Shabazz's Draft Profile

[YearoftheHusky]

From last week, so hopefully it wasn't posted already.

http://www.draftexpress.com/article/NBA-Draft-Prospect-of-the-Week-Shabazz-Napier-4381/

Shabazz Napier has established himself as one of the top point guards in college basketball underKevin Ollieat UConn, averaging a robust 16 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists per game for a top-25 ranked team currently 11-2.

Napier's shortcomings as a distributor and unselfish teammate are well documented--Andre Drummond looked mediocre alongside him and Jeremy Lamb in his lone season at UConn--but he's made some strides in this area at the college level under former NBA point guard Kevin Ollie.

One of the most recognizable faces at the college level this season, partially due to how long he's been around for, Napier will look to show NBA decision makers that he can play a role at the next level with another NCAA Tournament run this March.

Playing on college basketball's biggest platforms has given us ample opportunity to evaluate Napier's very distinct strengths and weaknesses as a prospect, which we've done in the following video scouting report courtesy of Mike Schmitz.

 

[UChusky916]

Was already posted.

Definitely a very accurate assessment, especially his weaknesses.

His biggest issue in the league will be his lack of explosion/strength to finish around the basket. He has missed a lot of lay-ups in traffic lately. In the league, everyone is faster and more athletic, will be even tougher for him to finish around the basket. It will limit his offensive game to transition and mid/long range.

 

[upstater]

The kid is an excellent passer.

 

[upstater]

Was already posted.

Definitely a very accurate assessment, especially his weaknesses.

His biggest issue in the league will be his lack of explosion/strength to finish around the basket. He has missed a lot of lay-ups in traffic lately. In the league, everyone is faster and more athletic, will be even tougher for him to finish around the basket. It will limit his offensive game to transition and mid/long range.

So, after many years of making acrobatic layups, you're going to knock him for getting blocked at the end of the Houston game?

I have no doubt he won't get away with it at the next level. Kemba doesn't get away with it either, not many point guards do.

But he is definitely a much better distributor and passer than Draftexpress gives him credit for.

 

[UChusky916]

So, after many years of making acrobatic layups, you're going to knock him for getting blocked at the end of the Houston game?

I have no doubt he won't get away with it at the next level. Kemba doesn't get away with it either, not many point guards do.

But he is definitely a much better distributor and passer than Draftexpress gives him credit for.

It wasn't just the block at the end of the game. He's had trouble finishing at the rim all year when he's not in transition.

I agree that he's a better passer than the video gave him credit for, but the evaluation of his weaknesses was very accurate and real.

 

[upstater]

It wasn't just the block at the end of the game. He's had trouble finishing at the rim all year when he's not in transition.

I agree that he's a better passer than the video gave him credit for, but the evaluation of his weaknesses was very accurate and real.

I think he's a great passer. How can a strength can be turned into a weakness?

 

[WhereistheDove?]

So, after many years of making acrobatic layups, you're going to knock him for getting blocked at the end of the Houston game?

I have no doubt he won't get away with it at the next level. Kemba doesn't get away with it either, not many point guards do.

But he is definitely a much better distributor and passer than Draftexpress gives him credit for.

I think a lot of that view has to do with the situation. Some people are going to knock him for being an offensively-oriented PG who looks for his own shot, but that's what he needs to be for this team. I think he'll be offensively limited at the next level, which should make him focus more on being the distributor. He's definitely capable of being that guy, but that's not what Ollie needs out of him right now.

 

[Inyatkin]

"Andre Drummond looked mediocre alongside him"
What an odd statement. Drummond was 18 and Bazz in his first season as a starter. Everyone acknowledges Drummond has made strides, shouldn't Napier get the same consideration?

 

[HooperScooper]

Was already posted.

Definitely a very accurate assessment, especially his weaknesses.

His biggest issue in the league will be his lack of explosion/strength to finish around the basket. He has missed a lot of lay-ups in traffic lately. In the league, everyone is faster and more athletic, will be even tougher for him to finish around the basket. It will limit his offensive game to transition and mid/long range.

You got that right. I sit courtside near the basket at a lot of NBA games and have sat in the same spot for a few UConn games. The strength, quickness and explosiveness at the NBA level is just ridiculous when compared to college and you really feel it when you sit that close. I remember the first time I saw LeBron James from courtside and wondered how anyone could keep him from getting to the basket if he really wanted to.

 

[James]

"Andre Drummond looked mediocre alongside him"
What an odd statement. Drummond was 18 and Bazz in his first season as a starter. Everyone acknowledges Drummond has made strides, shouldn't Napier get the same consideration?

Scouts know, not that draftexpress guy . there's a reason why 20+ scouts made their way to the Florida game. He needs to bring more energy and consistency to be brought up in the same sentence as walker.

 

[CTBasketball]

Strengths and weaknesses seem in line. He's a better passer than they say his he is though.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Strengths and weaknesses seem in line. He's a better passer than they say his he is though.

But not nearly as good as Marcus Williams, and look where that took him in the NBA. Shabazz needs to improve his passing, not in his ability to make a pass, but to create open looks for teammates by attracting defenders to then make a pass. His shooting is a strength. Footspeed is average. Strength, below average. Rebounding, above average. He'll make the NBA, probably D League initially. Not sure he won't slip to the early 2nd round though. He's got almost no chance to be a star, and that knocks you out of the top half of round one. It's all about upside.

 

[UChusky916]

I think he's a great passer. How can a strength can be turned into a weakness?

I never said his passing was a weakness... ?

 

[Gurleyman]

But not nearly as good as Marcus Williams, and look where that took him in the NBA. Shabazz needs to improve his passing, not in his ability to make a pass, but to create open looks for teammates by attracting defenders to then make a pass. His shooting is a strength. Footspeed is average. Strength, below average. Rebounding, above average. He'll make the NBA, probably D League initially. Not sure he won't slip to the early 2nd round though. He's got almost no chance to be a star, and that knocks you out of the top half of round one. It's all about upside.

MW strangely turned into a chucker in his brief stint in the NBA. His FGA per minute was right there with Kobe. I remember a Nets (or maybe Warriors) beat writer wondering about the false advertising that claimed he was a pass-first point guard when all he does is shoot.

 

[intlzncster]

You got that right. I sit courtside near the basket at a lot of NBA games and have sat in the same spot for a few UConn games. The strength, quickness and explosiveness at the NBA level is just ridiculous when compared to college and you really feel it when you sit that close. I remember the first time I saw LeBron James from courtside and wondered how anyone could keep him from getting to the basket if he really wanted to.

From what I've seen, they don't.

 

[upstater]

I never said his passing was a weakness... ?

Well, you said that draftexpress was right on in examining his weaknesses. They list passing as a weakness.

 

[UChusky916]

Well, you said that draftexpress was right on in examining his weaknesses. They list passing as a weakness.

I think Bazz is prone to turnovers and needs to take care of the ball better. Having said that, he has incredible vision and passing ability.

 

[champs99and04]

The Andre Drummond/Jeremy Lamb thing just detracts credibility from the whole assessment. Bazz averaged six assists a game - in his first year as a starer - playing alongside a grand total of one other starter who could create offense. I'd be willing to bet more than half of Drummond's baskets were assisted by Bazz - it's not like Drummond was Al Jefferson from a skills/refinement standpoint and he would have averaged 20 a game if the guards made a concerted effort to involve him. He was virtually DeAndre Jordan in a more compact game.

And, the "shortcomings as an unselfish teammate" portion of the evaluation really couldn't be more off base. If there's an argument to be made, it's that Bazz is too unselfish. This really reads as something written two years ago.

 

[sledog]

my, my ...

required watching here out

 

[imno1]

The kid is an excellent passer.

And might very well be leading the nation in assists if we had a big that could catch and finish