Scouting Report – Denzel Valentine

Name:  Denzel Valentine        DOB: 11/16/1993 (22)   School: Michigan State

Height: 6’5          Weight: 220   Projected Position:  PG/SG

2015-16 Stats (24 games):

19.6 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 7.3 apg, 0.9 spg, 2.6 tpg, 2.9:1 A/TO (32.9 mpg)

47.3 FG%, 84.5 FT%, 45.1 3FG%, 61.7 TS%, 59.1 eFG%

28.5 USG%, 20.8 DREB%, 12.8 REB%, 44.1 AST%, 14.2 TOV%, 1.7 STL%

SKILLS & ATHLETIC BREAKDOWN

Offense

Ballhandling/Penetration/Passing

Valentine is a very good ballhandler, with the ability to use both hands well, and able to attack the basket, or create space for his shot, in either direction.  He doesn’t have a great speed burst off the dribble, but he is so effective in mixing up speeds, that defenders still have a hard time keeping in good position. Valentine shows excellent control as he maneuvers through the defense, and he is capable of finishing around the basket with either hand. Valentine is a creative finisher around the basket, but he can have trouble finishing against longer defenders, and he has a bad habit of shooting some lay-up attempts underhanded, making it that much easier for his shot to be blocked. He’s not very big on looking to draw contact, but he has developed a variety of quick floaters/runners to allow him to get his shot off at different angles to avoid rim protectors.

Valentine is at his best as a pick-and-roll ballhandler, with the ability to find, or create, his own shots or set up his teammates, either rolling to the rim or spotting up on the perimeter. He has patience with the ball, drawing defenders and waiting for things to develop, and making quick reads. Valentine has excellent court vision and can be a very good passer, showing an ability to put all kinds of touch on his passes as needed. While a great passer in pick-and-roll situations, it is also a great way for him to clear space for his jumper, both mid- and long-range.

Perimeter Shooting

Valentine has turned himself into one of the top shooters in college basketball, showing the ability to hit from mid- and long-range consistently, as well as off the catch or dribble. Valentine has a fairly quick, smooth motion and release, but he does have to watch a minor tendency to not get his feet right before going into his motion. When he has time to get set, he is consistent as a spot shooter, though he does have to watch rushing when there isn’t a need to.  Valentine uses his dribble very well to create space, as well as using screens, especially as a pick-and-roll ballhandler, and his quicker release helps him get good looks before defenders can recover. While Valentine’s shot selection is generally good from the perimeter, he can force some shots, but it is more questionable when he attacks the basket. He is also very consistent with his mid-range jumper off the dribble, showing the ability to clear space in either direction to knock down shots, but he does need to watch letting his body drift too far once he goes into his motion. Valentine also has the ability to play off the ball, and he does a great job coming off screens in position to shoot the ball. He’s not exceptionally quick, but he will use a variety of moves to free himself, and his quick release off the catch makes it tough for defenders to affect his shot.

Post Offense

While not a major part of his offense, Valentine has the size and skill to take advantage of match-ups by going into the low post. He doesn’t blow you away with a variety of moves, but he relies on footwork and a soft touch to get some good, quick attempts near the rim. A short hook over his left shoulder with his right hand seems to be his go-to move, and it can be tough for even bigger defenders to stop. If the shot isn’t there right away, Valentine uses his vision and passing ability to see cutters and open teammates behind the arc.

Free Throw Shooting

Valentine has developed into a very reliable free throw shooter during his college career, improving his percentage every season. He has a consistent routine, somewhat smooth motion, and a good release. As expected with the majority of Valentine’s shot attempts being jumpers, and an adversity to contact even when he does go to the basket, he doesn’t get to the free throw line all that much, around a 21 percent free throw rate; however, he is a good choice to have the ball in his hands down the stretch of a close game when the opponent is looking to foul.

Defense

Perimeter Defense (On/Off Ball)

Like many Michigan State players, Valentine has developed in a good defender with great fundamentals and understanding of team defense.  On the ball, Valentine positions himself well between his man and the basket, and shows average lateral movement over short distances. He reacts well to his man’s movements, but will tend to play on his heels if guarding a quicker player, leaving him vulnerable to quick changes in direction. Though his lateral movement could show some improvement, he can be very active and has the ability to pressure the ball, when needed. Valentine won’t make any chances on the ball, choosing to contain rather than try and force mistakes. Valentine seems to know his limitations against quicker players and does a great job looking to force them into help situations. If he does get beat on a quick first step, he doesn’t give up on plays, and his ability to use angles to cut off players has improved substantially. Valentine needs to work on getting over screens, and Michigan State will often rely on switches instead of forcing players to get through screens.

Off the ball, Valentine positions himself well and shows better movement, including showing the ability to deny passing lanes effectively. He is very active off the ball, bouncing effortlessly between help positions and still being able to get out on his man if he gets the pass.  Valentine has great awareness, and he often sets the tone for the Spartans’ defense, barking out orders and having his teammates adjust, as needed. As on the offensive end, he sees the floor very well, and while he may not have great quickness, he has a knack for reading passes and being able to jump passing lanes.  Valentine is a good help defender, whether it’s trapping on the sideline or double-teaming the post, and his constant activity allows him to cover a lot of ground. He does a great job shadowing his man off the ball, and he navigates through off-ball screens efficiently, leaving his opponent little space to get a shot after the catch. Valentine does a good job closing on shooters on the perimeter, though he can sometimes be slow to get out to them, but he always makes a strong effort.

Rebounding

Valentine is a very good rebounder for his size and position, tracking shots well, getting into position quickly, and using his body to seal off opponents. Strength may be a factor at the next level, but he puts in more effort than many guards to get involved, even against bigger players. While not much of a factor on the offensive boards, Valentine puts in a strong effort on the defensive boards, chasing down missed shots if he needs to. The bonus is Valentine can also get the team started in transition off the rebound, turning quickly after getting the shot and pushing the ball up the floor.

Transition

Valentine can be very good in transition, whether pushing the ball quickly up court as the ballhandler, or running one of the wings and spotting up from behind the arc. With the ball, he shows good vision and passing ability, and does a good job drawing defenders to him to open up teammates. He can have some issues with control when he looks to get to the basket on his own, but, generally, he is a good finisher. Also, he does tend to force more passes when he is sped up, and a good amount of his passing turnovers are in transition. Still, he has a strong idea of court spacing and he knows how to open up the floor to get open looks for himself and teammates.

Intangibles/Summary

Valentine has emerged the past two seasons as one of the top players in college basketball, giving Michigan State a unique weapon in the backcourt. While always showing good passing ability, the offense this season has been running primarily through Valentine, and he has proven to be quite adept as a ballhandler and passer, especially in pick-and-roll situation. He has had to take on more responsibility in running the offense, but it hasn’t affected his scoring ability, posting career highs in points per game, field goal percentage, and three-point field goal percentage, which is at an outstanding 45 percent on over 190 attempts. When you add in Valentine’s rebounding ability for his size, he is a triple-double threat every night, and he did have two such nights this year, including a 29 point, 12 rebound, 12 assist game against Kansas at the beginning of the season. He may not be great when attacking the basket, but he has developed an ability to create scoring chances when they don’t always seem obvious. As Michigan State players tend to do, Valentine has also developed into a versatile defender, showing good ability on and off the ball, and often guarding multiple positions every game. His athletic/physical ability won’t blow anyone away, but he plays within himself, and he has a great understanding of how to compensate, when needed. Valentine has become another strong leader under Tom Izzo, and his value as a competitor and teammate cannot be underestimated.                         

Draft Value:  Late Lottery – Mid 1^st Round – #9-17

A versatile guard, Valentine should be able to spend time at both backcourt spots during his NBA career. He doesn’t strike you as a “point guard” per se, but his ability to make decisions and create scoring chances in the pick-and-roll is as good as any guard in the country. Add to that his ability to knock down the 3 consistently and play tough defense, and Valentine gives you a skilled, experienced player that teams may regret passing on if he drops to far. Now, who he will be able to defend will need some adjustments; fundamentally he is sound, but he may not have the athleticism to guard NBA point guards, but he may surprise with how versatile he is on defense. He may not end up as a star in the NBA, but he’s the kind of player that can make a good team, great.

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