Alex Poythress, Senior, Kentucky, Forward, 6’8, 238
(2014-15, 20.3 mpg, 8 games) 5.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 0.5 spg, 1.0 tpg, 1.5 bpg
38.1 FG%, 85.7 FT%, 0.0 3FG% (0-7), 45.2 TS%, 38.1 eFG%
18.3 USG%, 9.4 OREB%, 12.0 DREB%, 10.8 TRB%, 7.9 BLK%
DOB: 9/6/1993 (21)
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Through the preseason trip to the Bahamas and the first 8 games of last season, Poythress finally seemed comfortable in a role he could thrive in for the Wildcats before an ACL tear ended his season in early December. Now with a whole new set of teammates, he’ll try to find that role again. Poythress is athletic with a pro’s body, and he has shown some skill in some key areas. He uses his athleticism well to crash the offensive boards and he does a good job heading to the rim when his defender has to help off him on penetration. Poythress is a quick leaper and can finish above the rim in spectacular ways. He runs the floor well in transition and does a good job heading straight to basket for an easy dunk or offensive rebound chance. On defense, Poythress continued to show improvement, giving John Calipari a versatile defender capable of guarding multiple positions. He positions himself well on and off the ball, and he has improved his lateral movement and how he handles getting through screens. Poythress can also help defend around the rim, using his leaping ability well to block shots, especially as a help defender or getting back in transition.
What he needs to show this season: Poythress’ development, especially on offense, has been in a holding pattern since his freshman season, but at least he seemed to find a role he could excel in. His limited time last season may have hidden any further developments he may have made, but chances are his role would have stayed the same given the talent around him. He continues to be hesitant to take long-range shots, even when open, and while his jumper needs a little work, he has a good foundation to build on. Once he hesitates and still chooses to shoot, his motion can become disjointed, causing some bad misses. With his body and athletic ability, he should be able to take the ball to the rim off the dribble, but his ballhandling can best be described as mediocre, though over very short distances he seems to have decent control. Poythress’ biggest issue continues to be a good understanding and feel for the game, which Calipari does a good job hiding by keeping him in a defined role. Defensively, Poythress can have some poor lapses, especially off the ball where he can have a tendency to wander and get turned around following the ball and not his man. I still think Poythress has untapped potential, but his limited role isn’t going to help him in many areas.
Where he fits at the next level: Poythress has a the strength and athleticism to play at the NBA level, and his ability to crash the boards, run the floor, and play some good defense, gives him a chance to be a decent role player at the next level. But as I mentioned, if he doesn’t get a better understanding of the game soon, it will be tough for any coach to keep him on the floor in the NBA. Still, if he shows some improvement this year, his raw ability makes him a player worth giving a shot, and if he can somehow get his offense going, he may have a bright future yet.
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