Zags: NBA Scouts on Hawkins, Jackson and Clingan

[Hugo]

This, none of them should leave. Clingan won’t I am sure just a gut feeling he knows he needs to get better and play more minutes next year at least. Hawkins doesn’t finish well enough for sure but he’s ready coming off screens shooting it. Still needs to refine the handle it’s a ways away. AJ just can’t shoot and he also needs to finish better. Start trying to get to the hole and dunk actually. That floater isn’t making an NBA scout drool. Sanogo continues to struggle versus long guys and his jumpers is a set shot that takes too long to prep for. He can make oodles of cash overseas though at least doubt we get another year from him.

All good players lucky to have them. If most stay next year the only people who won’t be happy will be the rest of college basketball. And maybe a couple kids coming in who expect to log more minutes.

Great recap, especially on Hawkins. Potential is there, but as you mention he still needs to refine his handle and IMO finishing in the paint.

 

[nomar]

How on earth will Sanogo be back next year? Every game starts with announcers saying “one of the best players in the country”. Regardless of any perceived flaw in his game I just don’t see it.

Being one of the best players in college basketball doesn't make him one of the best NBA prospects -- especially in the case of traditional bigs. Which is why Sanogo has learned to step out, etc.

The list is a mile long. Jahlil Okafor destroyed people at Duke.

 

[August_West]

Because college basketball big men who aren't good NBA prospects stay in college now. Zach Edey, Hunter Dickinson, Drew Timme, Armando Bacot, Oscar Tshiebwe was the national player of the year last year and he returned. NBA doesn't have much interest in players like Sanogo and with NIL opportunities in college now it makes a lot more sense for players to stay, it doesn't mean he'll stay though.

All 100% true. But we will have a conundrum because DC is expecting ( and warrants ) big minutes next year. The plan is Adama gone next year. I’d welcome him back obviously, but that brings a different set of issues. All those other guys you mentioned don’t have Clingan waiting in wings.

A 1st world issue.

 

[Kenny11]

Great recap, especially on Hawkins. Potential is there, but as you mention he still needs to refine his handle and IMO finishing in the paint.

Right but NBA guys will tell him the same things except that he can refine his game better in the NBA than in college. They generally think that college isn’t very good for player development. I think it all depends on the program and of course the kid

 

[dingaling]

It seems like we have a perfect mix of great college players each with their own flaws that will stop them from leaving us too early.

 

[caw]

I wouldn't do this for looking at regular stats, but if I were an NBA scout I probably would exclude two games from Hawkins if I was trying to get a good picture of his actual game.

The first being the game he got a concussion and the second being the game he got foul trouble (though I would look at it to see why he got four fouls).

That puts him at:

18.2 PPG on 43.1 FG%, 44.7 3P% (9.4 attempts per game).

I know that makes him look better but really in games he has fully played, he has produced.

Long way to go, but his early returns are much higher than his stat sheet shows IMO.