ball.
Intangibles/Summary
Like many of Kentucky’s young players this year, the lack of extended playing time probably hurt Booker’s development, and though his play was up-and-down through the season, like many freshmen, he still had a successful season in many ways. Booker came in with a reputation as a good long-range shooter, and while having some tough stretches throughout the season, his shooting ability was as advertised. Booker showed very good ability as a spot-up shooter, and showed more comfort off the dribble as the year went on. About half of his total attempts were from behind the arc, and a good number of the other half were mid-range jumpers. While he has some ability to get to the basket off the dribble, he needs to become a better ballhandler to make up for his lack of speed. Booker is a smart offensive team player, especially for his age, and his understanding of spacing is very good. He has shown some good passing ability, though he needs to work on his ability to find open teammates off the dribble. There may be a lot more to Booker’s offensive repertoire that he wasn’t able to show with his limited attempts this past season (He had only 9 games with 10 or more shot attempts.) Defensively, Booker shows solid fundamentals, but he will need to work on moving his feet and reacting much quicker for the NBA level. Still, he is a solid team defender, and while he may not be a great defender at the next level, I have a feeling he will hold his own eventually.
Draft Value: Mid to Late 1st Round – #17-25
Booker’s shooting ability and good size for his position will make him attractive to teams, though athletically he may not be on the same level as a lot of players in this class. He’s still just 18 years old, and his role in the Kentucky offense wasn’t very conducive to him showing more than being a long-range shooter, so there is still potential for a lot of growth as a player. Booker may not be able to crack a rotation right away, but he could become a very good role player in two or three seasons.
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