Scouring the Nation (Part 2 ) - EJ Onu

EJ Onu is the best NBA prospect I have come across in my ten plus years of reviewing non-D1 prospects. The late blooming Shawnee State product has all of the tools to emerge as a rotation player at a very high level of play. While others have exceeded his production, EJ's skill level, coupled with his physical intangibles make him a true diamond in the rough. 

What makes EJ so unique are his physical attributes and skill level, particularly on the offensive end. EJ is a rare 6'11 stretch five with a beautiful shooting form, sporting both a quick release and a high release point. He is remarkably connecting on 45.8% of his three point attempts (4 3pt FGA per game) this season, and this is no accident. In his most recent contests, he has been shooting significantly better than this percentage. He does not force shots and every three comes within the flow of the offense. He habitually will utilize the threat of his shot to move the ball around the perimeter, setting up an open look for a teammate. There are no wasted movements with regard to his outside shooting, and he is remarkably efficient. 

Complementing his outside shooting, EJ possesses an effective mid range game and is a threat to score in rhythm. To put his shooting efficiency into context, Onu's 68.6% effective field goal % (eFG%) would have ranked him 15th nationally had he been playing Division 1 basketball. And while the NAIA level is not Division 1 basketball, Shawnee St is the number 7 ranked NAIA team in the country currently, and they do play a difficult league slate.  

On the interior, EJ Onu is very much a work-in-progress. While he utilizes an effective jump hook and is able to secure interior post position at this level, his poor lower body strength and high center of gravity (much the same concerns as scouts had for Nerlens Noel when he entered the league) mean that he probably will not function as a pure post option at the next level. However, Onu is extremely fluid with the ball and is effective facing up, but should still develop a stronger back to the basket game with more of a go-to post move and counter. As it stands now, he only has a baby hook in the lane. Even if he does not always utilize an effective go-to post move, he may be forced to in mismatches or as a result of pick-and-roll switches. With this, a professional strength training program will do wonders for his progress.

Additionally, Onu possesses solid pick and roll fundamentals, and is utilized this way in Shawnee St's system. Because of his diverse skillset, he can either roll to the basket or fade out for a balanced three point jumper. He does a decent job setting screens and is quick dashing to the rim. Importantly, Onu's quick feet put him in rare company as a prospect. While he obviously does not compare as a player, the only 7 footer I can think of that moves with the same footspeed and fluidity as Onu is Kevin Durant. What this means is that if he ever develops his handle and a shot off the dribble, he would be difficult to contain as a pro. As it stands now, though, his handle is rudimentary and he is not strong enough with the ball (2 TO/game) to justify handling it from anywhere beyond the free throw line in. Due to his track background and obvious footspeed as an athlete, Onu runs the floor extremely well in transition, which can open up the corner three for professional teams utilizing him in this way. 

While he does need to add muscle to his frame to play inside at a pro level, Onu is a much better rebounder than his statistics indicate. Most would expect a 7-footer playing at the NAIA level to collect more than 8.3 rebounds per game. However, this understates his impact because he frequently camps out on the perimeter. What this means is that he is typically able to prevent fast breaks on the other end, but is not always available to crash the offensive glass, unless he is cleaning up his own miss inside. This is underscored by the fact that 70% of his rebounds come on the defensive side of the ball, despite his considerable length, athleticism, and good positioning/nose for the ball. 

Defensively, Onu is principally a shot blocker, and one of the most effective in college basketball. His length, athleticism, and footspeed mean that he blocks shots on the interior, but is also able to close out and habitually blocks three point shots as well. His 4.38 blocks per game is first in the NAIA, and his 14.32% blocks % would rank him third nationally if he played in Division 1. Importantly, Onu possesses excellent lateral quickness for a 6'11 big man and regularly switches onto smaller players and defends out on the perimeter. Like most raw shot blockers, though, Onu has a tendency to bite on fakes and this will get him into foul trouble at the next level. At the NAIA level, Onu does a great job of avoiding body contact when blocking shots (3.46 fouls per 40 mins), but must exercise better judgment at times, opting to play positional defense and draw charges rather than trying to block every shot that goes up. At the next level, EJ Onu will have to add some size in order to fight for position on the interior. He projects as an excellent help defender and is versatile enough to switch out on guards. 

All in all, EJ Onu is a remarkable late bloomer at the NAIA level, who could develop into a legitimate NBA player with the proper weight training regiment, G League coaching, and skill training. Onu has only been playing basketball since he was 14 years old. But, he has improved dramatically from his freshman season, where he was scoring under 10ppg (and shooting 25% from 3pt range). Look for him to continue to make strides at a higher level of play, with the potential to develop into a rotation player down the road. His physical gifts coupled with his unique skillset make EJ Onu truly unique at this level of play. 

Scouring the Nation (Part 1) - Damon McDowell

In this rebooted edition of scouring the nation, I profile North Carolina Wesleyan (DIII) standout Damon McDowell, a three level scorer replete with all of the tools necessary to succeed at the professional level. In lieu of Duncan Robinson's development into a bonafide NBA starter, more college teams are looking for similar non-D1 standouts to boast their current programs. Look no further than the Luke Smith story for an example of this. But, what about the Division III standouts who continue to hone their games within their programs' systems? These are the unrefined gems of professional scouting 'so to speak'. Damon McDowell certainly fits this billing. His path to professional basketball relevance has been anything but ordinary, though, after a football injury derailed him in his senior year, causing him to miss much of the basketball season (and when playing, not performing to the level he is capable of). But, Coach John Thompson recognized McDowell's talent from the outset and has worked with him to develop into one of the best players in Division III.

In terms of where McDowell excels, Damon is first and foremost a sweet-shooting, lefty scorer. He is a viable three point threat who picks his spots well and is shooting an efficient 40.9% from distance this season. While McDowell is a rhythm shooter for the most part, he frequently hits shots coming off of screens and does a nice job setting his feet. McDowell does not need a lot of room to get his shot off. He sports a good form and a high release point. He is also capable shooting off the catch and is effective with less than two dribbles, which underscores his efficiency of movement.

   

McDowell scores in rhythm and is dynamic shooting off the dribble. He utilizes his dribble to create separation. While he is fundamentally sound and ordinarily opts for the best shots, he can connect from the mid-range fading away in either direction. His excellent, balanced footwork really supports this versatility. 

Furthermore, McDowell is capable slashing to the basket. Damon uses ball screens extremely well to free himself. The threat of his shot often leads defenders to overplay him pre-catch, and this opens the door for back cuts, which he excels at. When opting to drive to the rim, McDowell does a nice job shielding the ball with his body and has a serviceable enough handle to attack the rim at a professional level. As his handle becomes more advanced and he improves his stop-and-go dribble, he will become an even more dynamic threat attacking the basket. Couple this with his ability to pull up for a balanced mid-range shot and the threat of his three point shot, and Damon McDowell could emerge as one of the most versatile ex-Division III pro scoring threats in recent memory. To bridge the gap, McDowell must continue to refine his handle, work on his Euro step, and rely more heavily on floaters in the lane. McDowell will have to wean himself off using his dominant hand when driving right against bigger defenders. But, he is more than capable of finishing with both hands and actually prefers going left-to-right.  

On the defensive end, Damon McDowell is mostly a mixed bag, but possesses the tools to be serviceable at a higher level. While his team mostly played zone (against the D1 opponents I watched) and this obscures my ability to evaluate his 'man' defense, certain traits can be gleaned from the tape. Notably, he possesses very quick hands and good length, readily poking the ball away (without fouling) from players at every level of college ball. With that said, he has momentary lapses where he remains upright (and not in fundamental guarding position). On the East Carolina tape, this could have been because of his position in the zone defense, where he was tasked with consistently chasing down and closing out on open three point shooters after ball reversals. In 'man' defensive scenarios (mainly against D3 foes), Damon proves capable at times guarding multiple positions and tends to drive his man into the back-line defense. McDowell is often good at contesting jump shooters without fouling. Overall, while his lateral quickness is not elite, he is not a total liability either. In terms of play strength on the defensive end, he will have to physically adjust to the next level by getting under a professional weight training regiment. This could do wonders for his physicality on this side of the ball. It also would help on the glass, where McDowell must become more fundamentally sound, boxing out and fighting for loose balls on the defensive glass.  

Finally, in terms of his vision and intangibles, McDowell is a willing passer and a very good teammate. He is hungry to improve. He plays within his team's construct and readily passes to open teammates when opportunities present themselves. While I would have liked to see him grab the ball and take over at certain moments in late shot clock scenarios, McDowell appears comfortable deferring to his teammates. He often finds them moving without the ball, but is also able to create opportunities due to the threat of his shot. He possesses a high basketball IQ and a good awareness for floor spacing. On the defensive side of the ball, he understands where his teammates need to be and provides good vocal leadership in this respect. All in all, Damon McDowell is a unique offensive talent with the skillset and mentality to thrive at a higher level of basketball. 

(Photo/Clips Courtesy of North Carolina Wesleyan Athletic Department)