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NBA Mock Draft 2016: Impact of the NCAA Tournament

By Maxwell Ogden

Apr 1, 2016; Houston , TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard Buddy Hield (24) during practice day prior to the 2016 NCAA Men
Apr 1, 2016; Houston , TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard Buddy Hield (24) during practice day prior to the 2016 NCAA Men /
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Mar 24, 2016; Louisville, KY, USA; Maryland Terrapins center Diamond Stone (33) drives to the basket agsint Kansas Jayhawks forward Landen Lucas (33) during the first half in a semifinal game in the South regional of the NCAA Tournament at KFC YUM!. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 24, 2016; Louisville, KY, USA; Maryland Terrapins center Diamond Stone (33) drives to the basket agsint Kansas Jayhawks forward Landen Lucas (33) during the first half in a semifinal game in the South regional of the NCAA Tournament at KFC YUM!. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports /

20. Diamond Stone, Maryland Terrapins

Position: Center

Age: 19 (2/10/1997)

Height, Weight, Wingspan: 7’0″, 255 pounds, 7’3″

Slash Line: .568/.000/.750

Season Averages: 22.8 MPG, 12.4 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 2.2 ORPG, 1.6 BPG

Key Strengths

  • Physical profile. Size, power, length, and a 9’1″ standing reach.
  • Offensive rebounding. Has the body, agility, and standing reach to continue producing in the NBA.
  • Transition offense. He’s not DeAndre Jordan, but he runs the floor well enough to score as a trailer.
  • Shot-blocking. Uses size and length to disrupt shots at the rim.
  • Power finishes from the post.

Key Weaknesses

  • Defensive versatility. Struggles to defend face-up bigs. Can’t switch on pick-and-rolls.
  • Defensive rebounding. Poor rotations make him late to boxing out.
  • Very limited range as a shooter.

Analysis

If this were a different time, Diamond Stone would be widely regarded as one of the Top 15 prospects in the NBA Draft. Due to the way centers are expected to play in the modern era, however, Stone’s interior-oriented attack has become somewhat polarizing.

Stone isn’t necessarily a project player, but it’s absolutely vital that he lands with a team that’s willing to take the time to develop him as what he is.

There’s no question that Stone can make an impact, but he’s nowhere near as polished as Jahlil Okafor was a season ago. Thus, it’s entirely possible that he slides out of the Top 20 on the night of the 2016 NBA Draft as teams avoid the process of grooming a traditional center.

If the right team drafts Stone and commits to that process, however, it could have an impact player on its hands.

Next: Foundation for Modern Success

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