Returning Prospects to Monitor

A lone basketball rests on the polished court floor of an empty gym, with rows of silent bleachers waiting for the next game.

Returning NBA Prospects Intel

Yesterday morning, we were treated to a competitive opening day game in Rome featuring Notre Dame vs. Villanova. I shared my impression of the prospects I monitored during that game. Below, I will share intel of the returning prospects I’ll be evaluating during this evening’s slate of games. 

Disclaimer, incoming freshmen are not included but they are being evaluated as well. All incoming freshmen will be incorporated into the prospect rankings when their grades are calculated. Be patient and all of the headliners like Tyran Stokes, Jordan Smith, Caleb Holt, Bruce Branch, etc. are coming in due time. 

Miami vs. Florida

Rank	Prospect	Grade	Ceiling Grade	Grade Sum
41	Shelton Henderson	4.7	6.0	10.7

Strengths: Explosive/athletic, Powerful/strong, Hustle/effort, Ability to play through contact, Finishes through contact, Transition threat, Offensive footwork, Hang time/elevation, Recovery ability, Anticipation/active hands, Seeks contact/draws fouls, Rebounding activity, Defensive versatility

Areas of Growth: Closeout consistency, Shooting efficiency, Off-ball defensive awareness, Touch near the rim, Ball handling, Self-creation, Defensive discipline

Rank	Prospect	Grade	Ceiling Grade	Grade Sum
130	Somto Cyril	4.2	5.3	9.5

Strengths: Strength/physicality, Aggressive pursuit of the ball, Defensive stance, Rim protection, Screen and roll ability, Transition threat, Boxout strength, Offensive rebounding presence, Above the rim ability, Powerful finisher, Active hands, Athletic/explosive, Intensity/physicality, Defensive versatility, Communication

Areas of Growth: Ball handling/control/security, Screen angle/positioning, Defensive positioning, Undersized center, Boxout consistency, Defensive discipline, Self-creation, Closeout speed, Defensive technique consistency, Defensive reactions, Foul trouble, Touch around the rim, Composure, Endurance/fatigue

Rank	Prospect	Grade	Ceiling Grade	Grade Sum
2	Thomas Haugh	5.6	6.6	12.2

Strengths: Constant activity/movement, Hustle/energy, Offensive footwork, Rebounding activity/presence, Lateral agility, Transition threat, Strength physicality, Shooting confidence/volume, Contest ability, Decisiveness, Defensive footwork/technique, Long striding ability, Active defensive hands, Defensive versatility

Areas of Growth: Perimeter self-creation, Shooting efficiency, Ball handling, Shooting off the dribble, Defensive discipline, Screen negotiation, Perimeter defense against quick ball handlers. 

Rank	Prospect	Grade	Ceiling Grade	Grade Sum
5	Alex Condon	5.7	6.3	12.0

Summary: Condon presents as a physical post player providing endless energy and effort on both ends of the floor. Condon is very competitive and remains raw in his ball-handling, shooting, and creation skills. His offensive contributions are limited to creating second chance opportunities on the offensive glass, setting screens, and running hard to create advantages in transition. Regardless of his offensive limitations, he impacts the game with his energy, awareness, and endless pursuit. Condon invites contact creating advantages for rebounds and maintains his leverage and physicality to hold his ground on the block. He maintains high effort while guarding on the perimeter offering variable screen coverage. His foot speed is average but his effort and length allow him to recover well to contest against quicker opponents. 

Strengths: Physicality/toughness, Rebounding effort/persistence, Rim protection, Off-ball defensive awareness/attention, Ability to run the offense from the perimeter, Strong rim finisher, Outlet passer, Competitive, Works two-man game well, Transition offensive versatility, Ready hands to receive passes, Offensive footwork, Court awareness/passing, Defensive post strength, Screen and roll/short roll ability, Transition defense, Hustle/effort

Areas of Growth: Ball handling, Shooting efficiency, Self-creation, Defensive discipline/fouling, Ball security, Overaggressive and beaten on back doors, Perimeter shooting confidence, Composure/control while attacking, Rim finishing efficiency/inefficient push shot

Rank	Prospect	Grade	Ceiling Grade	Grade Sum
56	Boogie Fland	4.5	6.0	10.5

Summary: Fland presents as a facilitating play making guard who can create for himself or his teammates while applying decent on-ball pressure against opposing guards. Fland is a talented ball handler who possesses a good feel for the game. He changes directions well, attacks with court awareness, and threatens the defense from the perimeter. Fland breaks down his initial defender well but has difficulty finishing near the rim due to smaller size and difficult shot selection tendencies. Defensively, Fland is light on his feet and applies great pressure to ball handlers. He struggles against larger, more physical guards and loses track of his responsibilities while guarding off-ball.

Strengths: Accurate/active defensive hands, Ball handling, Unselfish passer, Defensive intensity, Ability to draw fouls, Quick first step, Penetrating ability, Transition threat, Offensive footwork, Hustle/dives for loose balls, Use of ball screens, Midrange shooting confidence/creation, Defensive footwork/technique

Areas of Growth: Offensive aggressiveness, Rim finishing ability, On-ball screen navigation, On-ball defensive consistency, Ball security especially versus pressure, Inaccurate passer, Unable to capitalize on advantages, Court awareness, Defensive discipline, Shooting efficiency, Long stretches of ineffectiveness, Shot selection

Rank	Prospect	Grade	Ceiling Grade	Grade Sum
75	Rueben Chinyelu	4.8	5.4	10.2

Strengths: Physicality/effort, Toughness, Screen setting, Rebounding effort/production, Active hands, Defensive footwork/technique, Engaged boxout, Rim protection, Post defensive strength

Areas of Growth: Shooting/paint efficiency, Self-creation, Ball handling, Defensive discipline, Shot/scoring versatility, Inability to catch passes cleanly, Foot speed, balance

Rank	Prospect	Grade	Ceiling Grade	Grade Sum
112	CJ Ingram	4.4	5.3	9.7

Strengths: Confident shooter, Good size/length, Defensive recovery ability, Rebounding activity, Lateral agility, Offensive footwork

Areas of Growth: Shooting efficiency, Inconsistent footwork, Ball handling, Self-creation, Defensive discipline

Gonzaga vs. Purdue 

Rank	Prospect	Grade	Ceiling Grade	Grade Sum
31	Davis Fogle	4.7	6.2	10.9

Strengths: Decisive, Offensive footwork, Spaces the floor/off-ball movement, Shooting off the dribble, Size/length, 3-point ability, Methodical attacker, Court awareness, Midrange confidence, Competes on the glass, Concentration/skill to finish through contact, Ball handling for his size, High release point, Transition ability, Hustle/effort, Active hands, Unselfish

Areas of Growth: Off-ball defensive positioning, Physicality/strength, Athleticism, Quickness/speed, Lateral agility/perimeter defense, Self-creation/separation, Off-ball screen negotiation, Ball security/passing decisions, Ability to penetrate, Below rim finisher, Decision making in transition, Shooting efficiency, Change of directions, Defensive discipline

Rank	Prospect	Grade	Ceiling Grade	Grade Sum
35	Isiah Harwell	4.7	6.1	10.8

Strengths: High volume 3-point shooter, Defensive stance/technique, Engaged off-ball, Dives for loose balls, Rebounding activity, Willing to defend #1 scoring option, Aggressive, Boxout effort, Lateral movement, Closeout technique

Areas of Growth: Inefficiency shooter, Ball security, Decision making, Defensive discipline, Court awareness/spacing, Self-creation, Rim finishing efficiency/creativity

Rank	Prospect	Grade	Ceiling Grade	Grade Sum
54	Massamba Diop	4.5	6.0	10.5

Strengths: Height/length, Long striding ability, Wide defensive stance, Rim protection, Screen setting ability, Rebounding activity, Active hands, 3-point potential, Screen coverage potential, Offensive footwork potential

Areas of Growth: Shot selection, Wild attacks, Defensive rotations, Offensive footwork, Hand strength to secure passes/rebounds, Closeout technique, Screen coverage, Defensive footwork/technique, Lateral agility/foot speed, Ball handling/security, Defensive discipline, Missed boxout, Strength/physicality, Balance, Self-creation, Shooting efficiency, Rim finishing efficiency

Rank	Prospect	Grade	Ceiling Grade	Grade Sum
16	Omer Mayer	5.1	6.2	11.3

Strengths: Drive and kick ability, Hustle/effort, Decisive, Shooting off the dribble, Physicality/strength, Defensive footwork/technique, 3-point potential, Team defensive understanding, Screen utilization, Offensive footwork, Shooting form/release, Offensive initiation, Defensive pressure, Active hands, Coachability/communication, Willing to set screens, Boxout effort, Lateral agility

Areas of Growth: Ball security/passing accuracy, Off-ball defensive awareness, Screen negotiation, Basic ball handler, Shooting efficiency, Shot selection, Penetration ability, Rim finishing efficiency

Rank	Prospect	Grade	Ceiling Grade	Grade Sum
110	Daniel Jacobsen	4.2	5.5	9.7

Strengths: Frame/size/height, Rim protection/verticality, High points rebounds, Ready soft hands to receive passes, 3-point potential, Lob finisher, Screen setting, Runs the floor well

Areas of Growth: Foot speed/lateral agility, Rebounding production, Defending in space, Slow to closeout, Balance, Shooting efficiency, Ball handling/security, Delayed reactions, Rim finishing efficiency, Strength/physicality, Screen coverage versatility/effectiveness, Defensive discipline

Ohio State vs. BYU

Rank	Prospect	Grade	Ceiling Grade	Grade Sum
135	John Mobley	4.2	5.2	9.4

Strengths: 3-point volume/confidence, Off-ball movement, Soft touch near the rim, Change of speeds, Shooting form/release, Ability to attack closeouts, Offensive footwork, Lateral agility/foot speed, Active hands

Areas of Growth: Rim finishing efficiency, Penetration ability, Size/length, Delayed reactions, 3-point game to game inconsistencies, Screen navigation, Decreased awareness/recognition, Defensive discipline, Ball security, Passing decisions/accuracy, Closeout ability, Shot selection

Rank	Prospect	Grade	Ceiling Grade	Grade Sum
142	Robert Wright	4.2	5.0	9.2

Strengths: Ball handling, Shiftiness, Playing off of two feet, Relative balance and strength of his size, Aggressiveness, Lateral movement, Off-ball movement, Quick defensive hands

Areas of Growth: Size, Defensive impact, Screen negotiation, Shooting efficiency, Paint finishing, Ball security, Decision making, Space awareness while attacking, High volume but low efficiency attacker/creator, Defensive target

Rank	Prospect	Grade	Ceiling Grade	Grade Sum
160	Collin Chandler	4.0	4.7	8.7

Strengths: Quick shooting release, 3-point potential/high volume, Court awareness/unselfish passer, Hustle/effort, Off-ball movement, Triple threat footwork

Areas of Growth: Slow attacker/ball handler, Screen negotiation, Discipline, Off-ball defense, Size/strength, Rim finishing, Self-creation, Ball security, Hesitation

Arizona vs. UCLA

Rank	Prospect	Grade	Ceiling Grade	Grade Sum
137	Eric Dailey Jr.	4.1	5.2	9.3

Strengths: Midrange confidence, Offensive footwork, Defensive pressure, Defensive footwork/technique, 3-point potential

Areas of Growth: 3-point volume, Shooting confidence, Defensive discipline/gambles, Off-ball defensive awareness, Balance, Ability to absorb contact, Shot selection, Spatial awareness, Ball security, Self-creation, Lateral agility/foot speed

Rank	Prospect	Grade	Ceiling Grade	Grade Sum
139	Xavier Booker	4.0	5.2	9.2

Strengths: Length/size, Rebounding production, Rim protection, 3-point ability/potential, Ready hands to receive passes, Screen setting

Areas of Growth: Offensive aggressiveness, Physicality, Self-creation, Ball handling/security, Defensive engagement, Strength/ability to absorb contact, Balance, Shooting efficiency, Defensive stance/footwork, Wild attacks, Perimeter defense, Lateral agility/foot speed

Rank	Prospect	Grade	Ceiling Grade	Grade Sum
17	Motiejus Krivas	5.0	6.2	11.2

Strengths: Screen setting, Size/length/strength, Rebounding activity (especially on offense and in traffic), Development and willingness to finish with his left hand, Rim protection, Physical post presence, Defensive footwork, Hustles in transition and willing to dive on the ground for loose balls

Areas of Growth: Ball handling/security, Offensive aggressiveness, Inconsistent low-post footwork, Shot selection/self-creation, Rim finishing ability for his size and position, Decreased elevation affecting his ability to finish at the rim, Delayed processing speed, Fatigue/endurance, Lateral agility/foot speed, closeout ability

Rank	Prospect	Grade	Ceiling Grade	Grade Sum
30	Ivan Kharchenkov	4.8	6.1	10.9

Strengths: Court vision/passing, Triple threat footwork, Hustle/energy, Rebounding effort, Decisive, Defensive intensity/versatility

Areas of Growth: Shot selection, Shooting efficiency, Offensive composure, Spatial awareness, Ball handling/security, Condenses the floor since defenses are not threatened from deep