The Weekend Slate: Scouting Some of the Weekend's Most Intriguing Games
There's quite a few big events around the country this weekend, with exciting prospects set to face off. Which are the most exciting to scout?
Howard vs Wyoming (Friday, 3:15pm, Paradise Jam)
Howard Top Prospects: Steve Settle III (Big Wing, Redshirt Junior)
Wyoming Top Prospects: Brendan Wenzel (Wing, Junior), Hunter Maldonaldo (Guard, Senior), Max Agbonkpolo (Big Wing, Junior)
Coming into the season, an uptick in 3-point volume and a consistent attack mindset were two areas I wanted to see development in for Settle III. Through five games, the 6-foot-10 stretch wing has increased last season’s 3-point volume of 2.9 attempts per game on 35% shooting to 3.6 attempts on 33% shooting. Despite the percentage drop, I’m thrilled with the volume and am more interested in what his catch-and shoot-numbers and overall shooting versatility will look like at the end of the season.
Settle III is still figuring out how to stay in attack mode and consistently leverage his mix of size, ball skills and shot making ability. He plays the game with a solid feel-connective passing, extra passes, timely cuts, etc., but being a bit more assertive looking for his own will benefit both him and the team. 9.2 field goal attempts per game won't cut it for a player possessing his tools and skills.
Wenzel is the most interesting Wyoming prospect. The former Utah transfer is a long guard with a fluid jumper that’s shooting 45% from deep on 10 attempts per game through two contests.
Maldonaldo, a tall facilitating guard that can stuff the stat sheet, is a known draft commodity that’s limited by his athleticism and shooting. Agbonkpolo, a USC transfer, is worth tracking. Long, athletic and fluid wing with some ball skills. Becomes more intriguing if his shooting career 27% 3-point mark improves.
UCF vs Oklahoma State (Friday, 7:00pm, Baha Mar Bahamas Championship)
UCF Top Prospects: Taylor Hendricks (Big Wing, Freshman)
OSU Top Prospects: Moussa Cisse (Big, Junior), Avery Anderson III (Guard, Senior), Bryce Thompson (Wing, Junior), Kalib Boone (Big, Senior), Woody Newton (Big Wing, Junior)
Hendricks is the best prospect in this game. The freshman is a big wing and fluid athlete that continues to develop as a shooter and defender. Hendricks is averaging 14.7 points, 6.7 rebounds with 2.7 stocks while shooting 40% from deep on 10 total attempts.
For Oklahoma State, Cisse is currently their top prospect. He’s raw offensively, but his NBA appeal is a shot blocking (3.3 blocks in 25.7 minutes), rim running big. Boone, Anderson III and Thompson all should be monitored as G League prospects.
Woody Newton is the sleeper prospect for Ok St. He’s more of a breakout candidate for next season, but his combination of size, length, fluidity, shot making and ball skills scream modern NBA.
Maryland vs Saint Louis (Saturday, 1:00 pm, Hall of Fame Tip-Off)
Saint Louis Top Prospects: Gibson Jimerson (Small Wing, RS Sophomore), Yuri Collins (Guard, Junior), Javonte Perkins (Wing, Senior), Javon Picket (Guard, Senior), Francis Okoro (Big, Senior), Mouhamadou Cisse (Big, Freshman)
Maryland Top Prospects: Julian Reese (Big, Sophomore), Donta Scott (Big Wing, Senior), Jahmir Young (Guard, Grad Student), Hakim Hart (Wing, Senior)
Jimerson is my top prospect for Saint Louis and draft sleeper. He possesses an elite NBA skill in his 3-point shooting that’s paired with shooting versatility and respectable positional size at 6-foot-5. He’s a career 41% 3-point shooter that’s connecting on a blazing 46% from deep on nearly 10 attempts per game (9.3).
Collins’ toughness, floor game and passing vision give him potential backup NBA point guard vibes, more so that third change of pace guard that can run the offense. Last season, he led the country in total assists (267) and assists per game (7.9) while shooting a career best 36% from beyond the arc. As a 6-foot 5, his 3-point percentage and volume are swing factors. He’s averaging 12 assists through three games.
Perkins, Okoro, and Missouri transfer Javon Pickett are G League candidates to monitor. Cisse is a long-term developmental rim running, shot blocking big to track.
Reese and Scott are my two most intriguing Maryland prospects. Reese, a fluid and mobile lefty big with functional ball skills and touch flashes, is taking the next steps as a sophomore with averages of 15 points, 8.7 rebounds (3.3 off) and 1 block through three games. Scott, a stout wing with ball skills and some switchability, can really boost his stock by establishing himself as a legit shooter. Scott shot at a 43% clip from deep as a sophomore before dropping to 29% last season.
It might be only a matter of time until Young rises as a prospect. The Charlotte transfer is a dynamic scoring guard that’s still feeling out his way. Hart will get some NBA looks as a long wing with a 3-and-D profile, but like Scott, needs to prove more as a shooter.
#3 Houston vs Oregon (Sunday, 9:30pm)
Houston Top Prospects: Jarace Walker (Big Wing, Freshman), Marcus Sasser (Guard, Senior), Jamal Shead (Guard, Junior), Terrance Arceneaux (Wing, Freshman)
Oregon Top Prospects: Kel’el Ware (Big, Freshman), Will Richardson (Guard, Senior), N’Faly Dante (Big, Senior) Quincy Guerrier (Big Wing, Senior), Nate Bittle (Big, Sophomore)
This game is highlighted by two potential lottery picks, Houston’s Jarace Walker and Oregon’s Kel’el Ware. By the end of the season, both could have strong cases as top 10 picks, if not higher.
Walker, a versatile two-way wing with a NBA body, is a plug and play selection, particularly on the defensive end. He’s expected to play a bit of the small ball five at the NBA level and will play some for Houston too. I’m hoping for a couple of possessions where Walker defends at center against Ware. I wrote more on his early returns below.
Ware is displaying the skills and tools that give him one of the highest upsides in the draft and could eventually lead to him being the second big selection after Wembamyama (two-man race right now between Lively and Ware). Ware is averaging 9.3 points in 19.7 minutes and more importantly protecting the rim (2.3 blocks) while showing his stretch ability (42% from three, 2.3 attempts per game).
Sasser and Arceneux are the next best Houston prospects. Sasser arguably is the better short-term prospect with Arceneaux being the better long-term prospect. It’s been a rough 3-point shooting start for Sasser (26% on 6.5 attempts per game), but his assist numbers are up, and the shooting versatility and defensive playmaking are still prevalent (2.3 steals per game). In Arceneux’s case, it’s about staying patient with the rangy and toolsy freshman wing. The best is yet to come.
Oregon’s Richardson, Dante and Guerrier all should be considered for the Portsmouth Invitational and as G League prospects while Bittle, the 7-footer with a 7-foot-5 wingspan, offers intrigue as a shot blocking stretch big.
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