Scouting Report: Yogi Ferrell

Name: Kevin “Yogi” Ferrell DOB: 5/9/1993 (23) School: Indiana

Height: 6’0 Weight: 180 Projected Position: PG

2015-16 Stats:

17.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 5.6 apg, 1.1 spg, 2.5 tpg, 2.2:1 A/TO (34.7 mpg)

45.8 FG%, 82.9 FT%, 42.0 3FG%, 60.0 TS%, 55.0 eFG%

24.3 USG%, 28.4 AST%, 14.8 TOV%, 1.8 STL%

SKILLS & ATHLETIC BREAKDOWN

Offense

Ballhandling/Penetration/Passing

Ferrell is a very good ballhandler, with the ability to use both hands well, and able to attack the basket, or create space for his shot, in either direction. He has an array of advanced dribbles, including a strong crossover and deceptive change-of-pace dribble, which plays very well when combined with his quick first step and agile footwork. Ferrell doesn’t rely on straight acceleration off his first step, instead showing good body control to maneuver around defenders, and he does a good job keeping his dribble low and close to his body. He is good in isolation, using his speed and ability to change directions quickly to hit open lanes. Ferrell is capable of finishing around the basket with either hand, and though he can have some problems finishing against rim protectors, he can be creative, and doesn’t shy away from contact, and uses his body well to create space around bigger players. He has developed a variety of quick floaters/runners to allow him to get his shot off at different angles to avoid rim protectors, though he needs to work on being consistent with them.

Ferrell is very good as a pick-and-roll ballhandler, with the ability to find, or create, his own shots or set up his teammates, either rolling to the rim or spotting up on the perimeter. He patient with the ball, drawing defenders and waiting for things to develop, and he has improved his ability to progress through his reads quickly. Ferrell can go left or right off the screen or even has the speed to go away from the pick and get to the basket, or get an open jumper. Ferrell has good court vision and knows where his teammates will be. Ferrell does a good job getting low and accelerating off the screen. He makes good decisions, generally, and has gotten much better at getting teammates the ball quickly and in a spot where they can get a quick, open look. While a great passer in pick-and-roll situations, Ferrell also needs the screens if he wants to clear space to get clean looks for his jumper, and though he needs to work on being more consistent in both the mid- and long-range areas to knock down shots off the dribble.

Perimeter Shooting

Ferrell has been very good as a long-range shooter in his college career, hitting 40 percent or more over the last three seasons, with a career-high 42 percent as a senior. He is best as a spot-shooter, with a quick release and nice bounce off the catch, as well as good form and release. Because of his size, Ferrell does need some time and space to get clean looks at his jumper, which he does well with his dribble and screens, but he is also a confident shooter with a hand in his face from a taller defender, helped by his quick, consistent release. Ferrell is not as consistent of a shooter off the dribble, though he does a great job clearing space. The big thing he needs to watch for is not letting his body drift on the dribble jumper, making sure to stop and then go straight up and down. Still, he is a threat to knock down the jumper out of the pick-and-roll, especially in the mid-range area. Ferrell’s shot selection is good, and he has the ability to move well off the ball to get open for his shot, hitting open spots quickly and getting a fast, clean look.

Free Throw Shooting

Ferrell is a very good free throw shooter, hitting 83 percent from the line this past season, and over his four-year career. He does a great job going strong to the basket when he attacks, not shying away from contact, and his near 40 percent free throw rate is impressive when more than 44 percent of his field goal attempts were from three-point range. Ferrell’s ability to hit free throws in clutch situations makes him valuable with the ball in his hands down the stretch of a close game.

More from Hoops Habit

Defense

Perimeter Defense (On/Off Ball)

Defense has been one area where Ferrell has worked hard to improve, and the results were there, as he made the Big Ten All-Defensive Team as a senior. On the ball, Ferrell positions himself well, and shows good lateral movement, even across longer distances. He reacts fairly well to changes in direction, and he had a great understanding of team defense, knowing where the help is on the floor, and making sure to steer his man towards it. Ferrell has some ability to pressure the ball, though while his lateral is good, his defensive foot speed can use some work, and he is better off trying to contain than force the issue. He doesn’t take many chances on the ball, though keeps his hands and feet active, waiting for his man to make a mistake, and then he’ll pressure the ball. Ferrell handled himself very well against opposing offensive players, not letting himself get bullied and doing a good job containing them to the perimeter, though if his man does drive towards the lane on him, Ferrell can be bumped off the play by the bigger man. Ferrell has some trouble as a pick-and-roll defender, and he needs to work on getting over screens instead of going under, as he usually does, or waiting for a switch.

Off the ball, Ferrell positions himself well and again shows very good movement, including getting out and denying passing lanes effectively. He is somewhat active off the ball, moving between help position and his man, though as on the ball, he doesn’t take a lot of chances. Ferrell has great awareness, seeing everything around him well, and he is a fantastic communicator to his teammates on where they should be. He does a good job shadowing his man off the ball, and he navigates through off-ball screens efficiently, though he could work on using angles more effectively to stay with his man. Ferrell will make an effort to close on perimeter shooters, doing what he can to disrupt the shot, though he needs to watch closing too hard and getting beat by a shot fake.

Rebounding

Though just 6-feet tall, Ferrell does what he can on the boards, both following up his own misses or long rebounds on the offensive end, and using his quickness to get involve don the defensive end. He does a very good job tracking the ball, and anticipates well where misses are going to land. Ferrell’s ability to get to defensive rebounds also allows him to get the team into their transition offense quickly.

Transition

Ferrell can be very good in transition, pushing the ball quickly up the floor, and using his speed and craftiness to create open looks for himself and others. He does a very good job with spacing the floor, and while he will show his speed, he also uses some great change-of-pace dribbles to get defenders off-balance. While Ferrell is not a very good shooter off the dribble in the halfcourt, he is much better on the break, especially from long-range where he can really step into his shot. He can have some trouble finishing at the rim, as in the halfcourt, but he is smart enough to go right at defenders to try and draw contact. Ferrell can force some passes, and he can wait a little too long at times to get an open teammate the ball, but, overall, he shows good vision and passing ability.

Intangibles/Summary

Since becoming a key player as a freshman, Ferrell grew into one of college basketball’s top point guards and leaders. His ability to score was on display early in his career, but each passing year showed how good of a distributor he could be, especially in the pick-and-roll. Ferrell is a strong perimeter shooter, hitting over 40 percent from three-point range the last three seasons, though he is much better right now as a spot shooter or shooting the dribble jumper in transition. In the pick-and-roll, Ferrell uses his speed well to come off the screen, going through his reads, and making good decisions. He does a great job drawing defenders, both in pick-and-roll and isolation, and he has the ballhandling ability to get to the basket or hit an open teammate rolling to the rim or spotting up on the perimeter. Though 6-foot tall, Ferrell is solidly built, and he doesn’t mind, and even seeks out, contact at the basket, though, as expected, he can still have some problems shooting over long rim protectors. Because of this, he will need to work on becoming more consistent with short jumpers and floaters around the lane. Ferrell is a threat handling the ball in transition, using his speed and vision well to get easy baskets (Indiana was the top offense in college basketball last season by Offensive Rating, and 6^th best according to KenPom), Ferrell has improved as a defender each season, becoming the Hoosiers’ leader on that end of the floor, as well. Fundamentally, he does everything well, and even his size isn’t a huge hindrance, as he doesn’t let himself get bullied by bigger guards. He does have some problems defending the pick-and-roll, as he tends to rely on switches or going under the screen, which good ballhandlers and shooters can take advantage. As mentioned in the beginning, there is no doubt about Ferrell’s leadership skills on the floor, whether getting his team into the offense quickly, coming up with big buckets when needed, or keeping everyone engaged on the defensive end. He has shown improvement in almost all areas over his four seasons, and he has proven to be as coachable player as you’ll find.

Draft Value: Early 2^nd Round – #31-39

Some may point out his size as a detriment, but Ferrell does so many things well, that he accentuates his positives while downplaying his weaker points as he plays. He’s strong, and improving, in the pick-and-roll, can knock down jumpers, and can get into the lane and hit open teammates. Defensively, he still has some work to do, but he is far from weak. Ferrell has the makings of a good back-up point guard; a player who can contribute in a few areas while making sure the team doesn’t miss a beat.

Read my Interview with Yogi Ferrell here.

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