Diggin' In the Tape (Part 1) - Santi Aldama

In my new segment, 'Diggin' in the Tape', I review the top trending prospects in major college basketball and draft eligible prospects out of the G League. In my first episode, I review Loyola (Md.)'s Santi Aldama, a positionless 6'11 Spanish wing/forward with a versatile offensive toolset. While his team began the season on a covid break and this contributed to their slow start (in addition to playing Lafayette in 6 of their first 10 games), they have picked up steam recently and could be dangerous in a conference tournament scenario. Aldama has performed admirably, showcasing a more consistent stroke from long range to complement his high basketball IQ. In terms of his background, Aldama comes from a basketball family. Santi's father played professionally in Spain and Portugal, and ultimately for the Spanish National Team in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. Similarly, his uncle was a professional basketball player in Spain, Portugal, and Italy. Santi cemented his status as an elite prospect at the FIBA U18 European Championships, where he led his Spain team to a gold medal, earning an MVP after averaging 18.0ppg 7.6rpg 2.6apg [2.3bpg 1.9spg and posting the highest plus-minus rating at the event]. These performances placed him squarely on the NBA's radar.   

In terms of his evaluation, most of the lure behind Aldama as a pro prospect stems from his intriguing offensive profile, coupled with his good measurables. Standing at 6'11, Santi functions primarily as a wing in Loyola (Md.)'s offense. He possesses excellent straight line quickness - bolstered by nimble feet - and thrives moving without the ball, demonstrating an advanced awareness of floor spacing. As such, Aldama is constantly in motion and he utilizes the threat of his outside shot to backdoor cut on his opponents. After beating his man, Aldama does a nice job finishing either bounce passes or lob plays over the top of the help defender. When he does not finish on these plays, the misses are mainly 'concentration misses', as opposed to instances where he was disrupted by contact.  

He is also highly capable with the ball in his hands. At the college level, Santi thrives attacking the rim off the dribble. He sports an advanced handle relative to his size, though he lacks change of pace moves in his current arsenal. 

Because his first step is just average and he does not employ 'change of direction' moves to keep his defender off balance, Aldama probably will not be able to create much separation against even quicker NBA wings. With that said, due to his excellent size and play strength, Aldama will be able to shoot over the top of most NBA perimeter defenders. Conversely, if he is matched up with a traditional post player, Santi has the requisite foot speed, long strides, and handle to beat his man to the basket or draw a foul. When on the move, Aldama is capable shooting a fading intermediary shot (similar to a floater but with both hands on the ball), finishing at the rim through contact or kicking it out to an open teammate. While he is not an explosive vertical athlete, Aldama is an aggressive player who will look to dunk on his opponents, as he embraces the physicality of the game. 

When presented with a mismatch in the low post, Santi utilizes decent footwork, either spinning in the lane or pivoting / reverse pivoting around his man for an easy basket. 

With that said, Aldama does not possess the lower body strength to consistently seal his man at the next level, and will likely only post up when facing a mismatch. However, Aldama excels in the faceup game and will make a living shooting over the top of smaller wings at the next level.     

To complement his versatile interior game, Santi Aldama has made significant strides as a three point shooter, hitting 35.0% of his attempts from beyond the arc this season, up from 21.7% his freshman year. When open, Aldama shoots with confidence and does a nice job of keeping defenders honest, utilizing the threat of his shot to attack off the bounce. He is adept at shooting both off the dribble and off the catch. 

Due to his tremendous spatial awareness, Santi does an excellent job moving to open spots on the floor while his teammates are attacking the basket, leading to easy looks from the perimeter. 

Though he has improved his three point shooting accuracy this season, Aldama must continue to refine his shooting stroke (still a 65.1% FT shooter) in order to see more consistent results. In particular, Aldama should probably focus on his body position/angle relative to his shot and the weight distribution of his body before he rises up into a shooting motion. Santi also has a habit of flailing one foot out when heavily contested - something that will lead to offensive fouls at the next level ("The Reggie Miller" rule has been a point of emphasis for years now). 

As such, his shooting tends to suffer under duress and he misses very badly on occasion. 

At other times, Aldama does finish through contact on his perimeter shots.   .     

In terms of his vision, Aldama is an unselfish passer, who regularly finds open teammates either on his straight line drives or out of the post. Santi makes the right plays, and consequently his 18.1 Assist Rate ranks 13th in the Patriot League. 

He will have to continue to develop his explosiveness off the dribble so that he can operate as a primary ball handler in pick and roll sets. With that said, due to his long strides and solid mobility, Aldama could function as a screener in these sets and either dive to the rim or fade out to the perimeter for an open jumper (provided he extends his range and improves his shooting base). 

On the glass, Santi is very active and has a good nose for the ball. His 30.5% Defensive Rebounding % is 9th in DI. 

Despite his lack of explosive leaping ability, Santi is still a very active offensive rebounder when he positions himself in the paint due to his quick second jump, which he often utilizes to tap in his own misses. 

If Santi Aldama continues to physically develop at the next level, his size - coupled with his excellent nose for the ball (and anticipation ability) - should enable him to compete on the glass.

In terms of his potential on the defensive end, Aldama is a bit enigmatic on this side of the floor. Though he may have the size and quickness to defend multiple positions (and switch) at the next level, Santi Aldama does not have the lateral quickness to keep up with elite athletes on the wing. 

He also might struggle with the physicality of interior players in the NBA, given his tendency to concede deep post position. As noted previously, Aldama does not possess the lower body strength and leverage to fight for post position with bigger players. 

Additionally, because he is not much of a vertical athlete, Aldama will not function as a rim protector at the next level. At Loyola (Md.), though, Aldama has been fairly productive on the defensive end, blocking shots and walling up (without fouling) when he is met at the rim. 

He possesses really good hands, consistently deflecting the ball from his opponents, and is a pest in passing lanes. 

Santi is a very good help defender, and does a nice job containing dribble penetration, often guiding his man into the backline help. Though he moves his feet well relative to his size, Aldama rarely beats his man to the spot to take a charge. At times, he has a tendency of over-helping, which can lead to open baskets. 

Despite this, Aldama plays fundamentally sound closeout defense on three point shooters, which will translate to the next level. Overall, Santi possesses intriguing versatility to switch at a higher level, and his length will certainly disrupt three point shooters. I anticipate that he may struggle to defend one-on-one on the wing (with no backline help) and when isolated in the post, until he works with NBA strength trainers to improve his physical profile.  

All in all, Aldama is an intriguing 6'11 prospect with the versatility to defend and function in several different roles for a team. As he improves physically and tweaks his shooting form to become more consistent, he should continue to grow as a player. Look for him to receive some late 1st round consideration if he decides to enter the 2021 draft (with upside potential). 

Image Courtesy of Mid-Major Madness; Video Courtesy of ESPN+

Scouring the Nation (Part 4) - Kyle Mangas

Take a cursory glance at the annals small college basketball history, and a few names will stand out. These select few players really separated themselves from the pack and went on to successful careers in the NBA and abroad. At one point, two Chicago Bulls legends, Scottie Pippen (Central Arkansas) and Dennis Rodman (Southeastern Oklahoma St.) attended NAIA schools. Before them, HOFers Earl Monroe and Elgin Baylor made the jump from NAIA to the pros (among others, including Wilt's Sixers teammate Lucious Jackson). With all of that said, the last player to leap from the NAIA to the NBA was Robert Whaley in 2005, and he was a Division I transfer from Cincinnati with some acclaim already. 

Indiana Wesleyan's Kyle Mangas, one of the most decorated small college basketball players in recent memory, is looking to break that streak. On Saturday morning, Kyle is going to be presented with the Bevo Francis Award (the award for the best small college basketball player) for the 2019-20 season. Let's put what Kyle has accomplished throughout his NAIA career into context. His current 3,313 career points (and counting with two regular season games, the Crossroads Conference Tournament, and the NAIA tournament left) put him in rare company, nearing all-time college basketball scoring marks (Travis Grant with 4,045 points and 'Pistol' Pete Maravich with 3,667 from the 1960's/70's). The closest modern player to Mangas' production is Campbell's Chris Clemons, who finished his career out in 2018-19 with 3,225 points. These numbers have translated into team success. In fact, during his time at Indiana Wesleyan, their record is 117-18, with an NAIA DII title in his first season, 2017-18. As it currently stands, Wesleyan's record is 27-1, and they are ranked first atop the NAIA. As an aside, it is going to be incredibly fun to watch this year's NAIA tournament, with Shawnee St (EJ Onu) and University of Providence (Zaccheus Darko-Kelly) ranked 6 and 10 respectively.  

Accolades aside, Kyle Mangas' game is extremely well rounded, and it is clear and obvious why his team has had the success that they have had over the years. With that said, Mangas projects to make the biggest splash at the next level scoring the basketball. Like many Villanova guards, Mangas regularly jump stops, shot fakes, and plays under control. Importantly, he is a remarkably efficient shooter, connecting on 38.7% of his shots from three point range, with basically all of them coming in the flow of the offense. His form is consistent, and he displays good mechanics and textbook balance when shooting the ball (notice his balance and the placement of his feet when shooting in the next few clips). Despite this, his shot is a bit deliberate in front of his face, which could lead to difficulties at a higher level against lengthier defenders. To compensate, Mangas picks his spots extremely well, and has implemented a subtle step back/gather step to create space from defenders. 

Given the more rigid application of traveling calls at the college level, Mangas will probably be able to fade further away against professional defenses to get his shot off. The other possibility for Mangas to get his shot off against elite defenders at the next level is for him to quicken his release (though he has already done this to an extent, see below).

If these adjustments are made, it is possible that he will not have to tweak his form at the next level. In terms of his shooting preferences, Mangas is effective both off the catch and off the bounce. 

 

He is also effective shooting the ball from the midrange and will take whatever the defenses give him. Additionally, Mangas' versatility is evident in the post, where his solid footwork and play strength enable him to score amongst bigger players. 

At a higher level, any iso post ups on strength mismatches will serve as an interesting wrinkle in his game. At the NAIA level, Mangas does a nice job of attacking the body of a shot blocker and finishing through contact, habitually picking up the foul. Here his understanding of the game is very advanced and he pivots and reverse pivots to create space. Importantly, Mangas' excellent passing instincts are evident out of the high and low post (or on the move as seen below), where he often draws a couple of defenders, before swinging the ball crosscourt to an open teammate.

With that said, I imagine that he will only turn to these moves in special circumstances, where he can isolate himself. While the professional game is not as crowded in the paint, help defenses are infinitely quicker. Given the fact that he is not much of an explosive vertical athlete (due to his below average quick leaping ability), lengthier help defenders would be able to challenge his shot on post ups. With that said, he is a physical player who attacks the rim with reckless abandon.

In terms of his ability to create for himself off the dribble, Mangas possesses a very good (compact) handle and utilizes great play strength shielding the ball, and either spinning to the basket or attacking the defender's body off the dribble. Similar to post up scenarios, Mangas does an excellent job finishing through contact at the rim while on the move. 

He is incredibly efficient with his dribble and sports a decent stop and go move. With that said, given his average to below average first step, I do not anticipate that Mangas will attack the rim much at the next level (especially initially), unless he is probing the defense to find a crease, opening up the game for his teammates. At the NAIA level, Mangas has been effective passing off the pick and roll.

He will need to work with strength trainers on developing a greater initial burst, but also may be able to create space by utilizing more advanced lateral movements on his dribble drive, developing a more effective in and out dribble. While Mangas has flashed a basic Euro step, he should continue to advance this element of his game.

At the European level, he should have less issues here than in the NBA, where teams are heavily reliant on pick and roll iterations. As such, unless he signs with a European squad immediately (which is a distinct possibility), I anticipate that he would be initially relegated to a role as a shooter in the G League, so he should focus on his proficiency from beyond the arc and continuing to extend his range.

Mangas' ability to distribute the ball should also not be undersold. While he does not pass people open in the same way as a Jokic or even a Sharife Cooper, his basketball savvy will translate at the next level. As previously mentioned, he does an excellent job of finding open teammates, to the tune of 5.1 assists per game this year (on a virtual 2-to-1 assist to TO ratio). He makes the right play, finding open shooters cross court, shifting the defense, or feeding it inside. Mangas does a very nice job of throwing alley oops over the top of the defense, and I imagine he will turn to this in the pros more often, as his Indiana Wesleyan teammates did not always capitalize on his excellent feeds over the top (at least in the contests I witnessed). On the offensive glass, Mangas displays good box out fundamentals and possesses a good nose for the ball. 

Overall, putting Mangas' offensive impact into context, his 67.56% eFG% would rank him 19th in NCAA Division I on 32.5% usage (he takes roughly this percentage of his team's shots when he is in the game; this would rank him 29th in DI). The only Division I players who have a better eFG% on higher usage are Corey Kispert (25.5% usage) and Kofi Cockburn (25.0% usage). When you factor in Mangas' 84% free throw shooting, he would rank ahead of Kispert (70.6%) in True Shooting Percentage at 71.5%. While I understand that the levels do not compare, it is important to note that offensively, what Mangas is accomplishing this year is virtually unprecedented. 

On the defensive side of the ball, Mangas will struggle more at the next level, due to average to below average (amongst elite players) lateral quickness. 

In a more spaced game like the NBA, Mangas would be tasked with guarding many lengthier athletes one on one and they would be able to shoot over the top of him. 

While he will certainly be able to compete on defensive switches, due to his solid play strength and ability to weed out big men down low, he will most likely struggle to defend bigger, quicker athletes one on one. With that said, at the NAIA level, Mangas is certainly competitive on this end of the floor, and he utilizes good length and anticipation to deflect the ball away from his opponents. He possesses very good hands and is fundamentally sound moving his feet and does not reach that often.

Importantly, he often puts the onus on himself to take the toughest defensive assignment. Mangas regularly guarded Bethel (Ind.)'s NAIA First Team All American TreVion Crews in their matchup with Wesleyan and Kyle was effective keeping him in check when they faced off against each other. He moved his feet well and was able to drive Crews into the backside help man- his 7-foot teammate, Seth Maxwell. While Crews still scored effectively throughout the contest (making a variety of contested shots), Mangas' defense was certainly not the culprit. In fact, Mangas' job face-guarding Crews saved a lot of baskets. 

At an NBA level, Mangas would still be able to guide his man into the helpside big, but the recovery timing (particularly on pick and rolls) is night and day from the NAIA level. While Mangas is productive defensively at the NAIA level (1.86 steals per game), he will likely have to work hard on this end of the floor to effectively close out on shooters and will need to adjust to defending pick and roll scenarios at a higher level. 

All in all, independent of the accolades, Kyle Mangas is one of the most fundamentally sound players who has worked hard to refine his craft. He plays with an uncommon toughness on both sides of the ball. While he will have to overcome some physical hurdles (particularly on the defensive side of the ball), given his advanced understanding of the game and work ethic [and if he makes the proper adjustments], Kyle has a chance to function as a serviceable offensive weapon at the professional level. 

(Image courtesy of chronicle-tribune.com; Videos courtesy of Indiana Wesleyan Stream)       

Circling the Globe (Part 2) - Yoan Makoundou

Throughout the course of NBA history, there have been a few big men whose scintillating dunks have left every spectator in the room with their jaw hanging in awe of what they just witnessed. 'The Rainman', Shawn Kemp, was one. More recently, prime DeAndre Jordan's earth shattering dunks put countless NBA players on a poster. Yoan Makoundou is a French big man cut from this same cloth. In fact, upon reviewing his tape for this report, I came across several raw displays of athleticism that I had never seen before at any level. After watching his highlights, you too may be convinced that the etymology of 'Makoundou' has something to do with dunking a basketball. With all of that said, given the fact that he only started playing basketball as a teenager, Yoan is still very much a work in progress on both ends of the floor, but is developing rapidly (scoring over 15ppg on 80.6% shooting & 7.2rpg in 25mpg in his last 5 contests), having transitioned from Cholet's U21 squad in 2019 to Cholet's A team in 2020. 

While he is clearly still developing on the offensive side of the ball, Yoan is a dynamic finisher around the hoop, whose electric dunks can alter the momentum of a game. In terms of his role, Yoan projects as a pick and roll energy player at the NBA level, and should be utilized in the same way as Clint Capela. He is extremely agile with his rim runs, which often lead to leak ahead alley oops, and generally open up the game for his teammates. In transition, Makoundou runs the floor and the threat of Yoan's thunderous dunks opens up the game for corner 3's. While Yoan must work to consistently square up when setting screens (properly anticipating contact), he will be an excellent pick and roll option at the NBA level. He is already adept at slipping screens, and has good P&R instincts.

 

Given the fact that he is still learning the game, Makoundou must continue to develop his jump shot. While he has demonstrated that he can connect from the midrange, he must work on maintaining consistent mechanics. 

Yoan also must become a more proficient outside shooter. While his 37.5% three point shooting percentage this season has been encouraging in the glimpses we have been given, Makoundou does not take many 3pt FG attempts. And, oddly, the vast majority of his makes come from the right free throw line extended area - he will have to shift to the corner three for spacing purposes at some point. 

In terms of his post moves, Yoan's footwork is still a work in progress, but he already has a back to the basket, faceup half hook. 

He is efficient in his movements and does a nice job of both drawing contact and finishing at the rim.

On the glass, Makoundou is physical boxing out and has a very good nose for the ball. His exceptional length (7'3 1/2'' wingspan) and athleticism are evident on both the offensive and defensive glass, where he is able to finish plays off with tip dunks or snatch the ball out of the air, cueing Cholet's fast break offense. 

While he does not exhibit tremendous vision, Makoundou is a willing passer, particularly on the interior. At the NBA level, Yoan will need to react quicker to double teams, connecting with open perimeter shooters and shifting the defense.

On the defensive end, Makoundou has the potential to thrive at the highest level due to his dangerous combination of length, speed, and quick leaping ability. He is a very productive shot blocker (averaging 1.4bpg over his last 5 games) and is a menace as a help-side defender. Some of his defensive recoveries are truly astounding and he does an excellent job of avoiding players' bodies. 

With all of this said, Makoundou is still very much a work in progress defending the pick and roll. He often gets caught in no man's land, not picking up the cutter or jumping the screen to contest the man with the ball. 

While he is effective closing out on three point shooters and often is able to block jump shots, he must work to display consistent effort moving his feet to defend guards when he is forced to switch onto them.

Despite good lateral quickness for his size, he must do a better job of moving his feet (in a stance) and beating the offensive player to the spot, guiding his man away from the basket. 

Given his experience level, though, these tendencies are certainly correctable and he has made some progress.

Overall, Yoan Makoundou is a late developing, hyper athletic big man with a developing floor game and the raw tools to succeed in the NBA. His potential on both the defensive end and in the pick and roll game will be coveted, and he should climb up the draft boards, particularly in light of his recent performances.

(Image Courtesy of cholet.maville.com; Video Courtesy of lnb.tv)

An Eye for Talent Retrospective - The Story of a Newark, NJ Startup College Basketball Program That Never Was

Today I saw a post about identifying under the radar Division 1 level talent for NAIA schools. This brought a personal experience to mind that is worth sharing. In 2019, I pitched a local college (in Newark, NJ) on the formation of a basketball program. After reviewing the tape of local players across the state of New Jersey and elsewhere, I sent several emails (I am sharing one such email dated April 2019) across to my potential coaching staff regarding under-the-radar NJ high school basketball standouts. This post tracks who was identified and where they have ended up. While I probably would not have been able to sign all of these guys to a new college program, the ability to evaluate basketball talent and progress starts at the youth level and extends all the way to professional player development. 

Below, please find the verbatim email:

Hi Coach [name omitted]: 

In case you are interested, I did some legwork on solid basketball talent in the state of NJ. 

Tier 1

Avante Gilbert, #1, 6'6, F, Paterson Kennedy - White Team

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMB2ezpJTVg 

The most talented player I have looked at. Has a handle he never used in high school b/c they played him at big. Elite athlete and raw basketball talent needs to perfect jumper. All the tools to play high level overseas or even in the NBA if developed. I believe he has committed somewhere already, but waiting on the confirmation. 

Chris Manon, #3, 6'4, G, St. Joseph's (Montvale) - Gray & Green

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYg2-2WxXX8 

This kid will probably hold out in prep b/c he is a Division 1 level recruit, so we probably can't get him. Played for a top tier program and orchestrated the offense, finishing at the basket, shooting the ball, and distributing. He is also a dynamic defender and this is his greatest strength 

Izaiah Delbrune-Robinson, #4, 6'3, G, St. Mary's of Assumption (Elizabeth) - Blue Team

https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/roselle-catholic-high-school-roselle-nj/gam9fd1dc4e37 

Unbelievable game and they almost beat nationally ranked program b/c of him, clutch 3 in 4th

Jaheim Tanksley, #1, 5'9, G, Union Catholic -  Blue Team (teammate of Battle)

https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/roselle-catholic-high-school-roselle-nj/gamc46d38b49d 

Electric handle can split defenders, has the tools and speed to be dynamic at a high level 

Mark Howell, #2, 5'10, G, Wayne Valley - White Team

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbMSC_fUw8E 

Love his game. One of the most underrated players in the state (and my top 2-3 fav). High IQ playing on a lower level high school team that is still competitive 

Donovon Guess, #5, 6'3, G, Mercer County CC (JUCO Transfer) - White Team

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmr98W5cbYg 

Solid shooter doesn't get low enough when dribbling, decent attacking the basket, defense is a work in progress due to below average lateral quicks. If we can teach him defensive angles he would improve immensely 

DJ Campbell, #4, 6'2, G, Vineland - White Team

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omhLSrIneMo 

High volume scorer with good tools. Shot could be refined a little, but he has a good feel for the game and could develop into a serious scoring threat at our school 

Jaedon Khubani, #3, N/A, G, Delbarton - White Team

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnh4DwjEH8U 

Super smart player who can shoot and picks his spots. Very clutch and hit several game winners. Small but hard working guard 

Madani Diarra, C, St. Benedict's 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBQ7DufEqd4 

Has an offer from Detroit already and has been injury prone, but plays in one of the top programs in the state 

Tier 2

Nahshon Battle, #15, 6'4, G, Union Catholic - Blue Team  

https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/roselle-catholic-high-school-roselle-nj/gamc46d38b49d  

Not the best tape here, but is a good ball handler with size and can shoot

Nick Boyd, #10, 6'3, G, St. Mary's (Rutherford) - White Team

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBnYP1Of4u4 

I have seen him play better on tape. Has good scoring tools but is forced to do it all. Good size and slashing instincts. 

Malik Bailey, #1, 6'10, C, St. Joseph's (Hammonton) - White Team

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAv54DGMEPE  

Leaves game, comes back at 39min mark, picks up fourth foul then comes back at 60min mark. Raw big who rarely receives interior feeds. Underdeveloped b/c had knee injuries in high school and just recovered. 

http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/7244879015451029025/spring-signing-day-2019-boys-basketball-commitments/ 

So far, the following guys I previously identified as potential targets are committed:

Kyle McGee, 6'4, G, St. Mary's of Assumption (Elizabeth) - West Chester

Jack Stern, 6'7, F, Moorestown Friends - Ithaca

Marcellus Ross, 6'2, G, St. Joseph (Hammonton) - Caldwell College

Anas Amos, 5'7, G, Newark Eastside - Felician College

KyYon Chapman, 6'2, G/F, Payne Tech - Felician College

Baba Ajike, 6'6, F, Camden Catholic - California U (PA)

Rynell Lawrence, 6'2, G, Millville - Stockton

Ashton Miller, 6'2, G, Seton Hall Prep - Duquesne

Jassiem Moore, 6'2, G/F, Bound Brook - Georgia Court

Conor Regan 6'0, G, Gloucester Catholic - Chestnut Hill

Josh Wright, 5'11, G, Cape May Tech - Rutgers-Newark

Bernard Kouma, 6'10, F, Our Saviour Lutheran - Illinois 

Colby Rogers, 6'4, G, Roselle Catholic - Cal Poly  

How these players have progressed on the basketball court:

Avante Gilbert - Transferred to Felician College (DII) [sitting out 2021] from St. Thomas Aquinas (DII)
Freshman season: 4.6ppg for one of the top DII programs in the country

Chris Manon - Cornell (DI) in 2020-2021; went to Saint Thomas More for a prep year

Izaiah Delbrune-Robinson - Dartmouth (DI) in 2020-2021; went to Kent School for a prep year

Jaheim Tanksley - Frank Phillips College (JUCO) in 2020-2021; averaging 11.4ppg on 35% 3pt%

Mark Howell - Ramapo College (DIII) in 2019-2020; averaged 2.1ppg 42.9% 3pt% in 8.2mpg

Donovon Guess - RIP, simply shocking and horrific that I am learning about this now (https://boydfuneralservices.com/tribute/details/539/Donovan-Guess/memories.html)

DJ Campbell - Stockton University (DIII) in 2020-2021; averaging 18.3ppg 36.8% 3pt% 
in 2019-2020 averaged 12.1ppg 34.9% 3pt%

Jaedon Khubani - NYU (DIII) in 2019-2020; averaged 5.5ppg 71.4% 3pt% in 21.8mpg

Madani Diarra - Eastern Illinois (DI) in 2020-2021; averaging 3.1ppg 3.5rpg

Nahshon Battle - Saint Michael's College (DII) in 2020-2021; went to Woodstock (Conn.) Academy for a prep year

Nick Boyd - Florida Atlantic (DI) in 2020-2021; spent prep year at Don Bosco Institute; averaging 5.4ppg 40.0% 3pt%

Malik Bailey - Cabrini College (DIII) in 2019-2020; averaged 1.8ppg in 7.0mpg; suffered a season ending injury

In terms of trends, many college coaches missed on these guys and several of these players ended up doing a prep year; now many can be found playing Division I basketball. It is quite amazing how many of these players have developed on their own. NJ is truly a hotbed for basketball talent. 

Image Courtesy of Getty Images

Scouring the Nation (Part 3) - Zaccheus Darko-Kelly

In this edition of 'Scouring the Nation', I profile University of Providence's All-American guard/forward Zaccheus Darko-Kelly. Darko-Kelly projects as a 6'6 lead guard at the professional level, with the versatility to defend multiple positions on the floor and the ball skills to distribute and score on three levels. While his statistical production jumps out to most on paper (he is averaging 19.6ppg 10.4rpg & 6.0apg), Darko-Kelly's unique combination of size, handle, and vision separate him from other professional prospects at this level. He is also a clutch player who is more than willing to take the last shot for his team.

While he was tasked with most of the scoring duties a year ago, Zaccheus Darko-Kelly has transformed himself into more of a pass first weapon in 2021. Due to his long strides and advanced handle, he is easily able to beat defenders off the dribble. He is most effective with the ball in his hands and is best passing off the bounce, where his unique vision enables him to anticipate plays before they develop. He frequently draws defensive attention before connecting with a big inside, or makes the correct play looking opposite to an open three point shooter in the corner. While I mentioned that he is most effective with the ball in his hands, this does not preclude him from making the appropriate hockey assist within the flow of the offense or from properly spacing the floor for his teammates. Darko-Kelly is extremely unselfish and has built a great rapport with his teammates, and will defer to them when appropriate.   

In terms of his scoring prowess, Darko-Kelly is most effective downhill attacking the basket, where he can utilize his solid length and athleticism to finish. 

While he currently does a nice job of completing plays through contact at the rim, he must work to develop physically (adding more muscle) in order to be able to finish against professional defenders. Importantly, Darko-Kelly's first step is above average and his hangtime and shiftiness with his body should enable his dribble drive game to translate at the professional level. When overplayed, Darko-Kelly will go back door or counter with a pull up shot from the midrange, consistently keeping his defenders off balance. He also sports a reliable floater in his arsenal.  

In terms of his range, Darko-Kelly is a serviceable three point shooter, but he has been relatively inconsistent in 2020-21, starting off the year in a bit of a shooting slump (shooting 33.3% in 2020-21 vs. 42.5% in 2019-20).  While he occasionally nails shots off of good ball rotation, he must continue to refine this aspect of his game, as most of his three point makes come off the bounce. In terms of his technique, Darko-Kelly has a tendency to shoot off balanced. Additionally, he tends to fan his follow through off to the right side (moving right to left, possibly due to hand placement), which leads to less consistent results. If he continues to refine his mechanics and work on shooting off the catch, he will make notable strides on the offensive end. Couple this with a viable strength training program and the sky is the limit for his upside.

Darko-Kelly is a reliable midrange shooter as well, and does a nice job of utilizing his dribble to create space. 

On the boards, Darko-Kelly has been particularly effective on the defensive glass at this level. However, I would not expect this to translate to the pros; instead, it should serve as a strong indicator of his excellent athleticism and nose for the ball. He is not physically imposing boxing out his opponents and was often in position to grab rebounds on this end because he was the tallest player on the floor for University of Providence (and tasked with guarding the opponent's big man). This is supported by the fact that he is collecting 1.2 offensive rebounds per game. 

In terms of his defensive prowess, Darko-Kelly is truly a positionless player in the NAIA, who can guard 1-5. At the next level, due to his good length and athleticism, he is still a versatile prospect. Darko-Kelly possesses decent lateral quickness for the next level and does a nice job of utilizing his length to steal the ball or block shots. Serving as a backline defender much of the time, Darko-Kelly is blocking 1.9 shots per game and gathering 1.3 steals per contest. This productivity is impressive and underscores his versatility on this side of the ball. Additionally, given his experience defending inside, he does a nice job of walling up (going straight up) his opponents without fouling. He is vocal on this end of the floor as well. In terms of his defense on the perimeter, where he would play at the next level, Darko-Kelly must improve his closeout recovery timing and not bite as much on ball fakes. While he is effective steering his man out of bounds, Darko-Kelly must work to exhibit the same effort and intensity at all times on the defensive end. He has a tendency to foul (3 Fouls Committed per 35mins of game-time), mainly when he is caught in the air. A professional strength training regiment will also bolster Zaccheus's ability on this end.

Overall, Zaccheus Darko-Kelly is one of the most unique pro prospects playing in the NAIA. His versatility, team mentality, and projectable skillset on both the offensive and defensive ends bode well for his long term upside. 

Image Courtesy of montanasports.com, Video Courtesy of University of Providence Youtube Channel

Circling the Globe (Part 1) - Gui Santos

In this new segment, 'Circling the Globe', I profile talent from every corner of the world. In this episode, I highlight Minas' breakout wing, Gui Santos, who has a chance to develop into the best Brazilian NBA prospect in recent memory. At a young age 18 (born June 22, 2002), Gui has emerged as a formidable piece in the Storm rotation, contributing to the Storm's first place standing in the NBB (the professional basketball league of Brazil) while playing alongside Gonzaga standout JP Batista. Importantly, Gui is incredibly skilled for his age and possesses the requisite length, athleticism, and basketball IQ to develop into a standout scorer at the highest level. He is the biggest sleeper international prospect I have come across so far, and should look to capitalize on a relatively weak international class in 2021 by remaining in the draft.    

On the offensive end, Gui is a versatile weapon, who utilizes high ball screens to either rise up for a jumper or create for himself off the dribble. Gui has improved considerably as a shooter off the dribble this season, displaying consistent mechanics and a high release point, and connecting on 36.4% of his three point attempts. He already shows good spatial awareness to free himself for open shots in high ball screen scenarios, only requiring a little bit of daylight to get his shot off. 

In some sets off the ball, Santos camps out in the corner, waiting for his teammates to look opposite out of these same pick-and-roll sets. Importantly, he is capable shooting off the catch as well, and utilizes good spatial awareness to opportunistically move into gaps in the defense. 

While Gui is still developing his mid range shot, this area of improvement will considerably add to his game, providing a veritable counter when defenders chase him off the line (but also are in position to help at the rim). If Gui Santos continues to improve his outside shooting marksmanship, while simultaneously developing his mid range stroke, the threat of his shot will open up the rest of his game.

Where Gui excels and is ahead of most of his class is in his craftiness and basketball IQ driving to the rim, especially on the break. While his first step would be average to slightly above average at an NBA level, Santos sports a solid handle and is able to split pro defenders, finishing through contact. His in-and-out dribble is particularly lethal in transition against NBB opposition. 

In time, he should continue to develop his stop and go hesitation moves, to keep defenders off balance. In addition, Gui impressively boasts an advanced Euro step (relative to his development), and he utilizes his spatial awareness to avoid offensive fouls on the move.

Despite being just 18, Gui is strong with the ball and this facet of his game is only improving as he physically develops. The work he put in on his physique has really accelerated this aspect of his development. Ultimately, these tools enable him to blow by NBB defenders and either finish through contact at the rim or draw fouls inside. Most of his transition buckets come after he has secured a defensive rebound. Transitioning to basketball in the US, if Gui learns to become more horizontal on his basket drives, this would further his ball security and enable him to draw even more fouls at the rim. As it stands now, Gui is already drawing 5.17 fouls per 40 minutes against professional competition. To put this into perspective, these numbers would rank him ahead of Zags' super prospect Jalen Suggs (4.5 FD per 40 mins). 

He must continue to work on his free throw shooting (65.5%), but his excellent mechanics and work ethic portend significant improvement in this area. Also, Santos finishes well through contact, and this should continue to improve as he physically develops. In terms of specific movements, Gui's step through shot off of one foot and his turnaround jumper are very advanced. 

While he does have a floater in his arsenal, he must continue to refine this aspect of his game to really take it to the next level.

With all that said, when Gui gets in the lane, he is not just a threat to score. Despite his 1.5 apg statistical average, Gui's vision has improved significantly this season and he is a very good facilitator. Santos is already proficient operating as a ball handler in pick-and-roll sets. 

When he gets in the lane, Gui habitually passes on the move to open three point shooters or finds his streaking big inside. 

Gui is highly unselfish and is able to anticipate how plays will develop due to great spatial awareness. With more experience, Santos will probably experience the most growth in this area of his game. On the offensive glass, Gui has an excellent nose for the ball and utilizes his improved strength and plus length (6'11.5 wingspan) to create extra opportunities for his team.

Coupled with his advanced spatial awareness is Gui's best greatest strength at this stage: his movement without the ball and intelligence to back cut when he is overplayed. This aspect of his game will translate at the next level. 

On the opposite end, Gui is a highly intelligent and versatile defender (projects to be able to guard 1-4) with excellent fundamentals and good, but not elite lateral quickness. He does a nice job anticipating his opponent's next move and challenges shots without fouling. He is most impressive closing out on three point shooters, where his length and quick leaping ability enable him to contest jump shots and disrupt shooting rhythm. He exerts maximum effort on the defensive end, and will chase down open shooters even when it appears to be a broken play for his team's defense. In the passing lanes, Gui does an excellent job anticipating. And, he is a good help defender at the rim, where he prides himself on blocking shots. His awareness and knowledge of defensive rotations are very good and he can beat offensive players to the spot. Gui also does a nice job of guiding slashers away from the basket with his body. With all of this said, Gui is still a bit foul prone at the moment, though he does not reach. He will have to watch out for intelligent pros swiping through his hand on three pointers, and limit his tendency to body check players driving the lane. Instead, he needs to put himself in a position to draw charges. In the post, Gui competes and does a nice job of 'chesting' his man outside of the lane. Finally, Gui is also excellent on the defensive glass and this nose for the ball should translate at the next level.

All in all, Gui Santos is one of the best international players in his age group and is thriving against grown men. His team is at the top of the NBB at the moment and his playing time only continues to increase, as the coaching staff is recognizing his positive (+/-) and putting him in at critical junctures of the game. Given his physical tools, basketball IQ, and formidable work ethic, look for Santos to rise on draft boards as the season goes on.     

(Video Courtesy of Minas Tenis Clube, Picture Courtesy of https://basquetetododia.com.br/)