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ESPN- NBA draft analyst and writer
Joined ESPN.com in July 2017
Founder and co-owner of DraftExpress.com, a private scouting and analytics service used by NBA, NCAA and international teams
What are the big developments in the 2021 NBA draft class?
The college season is pushing full steam ahead -- we've passed the halfway mark, after two action-packed months of competition. What have we learned thus far from some of the biggest standouts of the season? Which players are projected to be lottery picks? And what will scouts be looking for as players close out conference play and approach the postseason?
Note: While it's too early to reasonably predict the 2021 NBA draft order, we've used the latest version of ESPN's Basketball Power Index to help give an early look and show traded picks.
Stock watch
Keon Johnson | 6-foot-6 | SG | Tennessee | No. 7 overall prospect
On paper, this hasn't been a banner season thus far for Johnson, with an underwhelming scoring production of 8.9 points per game on middling 52% true shooting and more turnovers than assists. These numbers, partially a product of Tennessee's slow-paced, defensive-minded system, mask the extent to which Johnson's role has evolved and his play has improved over the course of the campaign.
As Tennessee continues to search for an optimal offensive hierarchy with no real point guard on the roster and a slew of inconsistent playmaking and finishing options at its disposal, Johnson has had more opportunity to show off his long-term upside as a shot-creator.
The results have been decidedly mixed but at times highly encouraging, as he has moved into the starting lineup full time now and is flashing real upside as a pick-and-roll creator.
Johnson's ability to accelerate out of changes of speed and use or reject a ball screen -- combined with his size, body control, fluidity and creativity as a passer -- suggest significant room for growth long term. His lack of strength and experience and an inconsistent jumper, along with the ill-fitting pieces around him, make it difficult for him to be as consistent or efficient as you might hope, but the glimpses of talent he drops in every game are obvious.
Johnson's shooting indicators -- 23% for 3 and 66% from the free throw line -- aren't terribly encouraging. But the fact that he is taking and making pull-up jumpers inside the arc -- and rising up with soft touch and good wrist action -- bodes well for his long-term outlook.
While Johnson continues to add polish and craft to his offensive arsenal, his defense has been good enough to keep him on the court for the Vols, who are ranked third in the country in defensive efficiency according to BPI. He often is tasked with guarding the other team's primary ball handler, something he is more than capable of doing thanks to his outstanding lateral quickness, high activity level, ability to get over screens and propensity for stepping in for charges.
Off a missed shot, Southern Miss grabs an offensive rebound, but Filip Petrusev denies the putback attempt with a big block.
Johnson is on a different trajectory, as he grew up playing baseball, came from a smaller high school basketball program in Nashville and was largely under the radar on a non-sneaker-affiliated AAU team. He missed almost his entire senior year of high school due to a knee injury, so it's understandable that he is still getting his legs underneath him 15 games into the season.
Scouts will want to see Johnson finish strong on a Tennessee team that fluctuates greatly in its play from game to game but that surely has high expectations for a deep run in the NCAA tournament. If Johnson continues to struggle with inconsistency and inefficiency, he could end up being a more realistic option for teams in the late lottery than this current lofty projection suggests.
-- Jonathan Givony
Moses Moody | 6-6 | Wing | Arkansas | No. 12
An 18-year-old Arkansas wing, Moody has the physical tools and shooting potential to solidify himself as a lottery pick -- potentially even in the top 10 -- with a strong close to the conference season. Moody has been feast or famine over the course of the past 10 games, beating up Vanderbilt, Alabama and Georgia for 79 total points yet scoring 6 points or less against Tennessee, Auburn and Mississippi.
Filip Petrusev takes control of the ball and doesn't waste much time as he rises up for a big slam vs. Arizona.
Moody's splits are quite telling, as he is averaging 15.5 points on 43.4% from 2 and 34% from 3 in 11 games against teams over .500, as compared to 18.4 points on 66% from 2 and 39% from 3 in seven games against teams under .500. Not the most gifted ball handler and more long and fluid than quick or explosive, Moody's struggles creating efficient offense have been more pronounced against better teams.
But given his likely role at the next level -- where space is plentiful and length and skill are king, as long as Moody proves he can make catch-and-shoot 3s, reads the floor when chased off of his spots and defends multiple positions -- Moody will get legitimate looks throughout the lottery. Freshman wings such as Ziaire Williams (No. 8) and Keon Johnson (No. 7) haven't exactly blown away NBA scouts, opening the door for Moody, with Alabama, LSU, Florida, Missouri and Kentucky still on the schedule. Despite his peaks and valleys, Moody is the only under-19 player in the country averaging at least 15 points per game while shooting over 50% from 2 and 35% from 3.
The intrigue starts with Moody's physical profile. He plays much bigger than 6-foot-6 thanks to his high shoulders, 7-foot-1 wingspan and long strides, comparing physically to wings such as Matisse Thybulle, Mikal Bridges and Kelly Oubre Jr. Like those NBA wings, Moody projects well on the defensive end of the floor thanks to his big reach, as he is excellent at using his length to bother jump-shooters and understands on-ball verticality at the rim. He isn't immune to off-ball lapses and has a tendency to open up and allow straight-line drives, but Moody can sit down defensively, giving himself enough space to contain smaller players and still contest. He has had his struggles against stronger forwards such as LSU's Trendon Watford, but Moody has the type of frame that should fill out without issues, and he clearly projects as a multipositional defender.
Justin Champagnie cannot be contained in the second half as the Pittsburgh forward dunks it three times with authority.
Moody's shooting stroke is his offensive ticket at the next level. While not a knockdown shooter, he is converting 36% of his treys and 80% of his free throws, and he does a great job of catching on the hop in rhythm. He does shoot it a bit flat, at times, but he shows potential on the move, rising into midrange pull-ups or sprinting off screens on occasion. He benefits from playing a fair amount of 4 in the Arkansas system and is able to shift all over the floor, even picking and popping or playing at the high post against zones. He doesn't change directions all that well with the ball and is mostly a straight-line driver once he puts it down, too often killing his dribble. Not the most gifted passer or nuanced finisher, Moody is at least capable of making one more pass or simple drive and kicks, which is something scouts will want to see him build on moving forward.
Moody's overall aggressiveness has fluctuated, at times, this season, and scouts will be watching to see if he can produce efficiently against the SEC's top-tier programs while lifting the 13-5 Razorbacks into the NCAA tournament. If he does make open shots, defend and impact winning, don't be surprised to see Moody get more top-10 buzz as we head into March.
-- Mike Schmitz
Josh Giddey | 6-8 | PG | Adelaide 36ers | No. 21
Giddey's season in Australia didn't start until mid-January, but the 18-year-old has made up for lost time with two near triple-doubles -- posting 16 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists against South East Melbourne and 13/10/8 versus the New Zealand Breakers.
Austin Reaves' 3 is off the mark, but Alondes Williams grabs the offensive rebound and dishes to Brady Manek for Oklahoma's game-clinching bucket.
One of the youngest prospects in our Top 100, not turning 19 until October, Giddey has struggled, at times, with turnovers and scoring efficiency (44% true shooting) but has shown the full extent of his talent already as a big playmaker, making some electrifying reads creating offense out of pick-and-rolls.
At 6-foot-8, Giddey has outstanding size for a point guard, plays at different speeds naturally and is an extraordinary ball handler and passer to match -- as he has looked extremely natural making the transition from the junior level to playing against pros thanks to his impressive vision, creativity, pace and feel for the game.
Giddey needs to continue to show he can punish defenses for going under ball screens to convince teams he should be viewed as a primary ballhandling option at the NBA level -- something that could boost his stock even higher as the season moves on. When dared, he stepped into and drained two pull-up set shot 3-pointers against New Zealand last week; but he has otherwise really struggled with his outside shot thus far, hitting just 15% of his 3s and 59% of his free throws through five games.
Austin Reaves pulls up from way downtown and connects on the deep 3-pointer to extend Oklahoma's lead over TCU in the final minute.
This is clearly Giddey's swing skill, as he isn't the most physical finisher around the basket and has had his fair share of struggles defensively due to his narrow frame, average length and inability to get over screens. On the plus side, he is highly skilled getting in passing lanes and especially crashing the glass, as he is averaging nearly eight rebounds per game, which is impressive considering his age and speaks to the outstanding instincts he displays on both ends of the floor.
Giddey has an outstanding platform to continue to build his résumé, as he has quickly moved himself into the starting lineup ahead of former NBA player Donald Sloan and will be facing high-level competition all season against defenses geared to slowing him down. With the NBL season expected to last into June, Giddey will be making highlight-reel passes well after the end of the college season, giving him ample opportunity to continue to boost his stock.
-- Jonathan Givony
Davion Mitchell | 6-2 | PG | Baylor | No. 29
The 22-year-old Mitchell has emerged as a legitimate first-round candidate with his play as a key cog in the NCAA's best backcourt, alongside fellow draft prospect Jared Butler.
Since debuting with Baylor last season, the former Auburn transfer has been one of the best on-ball defenders in college basketball, displaying elite quickness, a sturdy frame, tremendous technique, quick hands and a high motor. Standing no taller than 6-foot-2 in shoes, Mitchell ranks second in the Big 12 in defensive win shares and fifth in steals per 40 minutes, and he forces turnovers on over 30% of his defensive possessions, according to Synergy, thanks to his outstanding anticipation, awareness and energy levels. He knows how to navigate screens and takes on-ball charges as well as any guard you'll see at any level of basketball. He is the driving force in a Baylor defense that is top-3 ranked.
While his defensive prowess is a huge part of Mitchell's intrigue at the next level, he has taken a big step offensively for 16-0 Baylor, boosting his shooting rate on 2-pointers from 46.7% to 58.0%; his 3-point rate from 32.4% to a conference-best 47.2%; and his assist-to-turnover ratio from 1.7:1 to 2.11:1. Given Baylor's success, Mitchell's stellar on-ball defense and his improved offensive game, it's easy for NBA teams to see him carving out a role at the next level, should he opt to forgo his senior season.
With an average of 45 points per game coming from Mitchell, Butler and MaCio Teague, Mitchell is used to thriving in the type of multiple-guard lineups we so often see in the NBA. He plays an unselfish brand of basketball and has greatly improved his spot-up shooting, showcasing good balance and a clean release. Mitchell also is dynamic with the ball in his hands, exploding into sudden bursts of speed, with the ability to go from slow and relaxed to downhill to the rim with force and quickness -- and even finishing above the rim on occasion.
Mitchell uses a lot of the crossovers, step-backs and pull-back moves that you'll see from another No. 45 named Mitchell -- Donovan Mitchell -- also sporting somewhat similar pull-up jumper mechanics. Davion Mitchell doesn't project as a lottery pick, have a near 7-foot wingspan or share the NBA outlook of Donovan Mitchell, but by watching him play, it's clear the Jazz star has been a strong influence for the Baylor guard. The Georgia native unleashes that Donovan Mitchell-like footwork both to get to his pull-up or get downhill to the rim, either kicking out to open shooters, dropping it off to the big or finishing himself.
Not blessed with elite size or length, Davion Mitchell could stand to add more of a consistent floater (2-for-7 so far) and still has his decision-making blips in the half court (seven turnovers against Kansas). But the game is starting to slow down for Mitchell. He leads the conference in assists and ranks in the 87th percentile in pick-and-roll efficiency through 16 games, as he is learning how to keep defenders on his back and to hit the roller in stride or the shooter circling up.
Even if Mitchell's offensive progress and shooting were to reverse course as conference play winds down, he still has his defensive toughness to hang his hat on, like we've seen from NBA guards such as Patrick Beverley, T.J. McConnell and Jevon Carter, among others. If Mitchell continues shooting it like he has and Baylor makes a deep run into March, expect him to generate considerable buzz among playoff contenders drafting in the first round, projecting as more than just a defensive stopper.
-- Mike Schmitz
Filip Petrusev | 7-0 | PF/C | Mega Bemax (Gonzaga) | No. 31
After winning WCC player of the year as a sophomore, Filip Petrusev surprised many by leaving a national championship contender in Gonzaga to return home to Serbia. Thus far, the move hasn't been too much of a setback for the undefeated Zags, ranked No. 1 in the country and thriving with more small-ball lineups. It also has been a major boon for Petrusev, who is having an incredible season so far, averaging 24 points per game on sparkling efficiency (63% 2P%, 41% 3P%, 77% FT%) as a 20-year old in the competitive Adriatic League for Mega Soccerbet. His team is having an excellent season at 11-6 and is in contention for a top-4 finish that would lead them to the league playoffs for just the second time in the organization's history.
The fact that Petrusev can put the ball in the basket was well known even prior to him returning to Belgrade, as it's what he had done at every level he's played at in his career. He's showing growth in several important facets, though, namely his outside shooting, where he's converting more than one 3-pointer per game on strong accuracy while knocking down nearly 80% of his free throw attempts. Playing for a team designed to show off NBA prospects, Petrusev has a longer leash in Serbia than he did at Gonzaga, and he's using it to demonstrate significantly more aggressiveness this season, showing zero hesitation to fire away when open and pushing off the defensive glass after rebounding misses.
While his jumper has improved, playing out of short rolls is where Petrusev is at his best. He has phenomenal footwork and dexterity slithering his way around opponents with fluid spin moves, can finish with either hand using delicate touch, and has a variety of finishing tactics at his disposal, be it push shots, flip shots, scoops, floaters or reverse layups. The fact that he's improved his passing ability somewhat is a major plus here as well.
Petrusev's skill level in the post may be the highest of any player in this draft class not named Luka Garza, but he can also create shots from all over the floor thanks to his strong ballhandling ability and much improved physicality and toughness. He's simply too nimble for slower-footed big men and too strong for most power forwards, especially with his newfound aggressiveness.
Petrusev's propensity for passivity and shying away from contact was considered one of his downfalls earlier in his career, but that hasn't been the case whatsoever so far this season. He's been going right into the chest of seasoned internationals, including quality Americans who ply their trade in the Euroleague, EuroCup and FIBA Champions League, not being held under 21 points in a game for over three months now. His body has continued to evolve steadily over the past few years, and his athleticism looks much improved too, as he regularly plays above the rim, looking quicker off his feet than in the past.
Petrusev's defense has long been the big question mark for NBA scouts. While he's shown improvement here as well, it remains an open topic for conversation. He's not the type of rim protector NBA teams most covet at the center position, and he struggles covering ground and containing more perimeter-oriented power forwards. His team plays a very passive drop coverage guarding pick-and-rolls that allows him to use his solid awareness and timing to protect himself from getting exposed too often with smart rotations and verticality around the rim. Stronger, more physical centers have found success by bullying him under the rim for post finishes and offensive rebounds, though, while quicker guards can expose his lack of length and casual demeanor. As was often the case at Gonzaga, his defensive rebounding has been somewhat of a mixed bag as well.
Petrusev's outstanding play means he's someone NBA teams will likely need to think about as a potential first round pick. Two-big men lineups seem to be back in style in the NBA to an extent, so the fact that he can play both the power forward and center positions should be viewed as a plus. Petrusev's age, not turning 21 until April and being younger or of similar age as several sophomores currently projected to be drafted, is also something that will work in his favor.
-- Jonathan Givony
Justin Champagnie | 6-6 | SF/PF | Pittsburgh | No. 36
Originally slated to attend a prep school with his twin brother, Julian Champagnie (now at St. John's) as a young high school senior, Justin Champagnie earned a late offer from the new coaching staff at Pitt that caused him to change his mind and head to college with his graduating class.
Now in his second season in the ACC but still younger than some freshmen currently projected to be drafted, Champagnie is in the midst of an incredibly productive season that makes him an ACC player of the year candidate.
A soft nonconference schedule combined with a knee injury that caused him to miss a month of action delayed Champagnie's arrival on the national landscape. However, the past five games in the ACC left little doubt about his quality at the college level, averaging 23 points, 12 rebounds, 2 steals and 2.2 blocks per game while shooting 59% for 2 and 57% for 3. Pitt has plenty of work to do to earn a NCAA tournament berth, but Champagnie is getting plenty of attention as a NBA prospect now, especially after his 31-point, 14-rebound outing against Duke.
Champagnie sees most of his minutes at the power forward position, despite standing only 6-foot-6, thanks to his strong frame, solid length and no-nonsense style of play. His toughness, instincts and aggressiveness have allowed him to lead the ACC in rebounding by a wide margin despite his lack of size; and the fact that he has evolved into a 40% 3-point shooter gives Pitt much-needed spacing on the offensive end.
Champagnie has excellent shooting mechanics, with a quick release, deep range and plenty of confidence that suggest his recent shooting hot streak will continue despite hitting just 66% of his free throw attempts thus far this season.
He is very reliant on teammates to generate good looks for him, as Champagnie is an average ball-handler and creator who almost never shoots off the dribble and sees most of his one-on-one touches in the post with his back to the basket despite his lack of size. That's one of the main questions scouts will ponder as he projects to become more of a wing in the NBA, as he isn't much of a passer, either.
The other question revolves around his defense but isn't quite as clear-cut. Champagnie brings terrific value with his defensive rebounding and the skills he displays getting in passing lanes and protecting the rim. With that said, his intensity level and technique leave a lot to be desired, at times, as he can be very casual off the ball, gambling for steals excessively and getting scored on by bigger and smaller players more than you'd like.
You won't find many 19-year-olds who are as productive as Champagnie has been in the ACC, which makes him a very real prospect when paired with his scorching shooting. The rest of the season will tell us a lot more about where he fits into this draft, if he decides to keep his name in, but there's no doubt he has put himself on the radar in a major way with his recent play.
-- Jonathan Givony
Bones Hyland | 6-3 | Combo guard | VCU | No. 38
After a slow start to nonconference play with subpar performances against West Virginia (5-for-16), Memphis (4-for-12) and Penn State (4-for-14), Hyland has hit his stride in conference play by averaging 21.8 points and shooting 42% from 3 over his past 5 games. The lanky 6-3 combo guard has the shooting touch, length, scoring ability and glimpses of playmaking worthy of entering the first-round conversation should he close out Atlantic 10 play strong, getting VCU into the NCAA tournament in the process.
Hyland's high school career was beset by tragedy, as he was among the victims of a house fire in March 2018 that took the lives of his grandmother and cousin. Hyland suffered a torn patellar tendon after jumping from a second-story window in search of safety; he subsequently missed a large part of his junior season and AAU summer play before ultimately landing at VCU as the RSCI No. 160 recruit in his class.
Having recovered from the knee injury, Hyland became a popular breakout candidate heading into his sophomore season at VCU. He has backed that up as of late with his deep range, smooth handle and instincts in the passing lanes. Hyland's NBA intrigue revolves largely around his shooting ability: Although he doesn't have the quickest or highest release, Hyland is a threat from the moment he crosses half court, and he isn't afraid to pull up from 35 feet early in the shot clock. Hyland has great touch from all over the floor and is one of only two players in our top 100 (along with projected lottery pick Corey Kispert) knocking down over 3 treys per game at over 35%.
Hyland isn't just a standstill shooter, either, as he is more than capable of shooting off of hang dribbles and creating space with step-backs and crossovers. Because of his somewhat low release, he does lose some accuracy against longer defenders in shot-creation situations, but his deep range helps that. Because opponents have to pick him up well beyond the 3-point line, Hyland -- although not a jet with the ball -- is able to play off of hesitations to get past the first level of defense. He still has quite a bit of room to improve as a finisher once he gets a piece of the paint, however. He is all arms and legs and is still at an early stage of development, so he does struggle a bit with physicality and length at the rim, as he is more long and fluid than explosive. That 6-foot-8 wingspan does help him finish from different angles, though, as he'll try to employ inside hand and scoop finishes in traffic.
What could really take Hyland's game to the next level is continuing to evolve as a decision- maker. He shows glimpses of court vision, firing on-the-money outlets to rim runners, tossing one-handed lobs to the roll man and making occasional advanced reads that you wouldn't expect based on his 0.6:1 assist-to-turnover ratio. Yet, in part due to his role at VCU, Hyland can be a little dribble-happy on the perimeter, breaking off into isolation and settling for tough pull-ups. He also isn't shy from deep range and will have to rein in some of his early-clock 3s when surrounded by NBA talent.
In addition to his spotty playmaking, the biggest thing holding Hyland back at the moment is his body, as he is extremely slight at 175 pounds despite high shoulders and long arms. That lack of strength limits him against more physical guards on the defensive end. With that said, Hyland has excellent instincts off the ball defensively, averaging 2.8 steals per 40 minutes. VCU, which ranks 14th in defensive efficiency, according to KenPom, plays an aggressive style of pick-and-roll defense, which gives Hyland a lot of opportunities to jump passing lanes and make plays with his length.
While Hyland clearly has to improve his decision-making and could solidify himself as a potential top-20 pick in 2022 with another year at the collegiate ranks, the NBA is putting a premium on shooting as much as ever, and the early success of a guard such as Immanuel Quickley has to bode well for Hyland's NBA outlook. With his floor similar to that of Isaiah Joe, who was drafted 49th last year by the Philadelphia 76ers, Hyland's shooting will be coveted by NBA teams, especially those that think he can become more than just a floor-spacer at the next level.
-- Mike Schmitz
Jay Huff | 7-1 | C | Virginia | No. 58
Huff is a unique talent at the collegiate level. He is the only 7-footer in the past 25 years to hit more than 2 3-pointers per game while blocking over 2.5 shots per 40 minutes, pace adjusted -- something he is doing comfortably for a Virginia team that is in first place in the ACC at 7-1.
After going 3-for-3 from behind the arc in his most recent game, Huff is working on one of the all-time greatest 3-point shooting seasons for a 7-footer in college basketball history, with only Lauri Markkanen's outstanding one-and-done season at Arizona (42%) rivaling him for accuracy among players that tall.
Huff changes the geometry of the floor every time he steps on the court for Virginia with his shooting -- forcing opponents to closely account for his floor-spacing ability, something from which his teammates greatly benefit. He isn't only near automatic with his feet set, he also is capable of running off screens, attacking closeouts and even hitting pull-up jumpers on occasion. He handles and passes the ball skillfully with either hand and also is a solid target finishing out of the pick-and-roll because he can dunk almost without jumping due to his huge reach. He ranks second in the NCAA in made dunks with 32 in just 338 minutes.
It's no surprise to see Huff rank eighth among Power 5 conference players in net efficiency, according to EvanMiya.com. That net efficiency also accounts for what he brings defensively. Huff is averaging an outstanding 4.5 blocks per 40 minutes, pace adjusted -- third best among ESPN Top 100 prospects and a major reason Virginia is the No. 1-ranked defense in the ACC. Huff covers ground much more fluidly than you'd expect on first glance, demonstrating outstanding timing and instincts rotating from the weak side, while almost always keeping his blocks in bounds, allowing his teammates to recover the misses.
Considering how much of a game-changer on both ends of the floor Huff is, why is he considered only a potential second-round pick? That's partially due to age, as he is a fifth-year senior and will be turning 24 this summer. But Huff's lack of physicality is his biggest drawback: He is extremely foul-prone and somewhat of a liability guarding stronger post players who can back him down in the paint. Virginia Tech's Keve Aluma had his way with Huff this past weekend, going off for 29 points in Virginia's first loss of the ACC season. Huff doesn't always bring the type of intensity you want to see from a 23-year-old senior; questions about his toughness have always been part of the equation.
Despite being ranked in the top 10 in most computer metrics, there also are questions about the strength of schedule Virginia has played thus far, as the team had only two games against top-45 opponents, per KenPom, and lost both by double digits. NBA teams will surely want to see how Huff looks against the likes of North Carolina, Duke and Louisville, as well as in the NCAA tournament -- where hopefully he'll match up with other NBA center prospects.
That said, considering what we've seen so far, it's safe to say that if Luke Kornet, Meyers Leonard, Mike Muscala, D.J. Wilson and Frank Kaminsky are on NBA rosters, Jay Huff will surely get plenty of looks.
-- Jonathan Givony
Austin Reaves | 6-5 | combo guard | Oklahoma | No. 84
Although currently in COVID-19 protocol, the 22-year-old combo guard has been one of the most productive players in a loaded Big 12 this season, emerging as a potential second-round pick in the process. Reaves is in the conference's top 5 in points (16.0), assists (5.0) and free throw attempts per 40 minutes, while ranking ninth in player efficiency rating and win shares. As the team leader in three major categories, Reaves has Oklahoma at 11-4 and in the hunt for a quality seed in the NCAA tournament.
A former Wichita State Shocker, Reaves has embraced more of an on-ball role at Oklahoma this season, showing his merits as both a shot-maker and facilitator at 6-foot-5. NBA scouts won't be blown away by Reaves' physical tools, given his average frame and subpar run-and-jump capabilities, but his skill, flair and swagger really stand out at the collegiate level and could translate to the NBA in the right role.
While not overly shifty, Reaves is sure-handed with the ball and gets to his spots on the floor thanks to his footwork and deception, similar to great collegiate guards such as Greivis Vasquez and Ty Jerome before him. Reaves is really comfortable in the pick-and-roll, which makes up almost 50% of his offense, playing with great pace, changing speeds naturally and seeing over the top of the defense to hit the roll man or spot-up shooters, even throwing left-handed scoop passes, at times. He is an excellent lob passer and does a nice job of setting up cutters before delivering the ball with accuracy.
For Reaves to unleash his improved pick-and-roll playmaking, he'll have to rediscover the shooting consistency that allowed him to convert 51% from distance as a freshman and 43% as a sophomore at Wichita State. Reaves is shooting a shade under 26% from 3 over the course of the past two seasons, which is perplexing given his sound shooting mechanics, confidence and comfort in getting to pull-ups out of sweeping crossovers, behind-the-backs or hesitations. The fact that he is a career 35% 3-point shooter (403 attempts) and 84% free throw shooter bodes well for his ability to get back on track. Far more comfortable off the bounce than the catch -- having attempted 72 pull-ups to 13 catch-and-shoot jumpers -- Reaves will have to become much more reliable in spot-up situations, as an NBA team is unlikely to simply hand him the ball from Day 1.
Reaves also doesn't have much of a margin for error defensively given his frame and lack of range, even though he does have decent feet in tight spaces and is a competitive rebounder. He will put his body on the line to take charges and is fiery on both ends of the floor, but NBA scouts will surely question who he'll defend at the next level.
Overall, Reaves' passing creativity, shot-making potential and pick-and-roll prowess at his height could make him attractive as a second-unit point guard. Reaves has the type of big-game mentality that could manifest in some clutch performances in March. Once he clears COVID-19 protocol, scouts will be watching closely to see how he fares against one of the best defensive teams in the country in Baylor on Feb. 10.
-- Mike Schmitz
Jonathan Givony is an NBA draft expert and the founder and co-owner of DraftExpress.com, a private scouting and analytics service utilized by NBA, NCAA and international teams.
Mike Schmitz is an NBA draft expert and a contributor to DraftExpress.com, a private scouting and analytics service utilized by NBA, NCAA and international teams.