Scouting Report – Alan Williams

Name:   Alan Williams       DOB:  1/28/1993 (22)   School: California-Santa Barbara

Height: 6’8.25         Weight: 261   Projected Position:  PF

Wingspan: 7’1.75      Standing Reach: 8’10.5

2014-15 Stats:

17.3 ppg, 11.8 rpg, 1.7 apg, 1.2 spg, 1.8 bpg, 2.0 tpg (32.6 minutes per game)

45.8 FG%, 76.8 FT%, 52.4 TS%, 45.8 eFG%

30.9 USG%, 12.3 ORB%, 31.6 DREB%, 22.0 TRB%, 2.3 STL%, 6.5 BLK%

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SKILLS & ATHLETIC BREAKDOWN

Offense

Post Offense

Williams has developed into a reliable low-post scoring option, with the ability to set up on either block, and make moves over either shoulder. He has good footwork for his size, and he has the ability to play both a physical or finesse post-game. No matter where he sets up, he makes decisive moves, showing quick feet. Williams uses his big body well to establish position and create separation in the low post, getting a low, wide base, and sealing his defender on his back. He has good hands, with the ability to catch and convert tough-to-handle passes.  Williams also does a good job staying active around the lane, moving quickly as the ball is swung around the perimeter to enable him to get good position. When he is on the left block, Williams likes to go over his left shoulder to a short hook, which he shows nice touch on. If that move is defended well, he has also shown a nice up-and-under move to finish with his left hand, though he doesn’t have the touch or accuracy with the left that he does with the right. That also affects if he goes over his right shoulder; he will often try to bring the ball back to his right hand to shoot, even though the defender is on that hand. The short hook also works well for him on the right block going over his left shoulder. Williams does have a bad tendency to force shots early in his post moves; I understand trying to beat the help defenders coming, but the shots are often off-balance and defended well, and sometimes are just too far from the basket. No matter where he is around the basket, Williams has the strength to muscle good shots up through contact.  Williams doesn’t look to face-up often out of the low post, but when he does, he is capable of making a few strong dribbles to the basket while keeping good control. He can have some trouble with longer, disciplined defenders, but he is very good at drawing contact around the basket. Williams didn’t get much action as a “roll” man in pick-and-roll sets, but he is a very good perimeter screener. While he did a good job opening up to the ball, his teammates were not very good at getting it to him in good spots. Williams faced a lot of double-teams over the past few years, and he has become a much better passer out of the low post when he faces them. He is patient, sees the floor well, and hits open teammates in good spots.  Williams is quick to hit open spots on basket cuts off of penetration, getting a good shot off before defenders have time to react.

Perimeter Offense

Williams hasn’t really shown much ability as a perimeter shooter, even as a spot shooter in the mid-range area. He gets into his motion quickly off the catch, but he hesitates before his release, causing his shot to come off like a line-drive. Being able to knock down mid-range shots consistently is a key area for him to focus before the draft. Williams has shown some ability to take the ball off the dribble to the basket, usually from around 10 to 15 feet out, in the high post area. He has good ballhandling ability with his right hand, and he goes strong to the basket when he has some space. Williams won’t go to his left often outside of the post though. He is also very good at making cuts into the lane area from the perimeter, usually right below the foul line, where he can make a quick move to the rim. As in the post, Williams will force some shots off the dribble, but he does have good touch out to 8 to 10 feet.

Free Throw Shooting

Williams has improved his free throw shooting each season, and at 78 percent, he is above-average for a big man. He has a consistent routine, a compact motion and good follow-through. When he gets the ball in the post, Williams is very good at drawing contact, and having the ability to finish through even hard fouls. Still, as noted above, he has a tendency to take shots early in his post moves, not letting him draw contact as often. While his free throw rate of 48 per 100 field goals is good, he could be a lot higher.

Defense

Post Defense/Help Defense

Low-post defense is one of the key areas for Williams to put in work, but he has the tools to improve at the next level. He does a good job positioning himself between his man and the basket, but he can be inconsistent about trying to use his body to anchor his spot or move his man away from the lane, Also, his footwork can be slow when defending against both back-to-the-basket and face-up post moves. Williams can be a physical player, and the fact that he was a lot stronger than many players he faced, especially in the Big West, did cause him to pick up fouls just for being a big guy. This may have led to hesitance to be more physical this past season, and giving his man some space to make their move. With an almost 7’2 wingspan, Williams has the length to try and deny post-entry passes, though he needs to watch a tendency to get caught off-balance from learning too far, or reaching in when the ball is delivered. Another things Williams should watch for is a tendency to play with his hands down at his side, allowing players he’s guarding to get almost uncontested shots over him, even when he does a good job keeping away from the rim. Williams has above-average defensive awareness and he has the tools to be a good help defender around the basket. He is a good weak side defender, getting to the spot quickly, and having the ability to contest and block shots around the basket, though not being a great leaper, he relies on very good timing. Williams wasn’t very effective as a pick-and-roll defender, preferring to play back a bit instead of hedging out on the ballhandler, which gives a good player space to make a move to the basket or get a shot off. Also, he can be slow to recover to his man rolling to the basket after the screen.

Perimeter Defense (On/Off Ball)

Williams didn’t defend much out on the perimeter, and would try to not to leave the lane area if he could help it. He was helped with the fact that his team would mix in zone defenses. While he positions himself well, he does tend to give space so as to not get beat off the dribble, and while he shows good lateral movement over short distances, he can be a bit heavy-footed. Williams can also be slow to close on perimeter shooters, though when he does get out there, he can affect shots.

Rebounding

One of the top rebounders in basketball over the past three seasons, Williams uses a combination of smarts, size, and strength to out-battle others on the boards on both ends. He does a very good job tracking missed shots on the defensive end and getting into position to grab the rebound.  Williams boxes out well, using his wide body well to shield offensive players from getting near the glass, and he goes strong after the ball, making sure to secure it.  As on defense, Williams does a very good job on the offensive boards, especially tracking shots and knowing where to be for best position. Even if you try to box him out, he uses his body so well, that he can force players, even big men, out of their spots. Williams does a great job of keeping the ball up on offensive rebounds and going right back up with the ball, often getting an easy basket or drawing a foul. He’ll encounter similar strength to his at the NBA level, but his ability to get position and move people with his lower body will still make him tough on the glass.

Intangibles/Summary

Williams has averaged a double-double over the past three seasons, and this past season, he had a double digit points and rebounds in 16 of the 25 games he played, including games against Kansas, Colorado State, Oregon, and Oregon State. Williams’ offensive game has been limited to mainly the low post area, usually within 8-feet of the basket. Though he attracts the main attention of opponents, he still finds ways to score, even if it’s on second and third-chance opportunities. He has developed a couple of go-to post moves, and his combination of strength and skill allows him to score against longer defenders; if he doesn’t get the basket, there’s a good chance he has drawn a foul from the defense. If he catches the ball a bit further from the basket, he can make a strong move over a short distance. Williams has also become a good passer out of the low post, avoiding double-teams and having a small amount of turnovers for a high usage player. Williams is a bully on the boards on both ends of the floor, using strength and good footwork to get position and clear out space. Defensively, he needs to improve in a lot of key areas, but he has the size and bulk to defend the low post, even against bigger opponents. Williams is a classic power forward, playing around the basket and hitting the boards. With the game changing to more perimeter-based fours, Williams will need to adjust his game on both ends, including developing a solid mid-range jumper and being able to defend on the perimeter. Still, teams always need rebounding, and no one has been better in college basketball over the past few years.  I’d like to see him show a bit more explosion around the basket, but it’s hard to argue with what he has done. Williams is a smart, hard-working player who will fill a role well at the NBA level.           

Draft Value:  Mid to Late 2^nd Round – #45-53

Williams’ ability to rebound on both ends of the floor, plus provide some offense in the right sets, will make him attractive to certain teams. He can play the center position when a team wants to go small, or give teams a classic power forward who can score around the basket. He needs to improve his conditioning, but his strength will allow him to compete fairly quickly, and if he can become a consistent mid- to long-range range shooter, he could find quality minutes in the future.

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