College Stock Watch: Kentucky’s Rob Dillingham
The college season is officially underway and conference play is approaching. Once that happens, it's almost like an entirely new season as rivalries and the grind of a conference schedule begin.
While there's still a significant amount of basketball to be played this season, there has already been many players who have performed better than expected. There's been just as many who haven't played as well as many had hoped.
Things can change quickly, but draft stocks are already being impacted with each passing game. The 2024 NBA Draft class isn't as strong as last summer's group, but still has quality depth.
Whose stock has risen? What about fallen?
This week, we look at the draft stock of Rob Dillingham based on recent play.
Robert Dillingham (Kentucky | Guard)
Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports
Stock: Rising
Season Stats: 14.1 PPG | 4.9 APG | 4.2 RPG | 1.6 SPG | 51.4% 3PT
Coming out of the Overtime Elite program, it was clear that Dillingham had the ability to score points in a hurry. With that in mind, playing at Kentucky would provide a new challenge for the young guard as he would be playing a different role and likely have to operate with fewer shot attempts.
With that in mind, his freshman season with the Wildcats has gotten off to a ridiculously good start, scoring with ease and in an efficient manner. He's shooting better than 50% from beyond the arc on more than four attempts per game. According to Cerebro Sports, Dillingham has earned a 91 3PE, which speaks to just how effective he has been as a perimeter shooter this season.
Dillingham is currently the team's second leading scorer in a bench role, proving to be a very valuable spark plug. Not only can he score, but he can also dish the rock. In fact, Dillingham currently boasts a 35.3% assist rate, which is incredibly impressive for a freshman and he leads the team in assists per game. He's also been a solid rebounder for a somewhat undersized guard.
On the defensive end, Dillingham still has room to improve, but has at least been highly disruptive. He has notched a 3.7% steal rate and is second on the team in total steals.
On one of the most talented rosters in the country that has upwards of eight prospects who will have a chance to be selected in the 2024 NBA Draft, Dillingham has easily been one of the most important players on this Kentucky roster so far.
While he entered the season with a second-round grade, Dillingham now looks like a legitimate first rounder with lottery upside.
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