With the 2016 NBA Draft not too far away, here’s a look at Henry Ellenson’s scouting report.
Big men who have an inside-outside game and rebound the ball well are becoming more common in today’s NBA. The market is still relatively thin, but more centers and power forwards are learning how to shoot while still possessing a go-to move or two around the basket.
That description fits Henry Ellenson perfectly, as his offensive game is tailor-made for any team looking to spread the floor with enough shooters to utilize versatile pick-and-roll post players.
Ellenson is a 6’10” forward who already has the size and strength to play at the next level. He doesn’t get bullied around the basket and is physical going after rebounds and putbacks.
During his time at Marquette he averaged 17.0 points on 44.6 percent shooting from the field and 9.7 rebounds per game, all great numbers for a freshman.
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He has a nice hook shot in the post and has the touch to hit the occasional floater or turnaround in the lane. While he’s not the best at driving to the basket off the dribble (loose handle at times), he’s a great option to spot-up in the midrange and knock down an easy jump shot.
Ellenson shot 42.7 percent on midrange jumpers per Hoop-Math.com. The team who drafts him will look to take advantage of his range and use him in the pick-and-pop game.
But he’s not limited to just spotting up from outside. Ellenson is a good finisher inside, so having him roll isn’t a bad option either. A lot of modern NBA offenses are built around a spread pick-and-roll so having someone who can either spread the floor or step in and screen for the ball handler allows for flexibility when the play breaks down.
Where he’ll look to develop more on offense is extending his shot to the three-point line (only shot 28.8 percent from the college line) and making plays for others. Ellenson averaged 1.8 assists per game in college but was prone to making a poor decision in some situations and coughing the ball up on a bad pass.
He doesn’t lack the court vision and awareness to act as a better assist man from the high post, but it’ll take time for him to adjust to a more pro-style system. The ball movement and overall tempo is much quicker in the NBA, so Ellenson will have to learn to read defenses quicker and make the right play.
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Defensively and on the boards Ellenson gives a lot of effort and is tough to deal with. He’s a better athlete than some give him credit for, and he fights with his big body. Ellenson’s physicality can wear out smaller players and his footwork in terms of boxing out comes in handy when trying to maneuver around centers with greater size than him.
He’s not an above-the-rim athlete, but he knows how to position himself for rebounds like Kevin Love. And seeing as though he blocked 1.5 shots per game for the Golden Eagles, he’s better than average at protecting the rim.
Adjusting to having to guard the pick-and-roll and read the switches for the majority of the game will come to Ellenson in time. The quicker he’s able to pick up the pro game, the higher his ceiling is early in his career.
Ellenson is a fine prospect and is worth consideration near the top of the draft. There’s no reason why he can’t extend his range and act as a good option spreading the floor, and he has the necessary size and athleticism to earn quality minutes from the start.
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As long as he takes the time to study other offenses and gives great effort he’ll have a productive rookie year. Any team that needs a better option at power forward will give him a serious look come June.