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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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Feb 6, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies forward Marquese Chriss (0) shoots over Arizona Wildcats center Kaleb Tarczewski (35) during the second half at Alaska Airlines Arena. Arizona won 77-72. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 6, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies forward Marquese Chriss (0) shoots over Arizona Wildcats center Kaleb Tarczewski (35) during the second half at Alaska Airlines Arena. Arizona won 77-72. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports /

23. Marquese Chriss, Washington Huskies

Position: Power Forward

Age: 18 (7/2/1997)

Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’8.75″, 225 pounds, 7’1″ wingspan

Slash Line: .531/.350/.685

Season Averages: 24.9 MPG, 13.8 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 2.5 ORPG, 1.6 BPG, 0.9 SPG, 0.6 3PM

Key Strengths

  • Explosiveness. Lateral quickness, leaping ability, and straight-line speed are all top-tier.
  • Offensive rebounding. Great second jump. Positions himself well along the offensive interior.
  • Spacing the floor. Made 21 3-point field goals as a freshman.
  • Shot-blocking. More than just an explosive leaper. Instincts. Makes an impact from the help-side.
  • Defensive potential. Can switch on pick-and-rolls. May be able to defend small forwards over time.

Key Weaknesses

  • Must bulk up. Explosive enough to make an impact, but thin enough to be overwhelmed.
  • Defensive rebounding. Too easily boxed out. Relatively short standing reach.
  • Can shoot, but struggles to create his own offense.
  • Upside exists, but he’s inconsistent defensively.

Analysis

Washington Huskies freshman Marquese Chriss is a prototypical 3-and-D big man. Like many of the power forwards in the modern era, Chriss is a 3-point shooter who can block shots, run the floor, and play above the rim.

Chriss is higher on the average draft board than may be appropriate for his present-day abilities, but his upside is both complicated and intriguing.

Chriss only recently began to play basketball at a competitive level, which makes his development all the more enticing. He’s already an instinctive shot-blocker who can space the floor with the 3-point field goal, and he’s one of the most explosive players in this draft class.

There’s no telling whether or not he’ll be successful at the next level, but his upside has captivated those in NBA Draft circles.

Next: Franchise Player or Draft Bust?

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