I got the feedback from the former pro scout on the Duke current freshmen. I want to be clear on this, he was very hesitant on saying anything other than his observations and how each player’s skills could apply to the NBA game. He repeatedly said “all of the Duke freshman have been very inconsistent this year in the eyes of NBA scouts.”
Vernon Carey
In his words, “He has been solid this year and he has shown the scouts that he is more than capable of playing in the league. He has grown as an interior player by scoring and rebounding down low. His face up game is getting there. The questions are still alive is if he is athletic, and agile enough to play against an NBA 4 or if he is a good enough post defender to play against NBA 5s. It is collectively presumed he will come out, and if he does, he will be a 1st round pick, probably a mid to late selection. He has helped himself this year in college.”
Matthew Hurt
In his words, “He is what the NBA is look for in a 4. A guy that can shoot the ball, score the ball and handle the ball some. That alone could get him drafted, but there are some questions too that scouts have and those questions might loom too big on some team’s draft boards. His body still needs to develop and that can happen both in college and in an NBA program at some level. Where he is being evaluated is on his mentality, his confidence, and willingness to do the work as a 4; not an NBA wing. Guys like him and his skill set, often just try to float around and catch and shoot. However, he is going to have to be determined to battle physically developed grown men down low too. Some teams might be willing to take a chance and developed him over time while others may want more potential to make a role in a few years. If he came out, he might be selected in the draft.”
Cassius Stanley
In his words, “He meets the eye test on his size and athleticism. He has been up and down with his shooting but has shown that he can be a scorer. NBA teams are aware of him and those teams that don’t need an immediate impact type of guy would take a chance on him because he (just like Hurt) could develop in either college of the League some place. There is no doubting his physical attributes, which everyone has seen this season, but there are many guys in the League that are very athletic. He just needs to show the scouts in camps and in workouts that he is more than an athletic guy and has basketball skills that produce against other players that are just as athletic. If he comes out, he probably will get selected.”
Wendell Moore
In his words, “He’s a guy that doesn’t have an NBA position yet. Is he a 2? He hasn’t shown that he can offensively fill that role by either shooting the ball or driving with the ball. Is he a 3? Again, his scoring is a question, but so is his ability to defend against those long, athletic guys that will shoot over him or post him up. He has played some at the 4 at Duke, but a much bigger sample size is needed to answer those questions. He has talent and it still needs to be developed and showcased game in and game out. If he came out, he could get invited to NBA camps and make G Leagues to develop.”
Vernon Carey
In his words, “He has been solid this year and he has shown the scouts that he is more than capable of playing in the league. He has grown as an interior player by scoring and rebounding down low. His face up game is getting there. The questions are still alive is if he is athletic, and agile enough to play against an NBA 4 or if he is a good enough post defender to play against NBA 5s. It is collectively presumed he will come out, and if he does, he will be a 1st round pick, probably a mid to late selection. He has helped himself this year in college.”
Matthew Hurt
In his words, “He is what the NBA is look for in a 4. A guy that can shoot the ball, score the ball and handle the ball some. That alone could get him drafted, but there are some questions too that scouts have and those questions might loom too big on some team’s draft boards. His body still needs to develop and that can happen both in college and in an NBA program at some level. Where he is being evaluated is on his mentality, his confidence, and willingness to do the work as a 4; not an NBA wing. Guys like him and his skill set, often just try to float around and catch and shoot. However, he is going to have to be determined to battle physically developed grown men down low too. Some teams might be willing to take a chance and developed him over time while others may want more potential to make a role in a few years. If he came out, he might be selected in the draft.”
Cassius Stanley
In his words, “He meets the eye test on his size and athleticism. He has been up and down with his shooting but has shown that he can be a scorer. NBA teams are aware of him and those teams that don’t need an immediate impact type of guy would take a chance on him because he (just like Hurt) could develop in either college of the League some place. There is no doubting his physical attributes, which everyone has seen this season, but there are many guys in the League that are very athletic. He just needs to show the scouts in camps and in workouts that he is more than an athletic guy and has basketball skills that produce against other players that are just as athletic. If he comes out, he probably will get selected.”
Wendell Moore
In his words, “He’s a guy that doesn’t have an NBA position yet. Is he a 2? He hasn’t shown that he can offensively fill that role by either shooting the ball or driving with the ball. Is he a 3? Again, his scoring is a question, but so is his ability to defend against those long, athletic guys that will shoot over him or post him up. He has played some at the 4 at Duke, but a much bigger sample size is needed to answer those questions. He has talent and it still needs to be developed and showcased game in and game out. If he came out, he could get invited to NBA camps and make G Leagues to develop.”
