Name: Frank Kaminsky DOB: 4/4/1993 School: Wisconsin
Height: 7’0 Weight: 242 Projected Position: PF/C
2014-15 Stats (as of 1/19/15):
17.2 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.9 bpg, 1.5 tpg (30.5 minutes per game)
53.5 FG%, 75.9 FT%, 40.8 3FG%, 62.0 TS%, 58.6 eFG%
28.6 USG%, 6.8 ORB%, 26.2 DREB%, 16.9 TRB%, 6.5 BLK%, 16.6 AST%
SKILLS & ATHLETIC BREAKDOWN
Offense
Post Offense
Kaminsky is a skilled low post player with good hands and footwork, showing the ability to play with his back to the basket, or face up out of the low post. Though not particularly strong, Kaminsky does a good job using his lower body to establish position and seal the defender, and setting a good target with his hands for the entry pass. He is comfortable going over either shoulder and can shoot short shots with either hand, including a nice mini-hook in the lane. Kaminsky doesn’t have ideal strength in the low post, so he relies on patience, and good head and ball fakes to draw defenders out of position, and his secondary post moves are as good as anyone in college basketball. Also, he uses angles and the backboard well around the lane area, giving him good scoring opportunities. When facing up out of the post, Kaminsky is able to use his short/mid-range jumper well, as well as being able to drive by defenders, depending on the match-up. He can have some trouble with longer, disciplined defenders, especially since he doesn’t have the strength to power through them. Kaminsky is a good screener anywhere on the floor, and he is a threat in a pick-and-roll situation, opening up quickly to the ball and using long strides to get to the basket. He sees the floor well and is becoming an improved passer out of the post, though he can still be a bit nonchalant with his passes, and he needs to sense double teams quicker.
Ballhandling/Penetration
Kaminsky is an above-average ballhandler for his size, and is capable of using either hand well over short distances. Kaminsky has shown that he can make a move to the basket when he gets the ball within 10-15 feet of the basket, though he makes a much stronger move when going to his right. When going to the basket, Kaminsky uses his body well to shield defenders from the ball, most of the time, and is capable of finishing in a variety of ways, including with either hand, around the basket. Kaminsky needs to do a better job keeping his head up when heading to the basket and sensing where the help defenders are coming from. Also, he needs to work on keeping his dribble closer to his body, as he can let the ball get away from him. Kaminsky can also be a bit wild when he covers a lot of ground with his dribble, and needs to work on his body control.
Perimeter Offense
Kaminsky has shown to be a good set shooter on the perimeter, for a seven-footer, both from behind the arc, and in the mid-range area. He does a good job getting square to the basket, has a high release and good follow-through. Though his motion can be slow, it’s smooth and his size makes it tough to prevent. Kaminsky is a dangerous weapon in pick-and-pop situations, with his strong screens and quick movement to an open spot to shoot. For his size, he does a good job using shot fakes and a couple of dribbles to create more space if needed. One area where Kaminsky needs to watch is rushing his jumper, especially when he senses a defender closing. He will quicken his motion and often ends up releasing the ball lower than normal. Kaminsky understands floor spacing well, and he is very good at sensing gaps in the defense and making good cuts to the rim area.
Free Throw Shooting
Kaminsky is a good free throw shooter, with a consistent routine and motion, and he draws a good amount of fouls when he is in the lane area. However, he still takes a lot of perimeter jumpers, limiting his post touches and chances to draw contact. He averages less than 5 free throw attempts per game, but when he looks to get the ball in the post, he can draw fouls quickly and often.
Defense
Perimeter Defense (On/Off Ball)
Kaminsky has shown to be a good on-ball perimeter defender in many ways. He positions himself well between his man and the basket, gets low, keeps his hands active, and shows a good defensive stance. His lateral movement is average over short distances, though his reaction time to movements can be quicker, and he can have a tendency to play on his heels when defending away from the basket. Kaminsky does a good job closing on perimeter shooters, though he can be slow to react. Off the ball, Kaminsky positions himself well and he is very vocal helping his teammates see screens and cuts. His length does allow him to give some room out on the perimeter and still be able to challenge shots well, but his positioning will be important.
Post Defense/Help Defense
Kaminsky has shown good potential as a post defender, creating a solid, balanced base with his legs and positioning himself well between his man and the basket. His footwork needs to improve when defending against both back-to-the-basket and face-up post moves. Kaminsky uses his length to try and deny post-entry passes or front his man, though he often finds himself caught off-balance if he isn’t successful. Kaminsky needs to work on building up his strength and using his lower body better to force his man away from the basket. Kaminsky’s defensive awareness needs to improve because he has the tools to be a good help defender around the basket. He is often a step or so slow to react and doesn’t get to help position in time to make a play. Kaminsky has the potential to be a decent shot-blocker. He has good timing, although he falls easily for head and shot fakes, and does a good job extending straight up to go after shots; he just needs to work more on getting into help position quicker. In pick-and-roll situations, Kaminsky needs to work on hedging out on the ballhandler, especially making sure not to give too much room to the ballhandler to make a move to the basket or get a shot off. Kaminsky will also look to recover off the ballhandler a little too quickly. Because he doesn’t hedge far out too often, Kaminsky has little trouble staying with his man after the screen.
Rebounding
Kaminsky does a very good job tracking missed shots and getting into position to grab the rebound. He also is very good at looking to use his body to box out opponents and once he has position, going strong after the ball, extending well. As on the defensive end, Kaminsky will need to add some strength for the next level. On the offensive end, Kaminsky doesn’t usually have the position or strength to make a difference, but if he does grab one, he is quick to get off a good second shot.
Transition
Kaminsky runs the floor well for his size, with the ability to make a line for the basket, or spot up on the perimeter for a long-range jumper. He has the ability to take the ball off the dribble, if given some space. His shooting ability also allows him to be a threat as a trailer on the break.
Intangibles/Summary
Since emerging last year as a junior, Kaminsky has continued to improve his skill set, especially on offense. He has a great feel for the game, and his ability to be a scoring threat from anywhere on the floor as a seven-footer opens up the floor for his whole team. Physically, he has a lot of work to do to get stronger, which will help him on both ends of the floor, though he has a nice array of shortcuts that help him compensate when needed. The defensive end is where Kaminsky needs to continue to show improvement through the rest of this year, though the Wisconsin team defense often helps to cover up any weaknesses.
Draft Value: Mid 1st Round – #15-22
Kaminsky’s offensive abilities will be attractive to any team that can use some scoring off the bench rather quickly, though there is still room for him to grow as a player if he can add the necessary strength to play and defend the low post well. He will likely never be a dominant low post player, but he should be able to guard the 4 or 5 positions, and be a good offensive threat in ball-screen heavy offenses, or where he can spot up on the perimeter or high post areas.
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