NBA Draft Scouting Report: Villanova's Tyler Burton
Tyler Burton
Wing | Richmond
Height: 6'7” | Weight: 215 lbs
2024 Draft Age: 24.36
Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
Prospect Profile
Burton broke out two seasons ago on Richmond’s first NCAA tournament team since 2011 with averages of 16.1 points per game, 7.7 rebounds, 1.6 stocks on 36% from deep (4.2 attempts per game). He’s a legitimate NBA prospect thanks to his positional size on a strong and long frame, 3-point shooting, ability to attack closeouts and 3-and-D role fit. The 23-year-old led team in scoring and rebounding each of the past two seasons
Burton has developed each year at Richmond and has firmly entrenched himself on the draft scene with a physical frame and NBA-ready tools. Operating as the team’s engine, Burton absolutely embraced this role and recently produced a career highs in points. He has scored in the upper thirties multiple times in past two seasons, but ultimately impacts the game in other ways.
His mix of opportunistic scoring, defensive playmaking, positional size and theoretical 3-point shooting is extremely intriguing. There are some concerns about Burton’s lack of pop at the rim, burst and creativity off the bounce, but the biggest swing skill is the 3-point shot. He converted on less than 30% of his triples last season after two conserve years over 36%.
Playing as a jumbo guard or wing, the fundamentals and basketball IQ are what make Burton special. He will function well as an off-ball shooter at the next level, but has shown some flashes of on-ball creation and is a good cutter. He’s mostly efficient offensively and elevates his team even outside of the box score.
His frame allows him to be effective defensively at times, but too often is out of place or makes wrong read. Burton is also not quick enough to defend some guards at point of attack, so he’ll need to defend wings at the next level.
Burton declared for draft two years, but came back to school following time at the NBA G League Elite Camp. Once again last year, he entered the pre-draft process but withdrew ahead of the 2023 NBA Draft and transferred to Villanova.
Highlights
Draft Projection
Second-Round Pick in 2024 NBA Draft.
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