Name: Keifer Sykes DOB: 12/30/1993 School: Green Bay
Height: 6’0 Weight: 180 Projected Position: PG
2014-15 Stats (As of 1/29/15):
19.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 4.0 apg, 1.7 spg, 2.5 tpg, 1.6:1 A/TO (34.9 minutes per game)
46.6 FG%, 78.0 FT%, 33.7 3FG%, 57.0 TS%, 52.0 eFG%
28.8 USG%, 11.7 DREB%, 7.0 TRB%, 25.9 AST%, 12.8 TOV%, 2.9 STL%
SKILLS & ATHLETIC BREAKDOWN
Offense
Ballhandling/Penetration/Passing
Sykes is a very good ballhandler, able to use both hands well, and with the ability to attack the basket in either direction. When going to the basket, Sykes uses his speed and handle well to weave around defenders, and he has shown good control, for the most part. He has a good first step to the basket in either direction, and uses a change of speed/hesitation dribble well to keep defenders off-balance and get them playing on their heels. Sykes does a good job keeping his head up when heading to the basket and seeing where the help defenders are, and for the most part, he shows good patience finding open teammates when the help comes to stop him, though he can find himself stuck and will try to force passes. Sykes is solidly built for his size and he doesn’t hesitate to go right at defenders and look to draw contact. He can have some problems with longer defenders at the rim, and her needs to learn to use angles well around the basket or develop a more consistent floater, which will serve him well against pro length. Sykes has shown the ability to make good reads in the pick-and-roll offense, and while patient in making his reads, he should work on making them quicker. If the defender chooses not hedge hard on him, Sykes usually can find the space to create a shot. Sykes is a good passer, throwing crisp balls, usually in a spot where his teammates can make a play. Sykes likes to use screens to attack the basket, whether coming off the screen, or going away from it. His ability to change pace quickly helps him draw a good amount of fouls out on the perimeter, and speed burst coming off of screens is among the best in college. When playing off the ball, Sykes is good at cutting and using screens to create space for his jumper.
Perimeter Shooting
Though his shooting numbers are up and down this year, especially with 7-footer Alec Brown gone, Sykes has shown good ability as a perimeter shooter, long- and mid-range, as well as off the catch or dribble. He does a good job getting square to the basket quickly, has good lift and a fluid motion, and good follow-through. One area Sykes needs to watch for is excess movement in his legs when shooting. When he goes straight up and down, he is often on target, but he can have a tendency to drift on his shot. Sykes has range beyond the college three-point line, and he doesn’t hesitate to get into his motion, though his size can cause him to need extra time and space to get a good look. He uses screens, as well as his ballhandling ability, well to create space, though his shot selection can be a bit spotty. Sykes has also shown that he can hit the mid-range jumper off the dribble, though not as consistently as you would hope, and he needs to watch floating on his shot in the direction of his movement.
Free Throw Shooting
Sykes is an above-average free throw shooter, with good balance, a consistent routine and a good motion and release. Sykes gets to the free throw line about once for every 2 field goal attempts he takes, and he is very good at drawing contact in both shooting and non-shooting situations. He wants the ball down the stretch of close games, knowing he will get fouled and need to hit his free throws.
Defense
Perimeter Defense (On/Off Ball)
Sykes is a good on-ball defender, maintaining good position, staying low in a defensive stance, and showing good lateral movement, even over long distances. His reaction time is good, especially to changes in directions, and though he doesn’t make many chances, he keeps his hands active, looking for good opportunities to poke at the ball. Sykes needs to work on getting over screens; he can find himself getting sucked into a screen, forcing a switch. Also, he has to watch about going under screens if he is guarding a good perimeter shooter. Sykes handles himself well defensing in isolation, though the physical ability of bigger guards can be too much for him to handle solo. Sykes does look to close on perimeter shooters, and his quick movement out to the perimeter can be enough to at least alter a shot. Off the ball, Sykes positions himself well and he has the speed and movement to get into help position quickly in the post or on penetration. He does a good job playing passing lanes, and his ability to read the court and get a quick jump on long passes leads to some easy steals.
Rebounding
Sykes may not have ideal size, even for a point guard, but he rebounds as well as many other college point guards. He tracks shots well and gets to the ball quickly, often using his size to his advantage to slip easily around other players. Sykes is also a very good, and quick, leaper, sometimes letting him get to missed shots before taller players. Once he grabs a rebound he can start the team in transition, moving the ball quickly up the floor. Sykes isn’t as much of a factor on the offensive boards, but he can get to long rebounds quickly if in the area.
Transition
Sykes is very good about pushing the ball quickly up court, with good vision and control, weaving through defenders who aren’t as quick. He uses a hesitation/stutter step to draw defenders in the lane off-balance; his ability to go left or right also makes defenders indecisive, and uses a speed burst to get to the basket. Sykes sees the floor well and finds teammates ahead of him or on the wings, if he doesn’t see his own path to the basket. Sykes is also capable of getting out on one of the wings on the break, and he has the ability to knock down the spot-up jumper or take the ball off the dribble to the basket.
Intangibles/Summary
Last year’s Horizon Conference Player of the Year, Sykes has continued to impress with his ability on both ends of the floor. He is a capable scorer from anywhere on the floor, and his ability to get into the lane and draw defenders opens up the floor for his teammates. Sykes has the ability to shoot well from the perimeter, but his shot selection needs some work, and his ability to create space makes it tough for defenders to guard him in isolation. Defensively, he uses his size and speed well to his advantage, and though not the type to take chances on defense, he does a solid job containing players on the perimeter. Sykes is a tremendous athlete, and his leaping ability has led to some highlight dunks over the years. He is at his best in the open the floor, where his speed makes it tough for defenders to stop him, and the attention he gets leads to easy baskets for teammates. Sykes has been a proven leader for the Phoenix over the past couple of years, and even on days when his shots aren’t falling, he contributes in so many other areas that he more than makes up for it.
Draft Value: Late 2nd Round – #45-55
Sykes has the potential to be a good back-up point guard in the league, and though there will be concerns about his size, especially defending bigger point guards, he isn’t the type to back down from a challenge. His strengths will come out more in short bursts off the bench where he can bring up the energy level and create some value on the offensive end. Sykes may not be a player who can contribute immediately, but he should get a chance to show what he can do.
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