Philadelphia 76ers: 5 options for pick No. 34 in 2019 NBA Draft
By Alec Liebsch
4. Admiral Schofield
In contrast with No. 5, Admiral Schofield has been in the spotlight for two seasons now, pioneering a deep and talented Tennessee Volunteers team.
His body and frame will immediately make scouts salivate. At 6’6″ and 241 pounds, Schofield has the build to hang with almost anyone defensively.
His explosiveness helps him hang offensively too, as he’s always a threat to fly in for lob dunks and transition buckets. But he doesn’t just do so recklessly; he’s an intellectual on the court, and it shows with his timely cuts and good passing.
Not only is Schofield a physical threat, but he also puts his body to use every single play. He finished his four-year career at Tennessee with a rebound rate of 11.9 percent, above-average for a wing. His senior season clip of 10.9 percent was the lowest of any season, due to sharing the floor more with Grant Williams.
Schofield is also a tenacious defender, which was a huge part of Tennessee’s point-preventing success on the whole. He has the frame to hang with most players, and the intensity and I.Q. to make them sweat.
A career 38.7 percent 3-point shooter, Schofield got to 41.8 percent this season, exhibiting improvement and a willingness to work. When he couldn’t shoot off the catch, he took smaller players to the paint, which is a high-level skill that he will have to use more frequently in the NBA.
As long as his shot is falling, Schofield is a good glue guy to have off the bench. He’s versatile, aggressive, and won’t take plays off. Next to stars, that’s the type of player you want.