Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Name:  Solomon Hill   Age:   21   School: Arizona

Height: 6’7   Weight: 220   Projected Position:  SF          

2012-13 Stats (As of  2/15/13):

13.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.2 spg, 2.0 tpg (33.0 minutes per game)

46.2 FG%, 77.2 FT%, 39.3 3FG%, 59.1 TS%, 55.0 eFG%

21.1 USG%, 7.1 ORB%, 12.4 DREB%, 9.8 TRB%

SKILLS & ATHLETIC BREAKDOWN

Offense

Perimeter Shooting

Hill has continued to improve his jumper throughout his time in Arizona.  He does a good job getting square to the basket, elevates quickly, and has a smooth, high release.  Hill is capable of hitting his jumper off the dribble as well as coming off of screens, though he needs to work on coming off the screens tighter and ready to shoot.  He has range out to the college 3-point line, and with some work, should be able to hit the NBA 3 with some consistency.  Hill needs to work on making sure he stays square and doesn’t float when taking his jumper of the dribble.  Hill also needs to work on creating space for his jumper with his dribble.  Also he needs to watch a tendency to rush his shot when he doesn’t have a great look at the basket.

Post Offense

Hill’s time at the power forward position allowed him to develop a decent post offensive game, with the ability to make a move over either shoulder, with good footwork, and able to finish with either hand.  He has the ability to face up and hit the short jumper or make a quick move to the basket against bigger defenders.     

Penetration

Hill is a capable penetrator, able to attack off the screen or in isolation with the right matchup.  He does a good job catching the ball and getting into triple-threat position, and he uses ball-fakes and jab steps well to create space.  He doesn’t have a great first step, but he uses his size and strength to force his way into the lane.  He is able to finish with either hand and in a variety of ways, around the basket, can finish above the rim, and is capable of finishing through contact.  He has good body control and he does a good job avoiding help defenders.  He has shown that he can hit the mid-range jumper off the dribble once past the defender, though he has to watch a tendency to float on his shot.  Hill uses screens well to get into the lane, and he has actually shown that he can make good passes off of his penetration, though not consistently.    

Ballhandling

Hill is an average ballhandler, able to use both hands, though he doesn’t look to go to his left often.   He has good control, keeps the ball low and close to his body. Hill is not going to overdribble often, and likes to use his dribbles to make power moves to the rim, or short bursts to get open in the mid-range area.  He needs to continue to work on developing dribbles that will allow him to create space on the perimeter, as well as getting a stronger left hand.    

Passing Skills

Hill has good court vision and awareness, and he uses his size well to make passes over the top of the defense.  His passes are strong, but catchable, and he is a very good post-entry passer for a forward.  He needs to work on keeping his head up when he penetrates and look for openings provided by the help defense.

Free Throw Shooting

Hill is an above-average free throw shooter, with a consistent routine, smooth shooting motion and follow-through.  Where Hill needs to improve is looking to get to the line more often, averaging less than 4 attempts per game.  He has been relying more on his jumper, and combined with the presence of Arizona’s freshman big men, Hill isn’t looking to get into the lane as much.  When he does attack, he goes strong to the basket and has the body to absorb contact and finish his shot.   

Defense

Perimeter Defense (On/Off Ball)

Hill is a good on-ball defender, positioning himself well between his man and the basket, staying relatively low and moving well laterally.  He uses his body well and can play physical when needed.  He is capable of guarding multiple positions.  Hill pressures the ball surprisingly well for his size, and he does a good job being active with his arms without fouling.  Hill needs to learn to work through screens better when his man has the ball, especially getting over the top of the screen when his man is a capable perimeter shooter.    Off the ball, Hill positions himself well, putting himself in an area where he can get to his man and help around the lane if needed.  He doesn’t look to jump or disrupt passing lanes often, but he can pressure off the ball for short spans of time.  He anticipates his man’s movements well and he reacts well to cuts and fakes.  He does a good job navigating through screens off the ball, not letting his man get a lot of room to get set for a shot.  He picks his spots well when he looks to step into the lane and help or to double-team in certain instances.  He has good defensive awareness, and does a good job tracking his man and the action away from him.  He establishes position quickly as a help defender and is not afraid to take a charge against anyone.  Hill can be seen directing the freshman big men during the action when there is a lot of offensive movement.

Rebounding

Hill is capable of being a strong rebounder, doing a good job tracking missed shots and getting into position.  He uses his body well to establish position and he goes quickly after the ball.  He boxes out well, getting wide and using his lower body to shield the offense from getting to the ball.  He has strong hands and secures the ball well before looking to get the ball out to a teammate.

Transition

Hill runs the floor well in transition, capable of running the wings and spotting up for the jumper or taking the ball strong to the basket.  Though not always pretty, Hill has also shown that he can push the ball himself on the break, usually looking to finish on his own.  Hill is also a strong transition defender, directing teammates and looking to stop the ball out on the perimeter and forcing the ballhandler to make a play.

Intangibles/Summary

Hill is clearly a case of the sum being greater than the individual parts.  He is not excellent in any one area, but he is capable of filling multiple roles and working in many diverse sets.  With Arizona bringing in a group of young big men this season, Hill has been able to play more at his natural small forward position, though his experience at the power forward position has provided him with a skill set different than many of his wing counterparts.  He has taken on a leadership role with his young team and has found ways to be productive while working within the Arizona offense.  His ability to score in a variety of ways along with his ability to guard multiple positions well could provide him the opportunity he needs to show his value to more than a few NBA teams.

Draft Value:  Middle 2^nd – #42-50

There may not be much upside to Hill’s game at this stage, but he is one of the more versatile seniors in this year’s class.  Taking on multiple roles and showing his leadership abilities only adds to his total package as a player.  He is definitely worth a 2^nd round selection and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him make a team’s opening day roster come the fall.

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Name:  Jackie Carmichael   Age:   22   School: Illinois State

Height: 6’9   Weight: 240  Projected Position:         PF          

2012-13 Stats (As of  2/10/13):

18.0 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 1.9 bpg, 2.5 tpg (30.2 minutes per game)

54.0 FG%, 70.0 FT%, 57.8 TS%, 54.1 eFG%

9.7 OREB%, 24.6 DREB%, 17.2 TREB%, 7.0 BLK%, 29.5 USG%

SKILLS & ATHLETIC BREAKDOWN

Offense

Post Play/Footwork

Carmichael is very efficient in the low, mid, and high posts, and can score in a variety of ways.  He has developed a solid mini-hook after a dribble or two off the low block, as well as a strong up-and-under if the help defense closes on him. He uses a dropstep well, especially if he sees the double-team coming from the topside.  Finally, Carmichael is very good at facing up smoothly out of the low and mid post and hitting the jumper.  He has excellent touch around the rim, and he does a good job using his body to clear space to allow him to get to the basket.  Carmichael is comfortable going over either shoulder, though he needs to use his lower body well to anchor position.  He does a good job keeping his hands out to receive the pass, and has become much more adept at receiving passes over the top, especially when posting in the middle of the lane.  While he has developed a series of go to moves, his footwork isn’t great when he is pressured, and he can be forced into turnovers.  He needs to remain patient and see what the defense gives him.  Carmichael is very good at using shot fakes to get defenders in the air, and he is very capable of drawing, and finishing, though contact.  He is a very good screener on the perimeter and he rolls well to the basket, releasing quickly and having his eyes on the ballhandler ready for the pass.

Ballhandling

Carmichael is an average ballhandler for his size, doing a good job looking to minimize his dribbles, and shielding the ball by keeping it low and close to his body.  He is much more comfortable with his right hand than his left, and you really don’t want him taking more than 2-3 dribbles when being guarded. He has improved his use of one power dribble to get to the rim around the basket, but he needs to be aware of help defenders.  Outside of 10 feet, he isn’t much of a threat using his dribble and he prefers to avoid it.

Shooting

Carmichael is a good spot-up shooter, and is capable of hitting from 15-17 feet consistently.  He squares well to the basket, has a good release point and follow-through.  His size allows him to shoot over most defenders, and if not, he uses a jab step well to create space.  He understands spacing in pick-and-pop situations and he is a good option here, who should only get better.  Closer to the rim, Carmichael has good touch in close and is capable of finishing with finesse or strong at the rim.  He uses both hands well, though he prefers to find ways to finish around the basket with his right. 

Rebounding

Carmichael is a good offensive rebounder when he is settled in around the low blocks.  He uses his length well to tip balls to himself or to teammates, and when he gets the ball he secures it well.  Carmichael needs to look to use his body better to get position instead of relying on his upper body and long arms.  Also, because Carmichael is often used away from the basket on shots and screens, he isn’t in optimal position to get offensive boards.     

Passing Skills

Carmichael has average court vision, especially out of the low post. He makes strong passes to the perimeter, and on target enough to allow his teammate to get a quick shot off.  Carmichael needs to work is on anticipating the need to make a pass, especially against double-teams on the low blocks.  He should also work on being able to spot weak-side cutters for easy shots around the basket.

Free Throw Shooting

Carmichael is a decent free throw shooter, but he should, and could, be much better.  He is a smooth routine and stroke, with good follow-through and arc.  Carmichael needs to avoid looking to change his shot after a miss, especially rushing 2^nd shots.  He would probably get to the line a lot more, but he takes less than half his shots around the post area, leading to less contact and chances to get to the line.  Still, when he does get the ball in the low post, he does a great job drawing contact and getting a good shot off.

Defense

Post Defense

Carmichael positions himself well in the post, and he uses his upper body to put pressure on the offensive player.  He does a good job battling for position for the upper leg, and he uses his long arms to deny the post.  He needs to work on using his lower body better to anchor his position, and using it to force his man away from the basket.  His footwork has improved, but he can still be a step slow against quicker offensive players.  His lack of foot speed is helped somewhat by his ability to get wide and force players to go wide.  When his man faces up, he does a good job not coming out too far and making his man have to score from the perimeter.  Carmichael needs to work on hedging more effectively on pick-and-rolls and forcing the ballhandler to take a wide path around. Generally, Carmichael has good defensive awareness, and you can see him throughout the game directing his teammates from the back of the defense.

Perimeter Defense

Carmichael doesn’t have the foot speed and lateral quickness to defend smaller, quicker players on the perimeter, but he compensates by positioning himself well while also working to force any penetration towards the help defense.  Carmichael reacts well to his man’s movements, and he does a good job not falling for ball and shot fakes.  He uses his length well to close on shooters and it allows him to cover ground quickly. 

Help Defense/Shot Blocking

Carmichael has good defensive awareness and has become a much better as a weakside and basket help defender, and he uses his length well enough to alter opposing shots.  He has done a good job not picking up fouls by staying grounded on shot-fakes. He is a quick hands and he has the ability to block or strip the ball low instead of being forced off the ground.  Carmichael positions himself well off the ball to allow him to slide or step over to help when needed.

Rebounding

Carmichael can be very good on the defensive boards, but he can be even better.  He is very good at tracking the shot as it goes up and looking to get to a spot to allow him to get the rebound.  He does a good job going strong after the miss, extending his arms to get the ball up high, and securing it.  He does look to box out often, but he should work on using the lower body to clear out space.  Carmichael is also very good at tipping the ball to keep it alive so he or a teammate can try and secure it.  

Transition

Carmichael doesn’t look to get out in transition often, though he can cover a lot of ground quickly if he makes the effort.  As a team, Illinois State doesn’t look to push the ball as a general rule.  With greater consistency, Carmichael could be a good option for trailer jumper in transition.  When he does get out on the break, he has good hands and good body control to finish at the basket.

Summary/Intangibles

Carmichael is a skilled low-post player who is very comfortable playing in the mid-range area.  He has a variety of ways to score in the post, his footwork has improved, and he doesn’t take very many bad shots.  He is a much better post defender than perimeter defender, but he has good awareness and understanding how to play different players.  He is capable of being a strong rebounder on either end of the floor, and he has the strength to play a physical game.  He should look to be more aggressive, and he needs to work on attacking the basket from the mid-range area. 

Draft Value:  Late 1^st Round– #20-27

With some work on the defensive end, Carmichael is ready to play at the NBA level.  He makes the most of his touches and can used in a variety of spots on the floor.  He plays much bigger than he is in the post, and could defend bigger players if absolutely needed to.  He would be a strong pick-up for a halfcourt dominant offense that likes to use their forwards in pick-and-roll and pick-and-pop situations.

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Photo: Daniel Shirey/USA Today Sports

Name:   Michael Snaer    Age:   22   School: Florida State

Height: 6’5  Weight: 202  Projected Position: SG

2012-13 Stats (As of  1/29/13): 

13.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.1 spg, 2.8 tpg (30.4 minutes per game)

40.6 FG%, 80.2 FT%, 39.8 3FG%, 56.1 TS%, 50.5 eFG%, 25.7 USG%

SKILLS & ATHLETIC BREAKDOWN

Offense

Perimeter Shooting

Snaer generally has good form on his jumper.  When he squares to the basket, he gets good lift from his legs, a high release point, good arc and follow through. He has range out to the NBA 3-point line.  He is a strong spot-up shooter and he continues to improve shooting his jumper off the catch coming off of screens.  He uses screens well, generally coming off them tight and ready to shoot, though he needs to watch a tendency to float and not get square coming around the screen.  Snaer uses shot-fakes and jab steps well to create space, and he has a quick release to get his shot off with defenders closing.  I would like to see him continue to improve his ability to hit the jumper off the dribble, especially when using the dribble to create space around the 3-point line.  Shot selection is an issue at times, though he continues to improve for the most part, though he still settle for a contested jumper too often.     

Penetration

Snaer doesn’t look to get in the lane as often as he should, but when he does, he can be very successful.  He likes to use high screens to spring free, and he uses a combination of long strides and his strong frame to get to the rim.  He does a good job drawing help defenders and is capable of pulling up for the mid-range jumper or finishing in a variety of ways around the basket.  He is capable of attacking the basket from either side and can finish with either hand at the basket.  While he is a good free-throw shooter, he doesn’t look to draw contact as much as he should, often settling for off-balanced shots instead of attacking straight to the basket.  While he comes off of screens well, he has just an average first step, and is not going to beat many defenders just off the dribble.   

Ballhandling

Snaer is an above-average ballhandler, able to use both hands well and using a decent crossover and hesitation move to keep the defense off balance.   Normally, he is in control, keeping the ball low and close to his body, though like many scorers, he needs to watch as he moves the ball into traffic.  He also needs to improve his ability to use his dribble consistently to create space, especially for his jumper.  Also, as discussed above, he doesn’t have a good first step, so he should work on improving his ability to get the defender off-balance with his dribble.

Passing Skills

Snaer has shown better passing skills this season, especially when looking to penetrate, and he has room to still get better.  When he keeps his head up, he does a good job drawing in the help defense and kicking the ball out to the perimeter for an open shot.  Snaer has also shown some good decisions as a ballhandler in pick-and-roll situations, spotting the open man quickly and finding the roll man before the hedging defender closes him off.  He needs to become more consistent in these situations, as he can tend to just worrying about getting free for his own shot.  While his passes are generally strong and on target, he needs to watch throwing lazy passes when moving the ball around the perimeter.

Free Throw Shooting

Snaer is a good free throw shooter with a consistent routine, good shooting motion and follow-through.  Snaer’s biggest issue is he just doesn’t get to the free throw line enough, averaging less than 5 attempts per game.  Part of it is reluctance to attack the basket often, but part of it is also the lack of good touches he is getting on the offensive end.  Based on the amount of field goal attempts he has taken, he does get to the line an average amount.  He needs more touches and he needs to attack more.   

Defense

Perimeter Defense (On/Off Ball)

Snaer is a very good on-ball defender, positioning himself well between his man and the basket, staying low and moving well laterally.  He can be a physical defender, but does a good job not being too aggressive.  He is capable of guarding multiple positions, including both guard positions and small forwards.  Snaer is capable of pressuring the ball, though he needs to watch overplaying, as he is prone to getting beat with a quick dribble move to the weakside.  Snaer does a good job getting over the top of screens, and he communicates well, letting his teammates know where the screens are and if a switch is needed.  Snaer also does a good job recovering when he gets caught in a screen or gets run through multiple screens.   Off the ball, Snaer positions himself well, and he does a good job playing the passing lanes.  As when he is on the ball, he needs to watch overplaying the passing lanes too much and getting beat with a cut to the basket.  He does a good job navigating through screens off the ball, not letting his man get a lot of room to get set for a shot.  He picks his spots well when he looks to step into the lane and help or to double-team in certain instances.  He has very good defensive awareness.  Snaer closes well on perimeter shooters, though he needs to do a better job not overreacting to shot fakes.  

Rebounding

Snaer rebounds well using his strength to battle against bigger players, combined with a good nose for where the miss is going to go  He uses his body well to establish position and he goes quickly after the ball.  Snaer also does a good job making sure perimeter players don’t rush in for offensive boards by putting a body on them. I would like to see him take some longer rebounds he grabs and start pushing the ball in transition if he has a clear advantage.

Transition

Snaer is capable of both pushing the ball in transition and running the wings and scoring from the perimeter or at the basket.  While he is a decent ballhandler, he is much better letting someone else feed him on the break, as he has a tendency to rush into the defense and not make keep or pass decision quickly enough.  He is at his best when given the chance to spot-up behind the three point line and letting the ballhandler draw the defense.

Intangibles/Summary

Snaer has the size and the shooting ability to be a decent scorer at the NBA level.  His numbers may not reflect it this season, but injury issues at the point guard position have the whole Florida State offense out of wack.  On top of that, Snaer has taken on some of the point duties himself, doing a solid job looking to get his teammates involved instead of constantly forcing shots.  Actually, his team needs to find ways to get him more offensive looks, as the team seems to do much better when he is getting double-digit shot attempts.  He has the ability to be a good defender at the NBA level and his ability to pressure the ball and guard multiple positions will help a coach use flexible lineups.  Of course, no report about Snaer will be complete without discussing his big-play ability, with 5 game-winning shots in the last 2 seasons.  Mental toughness like Snaer’s is always a valuable commodity.  

Draft Value:  Early-Mid 2^nd – #35-43

While Snaer is probably very close to his ceiling as a player, he has shown that he can adapt, as this year has shown.  He will still be at his best when he is working as a perimeter shooter first, and looking to attack after.  Speed and athletic ability are good, not great, but he is skilled.  People will focus on numbers, and consider this a down year. I think Snaer has shown some growth as a player and in the right role can thrive at the next level.  

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Name:  Nate Wolters   Age:  21  School: South Dakota State

Height: 6’4  Weight: 190  Projected Position:         PG         

2012-13 Stats (As of  2/5/13):

20.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 5.6 apg, 1.8 spg, 2.3 tpg (37.3 minutes per game)

46.6 FG%, 80.5 FT%, 37.4 3FG%, 58.2 TS%, 52.3 eFG%

33.0 AST%, 3.0 STL%, 11.3 TOV%, 29.0 USG%, 2.5:1 A/TO

SKILLS & ATHLETIC BREAKDOWN

Offense

Ballhandling

Wolters is a smart ballhandler, using both hands well, and using a variety of dribbles to try and get the defense off-balance.    Wolters protects the ball well, though he does have a tendency to overdribble at times, which eventually can leave him open to turning the ball over, especially against some pressure.  He prefers to make his moves with his right hand to the right side, and if he goes left, you will usually see him look to kick it out to the perimeter.  He doesn’t use a lot of speed, but he uses a good hesitation dribble as well as inside-out and crossovers to create space. 

Perimeter Shooting

Wolters is a very good shooter, both off the catch and off the dribble.  He has a fluid shooting motion with a quick release, good lift from his legs, and he does a strong job getting square to the basket.  His release point is a little low which leads some of his jumpers to have a line drive look to them, but he finds ways to get his shot off easily against defensive closers.  He has a good range, out to the NBA 3-point line, and there is little doubt he can his jumper beyond the NBA line. 

Penetration

Wolters doesn’t have a great speed, but he still is very good at getting to the lane or attacking the basket from different spots on the court.  Wolters loves to use high screens to create separation, and he does his part by coming off them tightly without hesitation.  He minimizes his dribbles and attacks from various angles, while also doing a good job protecting the ball with his body.  He keeps his head up and can spot open teammates if he draws help defenders.  He doesn’t shy away from contact and he finds various ways to get his shot off around the basket.  He prefers to drive to the right side, and he is very good at finding angles to the basket.  Once he gets by his man on the perimeter, he has a very good mid-range jumper which he can get off quickly.  At times, he needs to watch over-penetrating and getting caught without a good shot or pass to make.  

Passing Skills

Wolters has excellent court vision and does a good job keeping his head up at all times looking for open teammates.  He has become a very good post entry passer, finding a variety of ways (bounce pass, over the top, different angles) to feed his teammate.  While he doesn’t force many bad passes, he needs to watch getting caught in spots where he doesn’t have a good pass option.  Wolters continues to improve his reads in pick-and-roll situations and he does a very good job getting the ball to the screener quickly when he is open.  Wolters isn’t about making the spectacular play, but about making the smart play.   

Free Throw Shooting

Wolters is a good free throw shooter, with a compact, repetitive stroke.  Like his jumper, his shot doesn’t have the ideal arc on it, but his skill and follow-through give his shot a chance to go in if it’s a bit off.  Wolters does a good job getting to the free throw line, averaging close to 7 attempts per game.  Wolters plays a lot of minutes, but he is still a strong shooter when looking to close out games.    

Defense

Perimeter Defense (On/Off Ball)

Wolters is an average defender, both on and off the ball.  He gets good position between his man and the basket, gets low, has good balance and decent lateral movement. He doesn’t have great foot speed, and has trouble staying with his man in isolation, and he needs to react quicker to his man’s movements.  Wolters does a good job trying to get over the top of screens on the perimeter, especially against shooters, but he needs to work on not getting caught in them and calling for a switch when unnecessary.  Wolters has good court awareness and does an excellent job tracking the ball and helping teammates out.  He needs to watch a tendency to focus on the ball too much and let his man create space.  Wolters looks to close out on shooters quickly, but he has to watch falling for shot fakes too easily.   

Help Defense/Steals/Deflections

Wolters is a strong help defender; he anticipates the need to help and gets to the area quickly.  However, he is often in good position to help because he either cheats towards the lane or will stray too far from his man off the ball.  He has excellent hands and can time his steal attempts with precision, especially as a help defender.  When he is on the ball, he is more conservative and won’t often look to get a steal.  He has good court awareness and can anticipate passes and get into the passing lane quickly for the turnover. 

Rebounding

Wolters is a good rebounder for his size, tracking the ball well and going strong after the missed shot.  He has a good knack for where the miss will go, though he often finds himself in position to rebound because he has cheated too far away from his man on defense.  Wolters is very good at corralling long rebounds and getting out on the break quickly.  I would like to see Wolters look to put a body on someone to prevent getting beat by someone quicker to rebounds.

Transition

Wolters may not be as fast as many other point guards, but he is just as effective in transition.  He pushes the ball up court quickly, keeps his head up surveying the defense, and makes good decision on whether to attack the basket, get the ball to a teammate, or if the defense lags off him, pull up and hit a long or mid-range jumper.  With his shooting ability, Wolters can also run the wings and spot up for jumpers or attack the basket off the pass.

Intangibles/Summary

A lot of the talk will be about Wolters’ lack of elite speed or athleticism, but his skillset overcomes most of it.  He is a smart point guard who can score in bunches in a variety of ways.  More important, he is a tough player, a leader, and a winner.  He has good size for the point guard position and he is capable of playing off the ball as well.  There are some question marks on the defensive end, especially with his ability to guard in space, but the potential is there to be an average defender.        

Draft Value:  2nd Round –Early-Mid 2^nd – #38-46

Wolters is likely close to his ceiling as a player and there are some speed issues, but he makes up for it in skill, smarts and toughness.  While it is likely he may not be chosen until later, or not at all, I still peg his value to be in early-mid 2^nd range, meaning some team is likely to be getting great value if they pick him up late.  I have a feeling coaches and teammates will appreciate him, and he will make the most of any opportunity he gets in the NBA.

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Photo: Orlin Wagner/AP

Name:  Jeff Withey    Age:   22     School: Kansas

Height: 7’0      Weight: 235      Projected Position:         C            

2012-13 Stats (As of  2/1/13):

13.1 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 4.3 bpg, 1.7 tpg (30.1 minutes per game)

55.7 FG%, 66.0 FT%, 58.8 TS%, 9.2 OREB%, 20.6 DREB%

15.6 TREB%, 15.4 BLK%

SKILLS & ATHLETIC BREAKDOWN

Offense

Post Play/Footwork

There is no doubt Withey has improved in the post over the past few years, but his offensive game is still somewhat limited and strong defenders should have an easy time preventing him from generating much low post offense.  He has a few go-to moves, including a nice right-handed jump hook which he can do on either side of the lane.  Withey also has a solid one or two-dribble move into the lane, leading to a short shot with either hand around the basket.  One of Withey’s biggest issues is that he doesn’t use his body well and relies on his length to make space for his shot.  Often this leads to his moves to the lane from either low block taking him more towards the foul line than towards the basket.  On occasion he will look to face up out of the low post, but he will settle for a short jumper more than looking to take it strong to the basket.    Withey’s footwork has improved dramatically on the offensive end, and his ability to take long, quick strides does give him some separation from the defender.  He needs to keep working on moves toward the baseline, especially if the defense is overplaying his strong shoulder.  He could even look to set up a bit higher than the low block and let a quick dropstep take him right to the basket.  Withey gets out well on the perimeter to set screens, though a lot of his teammates have trouble using them correctly.  He is a strong option on the pick-and-roll with his good hands and his ability to finish at or above the rim.         

Ballhandling

Withey is an average ballhandler, able to use either hand when making a move in the post.  He has some issues trying control his handle, especially with his left hand.  Fortunately, Withey seems to know his limitations and doesn’t try to more than he is capable; often sticking to two or three quick dribbles into his shooting motion.  On occasion, he will look to make a move to the basket out of a face-up from the post, and again will often look to take 2 or 3 dribbles and use his long strides to separate from defenders.  He needs to watch for attempted double-teams in the post, and not put the ball down in the direction of the help defender.  

Perimeter Shooting

Withey doesn’t look for offensive opportunities often away from the lane area, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t capable.  Withey has a good shooting stroke, with a high release point and good arc and follow-through.  He is capable of hitting consistently from 10-15 feet, and with time put in, can likely move out to 18-20.  He needs to become confident in this shot, and I can see him becoming a good option in mid-range pick-and-pop situations. 

Rebounding

Withey is not very active on the offensive boards, especially for his size and athletic ability.  When the ball is coming to him, he does a good job extending to the ball, getting a quick 2^nd shot if available, or securing it if not.  It is rare that you will see him battle hard for position for offensive boards, and he is more than willing to give them up and get back on defense.  This tactic also allows him to not pick up unnecessary fouls when he may not have a real shot at the ball.  If he has some space to get to the ball, you better make sure you put a body on him though.  He is a quick leaper and he has become much better at tipping the ball in off the miss.

Passing Skills

Withey is an average passer.  He is rarely forced to make quick decisions out of post, because most teams don’t find the need to double him on the offensive end.  He makes good reads when he gets the ball in set plays, not just going through the motions, but looking for openings and trying to set his teammates up.  He should improve his ability to make better reads when he is forced to pass out of the post, especially spotting a shooter or cutter opposite him.

Free Throw Shooting

Withey’s free throw percentage may be down this year, but he has shown that he can be a very good free throw shooter, especially for a big man.  He is a smooth, consistent stroke with good release and follow-through.  At times, it looks like he may be aiming a bit more than just stepping up and shooting, but the ability is there.  While he doesn’t get to the line a huge amount (Average about 5 attempts per game), he does get there a decent amount for the amount of shots he attempts (around 1 free throw attempt for every 2 field goal attempts.)   

Defense

Post Defense

Withey has improved as a post defender, but he still has some work to do to become very good.  He doesn’t use his lower body very well, allowing him to get backed down easily by stronger offensive players.  He prefers to lean on the post player with his upper body, which leaves him in better position to try to block a shot, but also makes him more susceptible to fouling players who take the ball strong at him.  His footwork and foot speed aren’t great, but he uses his length well to force players to go wide around him.  He has become better at overplaying the baseline side and forcing post moves towards the lane and the help defenders.  Withey hedges well in pick-and-roll situations and his length makes it difficult for ballhandlers to make quick passes off the screen.  However, Withey has a bad habit of hedging out too far, and experienced ballhandlers are going to find the open man easily, especially at the NBA level.   

Perimeter Defense

Withey can be a good perimeter defender, as long as he only needs to defend for a short period of time.  He positions himself well between his man and the basket, and he allows himself space to react to quick moves off the dribble.  His lateral movement has improved, but it is still a step or two slow, and he needs to remember to steer his man into the help defense because he won’t be able to stay with him for very long.      

Help Defense/Shot Blocking

This is Withey’s biggest strength.  He has very good defensive awareness and does an excellent job staying with his man while tracking the movement of the ball.  On help rotations, he is quick to slide over into position and does an excellent job timing his block attempts.  He is tough to get off the ground with ball fakes with his length and quick-leaping ability allowing him time to wait for the shot before he goes after it.  He does an excellent job extending straight up to block shots and his ability to do so while not fouling has been oft-discussed.  Even more important, he has a great knack for turning his blocks into offensive opportunities.  He looks to direct his blocks to a teammate when possible.  He has shown that he can block well with either hand, and his reach allows him to block or alter shots out of his immediate area.

Rebounding

Withey can be a strong defensive rebounder with his length and leaping ability.  He does a good job anticipating bounces off of missed shots and gets up quickly to secure the ball.  He needs to be more consistent looking to box out before going after the ball, and he needs to be more mindful about bringing the ball down low after he grabs it.  Withey is improving as an outlet passer, especially tracking and hitting streaking teammates upcourt with long passes. 

Transition

Withey is athletic and can get up and down the court fairly quick, however, with the speed of Kansas’ guards in transition combined with Withey often playing the role of rim protector, there aren’t many chances for Withey to get on the break.  If the original break is stopped, Withey is a solid option as a trailer cutting towards the basket if there is space to get him the ball.

Withey’s athletic ability and long strides does allow him to get back against the break if necessary

Intangibles/Summary

Withey’s improvement over the last few years certainly show what hard work and opportunity can provide.  He is coachable and a team-first player and he doesn’t need to be the focus to make major contributions.  On the offensive end, he has been molded into the big man that Kansas needs him to be, though that certainly wouldn’t be a good fit for all offenses, especially ones that like to feature a strong low-post presence.  Defense is what is going to make Withey an attractive player to many teams at the next level, and there is still room for him improve.  He will need to get stronger and not rely on looking to block shots as much; instead he will need to become a better one-on-one defender. 

Draft Value:  1^st Round – Late 1^st – #20-28

Withey is a seasoned player with a strong basketball IQ who should be able to step in immediately and play valuable minutes.  Improved low post play on both ends could lead to a starting role in the future.  He would fit well with a team looking for immediate low-post defensive help off the bench.

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