Prospect Notebook: Scouting Notes From Bradley Versus UAB
Bradley and UAB clashed in a tightly contested game that saw UAB make a second half surge to force overtime, but ultimately wasn't quite enough to pull out the victory. Let’s check out some scouting notes from the game’s top prospects: Eric Gaines, Javian Davis, Malevy Leons, Darius Hannah and Christian Davis.
Eric Gaines I Ancillary Guard I Junior I UAB
Stats: 38 minutes, 16 points (6-18 FGA, 1-6 3PA, 3-4 FTA), 4 rebounds, 2 assists (4 turnovers) and 3 steals
-Not the most efficient shooting night and forced a couple of shots at the rim that were heavily contested.
-Still offered moments of his diverse shotmaking including a one leg fadeaway after utilizing back screen, a pick-and-roll reject crossover attack into an hanging off hand finish on the other side of the rim to help defender (Hannah) contesting art the rim, and a stepback three over the contesting Leons.
-Is his blend of shotmaking, explosive athleticism and quickness enough offensively to compensate for shooting/floor spacing concerns?
-Ideally, takes another leap in 3-point percentage this season. Career best in 3-point percentage and attempts after shooting 25% from three on 80 attempts the prior season at LSU
-Defensive playmaking/event creation is a translatable aspect of his defense that always pops. Will need it to help compensate for his lack of ideal size and slender frame (6-foot-2 and 165 pounds). Anticipation for passing lane steals and quick hands on an on ball steal.
Javian Davis I Big I Redshirt Senior I UAB
Stats: 37 minutes, 20 points (8-9 FGA, 4-6 FTA), 15 rebounds (8 off), 4 steals, and 2 turnovers
-Thrived as an efficient play finisher and sent the game into overtime by dunking home a drop down pass. After his game tying dunk, stepped up in the pick-and-roll to effectively contest and force this miss. Effective with his length defensively all game.
-Early post touch score flashed impressive footwork and patience then finished it off with a soft touch on the jump hook.
-Very active on the glass, mostly as below the rim rebounder. Putback slam after a Gaines push and miss following a Bradley made basket. Mostly an in area rebounder on both ends.
-6-foot-9, 265-pound frame was a lot for the Bradley bigs to deal with.
Malevy Leons I Big Wing I Grad Student I Bradley
Stats: 39 minutes, 24 points (8-14 FGA, 2-5 3PA, 6-7 FTA), 14 rebounds (3 off), 1 assist (4 turnovers), 1 block and 3 steals
-His mix of length, ball skills, feel, fluidity and floor spacing at 6-foot-9 and 210 pounds continues to be his offensive appeal at the NBA level and gave UAB issues throughout the game.
-Fluid footwork on euro into dunk and a couple of post spins into dunks. Hit two threes including a BLOB corner catch-and-shoot three. Favorite score was a short roll spin into a touch finish over the help defender at the rim.
-Connective passing moments sprinkled throughout. Best pass did not result in an assist-baseline wraparound bounce pass that was blocked.
-Timely cutter. Made two baseline cuts, delivering a two hand dunk on Hannah’s drop off after not getting the ball on a similar play earlier in the game. Screen slip to draw shooting foul.
-Showed why he is the reigning MVC Defensive Player of the Year with 4 stocks and two noticeable stops/forced turnovers on Gaines. In isolation against Gaines, reached down with those long arms and great timing to strip the ball then push it up the floor to find Deen for three. On the other, chased Gaines around an off-ball screen then fought through an on ball screen to get the steal on Gaines’ pass attempt.
-Rebounded in and out of his area including pulling down a couple in traffic.
Darius Hannah I Big Wing I Senior I Bradley
Stats: 36 minutes, 14 points (7-11 FGA, 0-1 3PA), 6 rebounds, 5 assists (2 turnovers), 2 steals and 1 block
-Similar to his teammate Leons, the blend of size (6-foot-9), ball skills, feel and shotmaking popped. -Knocked down a couple of mid-range jumpers: a fluid tween pullup elbow jumper and a catch-and-shoot free throw line jumper. Flashed self creation with the pull-up even on a couple of misses and a face up floater.
-His short roll playmaking and passing overall was tremendous. Delivered a couple of corner skip passes after reading the defense and made a slick drop off pass to a cutting Leons along the baseline for a dunk. Stationary bounce pass assist to backdoor cutter and live dribble drop off pass after attacking a closeout.
-Game high five assists.
-Game winning hanging finish at the rim over the help defender after rolling to the rim.
Christian Davis I Wing I Redshirt Junior I Bradley
Stats: 27 minutes, 4 points (0-1 FGA, 0-1 3PA, 4-6 FTA), 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 blocks and 2 steals
-6-foot-7, long wing with NBA positional size.
-5 stocks featuring standout defensive playmaking. Fights through on ball screen at the point of attack to get the strip then gets on the floor for the loose ball. Fights through an off ball screen to recover for a block shot at the rim. Drops down to deny the elbow entry pass then closes out under control to block a 3-point attempt.
-Will be Davis’ first season in a significant role. If the defense continues to stand out and he provides capable shooting, should garner 3-and-D role interest. Shot 31% from three last season (32 attempts).
Want to join the discussion? Like Draft Digest on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest NBA Draft news. You can also meet the team behind the coverage