How Does Cam Whitmore Fit with the Charlotte Hornets?
Kyle Neptune (the head coach of the Villanova Wildcats) described Cam Whitmore as "the most athletic guard he's seen in his time at Villanova). High praise from a man who has spent almost a decade with the Wildcats.
Whitmore is an athletic marvel, but he boasts a well-rounded game to match his athleticism. What else can the talented guard bring to the table?
Cam Whitmore - Forward, Villanova
12.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 1.6 turnovers, 1.4 steals, 0.3 blocks
47.8% field goal, 34.3 three-point (4.2 attempts per game), 70.3% free throw
Everything in these strengths and weakness sections will be looked at through a Hornets-specific lens.
Strengths:
The first thing that jumps off the page when watching Whitmore is his athleticism. It pops on both ends, on the ball, and off the ball. Whitmore's ability to impact the game on both ends is clear every time the play button is hit on Villanova film.
He spent the entire Big East conference season eviscerating smaller guards by leaving them in the dust with his quick first step and explosive leaping ability. Charlotte is desperate for some scoring off the bounce and Whitmore could bring it. He'll slot in nicely alongside LaMelo in the backcourt as both a secondary creator (if he develops in that area, more on that later), and an off-ball cutter.
Whitmore is already a solid finisher, as he shot 66% at the rim in his lone season in college. LaMelo could use a running mate in the backcourt with some solid finishing ability. Charlotte didn't have a single teammate at the guard position that shot higher than 60% in the paint last season. Scoring in the Big East is very different than scoring in the NBA, but Whitmore's freaky athletic ability will translate immediately.
Whitmore's combination of size (listed at 6'7") and athleticism will allow him to guard multiple positions right away at the NBA level. He was as close to a wing-stopper as you could find at the college level, and most 19-year-olds have only begun to scratch the surface of their defensive potential. Whitmore's ability to move laterally, parlayed with his solid instincts makes for a player that you could build a wing defense around.
If Whitmore is able to guard the opposition's more talented scoring guard, it could free up LaMelo to guard the weaker option and roam a bit off-ball. Hornets head coach Steve Clifford blasted his team's defensive effort after a December loss to the Pistons, and Whitmore could be the culture changer on that end that Charlotte is in desperate need of.
Lastly, Whitmore is a solid rebounder for a guard. He has shown great anticipation and drive to track down rebounds and it seems instinctual for him. After pulling down rebounds, Whitmore has shown the ability to start fastbreaks with his handle and both attack the rim to score or dish it to a teammate. Charlotte played at the ninth-fastest pace in the league this past season, so Whitmore's ability to be a one-man fastbreak will be welcomed in Charlotte.
Weaknesses:
Most of Whitmore's questions are on the offensive end. And even calling them question marks feels disingenuous. Everything Whitmore has done has come in flashes. He's shown everything you want in a top-five prospect at some point in his freshman year. However, it's all about putting it all together in a single, neatly wrapped package that will determine Whitmore's future in the NBA.
His hyper-athleticism and hiccup-quick first step was deadly in the college game, but there are a few question marks about his ability to create his own shot at the next level. Whitmore has a decent handle, but outside of blowing by slower defenders with his first move, he hasn't shown much of an ability to beat bigger defenders in one-on-one situations.
His lack of an off-the-bounce game also hinders his playmaking ability for his teammates. He is a selfless and willing passer, but most of his passing ability was showcased in the flow of an offense, not as a point-of-attack creator like you want your guards to be. It's been stated in every draft article we've written so far, but Charlotte was last in the league in offensive efficiency in 2022-23. Charlotte needs guys who can score and also set up teammates.
Whitmore averaged less than one assist per game in 2022-23 for Villanova. In 26 games, he totaled 19 assists. His assist rate is going to be near the bottom of wing players picked in the lottery in the history of the NBA draft.
When watching Villanova games, his inability to find teammates outside of the flow of the offense was pretty clear. Whitmore drives with his head down, and he has a one-track mind to get to the basket. On top of that, he's a little loose with the ball. Villanova was in a close contest with Marquette on New Year's Eve, and Whitmore was benched down the stretch of that game after multiple turnovers. Elite athleticism means less when you struggle to read the game after getting past the initial defender.
Lastly, Cam Whitmore's shooting ability is still a bit of a question mark. He hasn't shown a consistent ability to knock down long-range jumpers and has even struggled from the free throw line shooting 70.3% as a freshman. He has decent form as a set shooter, but he hasn't really shown an ability to hit jumpers coming off screens or off the dribble.
There truly is a ton of projection when it comes to what Whitmore will eventually bring on offense, which makes him a tough choice for Charlotte.
LaMelo Ball is already a bonafide star who needs pieces around him to thrive. The clock is ticking for Charlotte to build a team around LaMelo that will prove stout enough to entice him to stick around long-term, and Whitmore isn't the polished prospect that will thrive alongside LaMelo on day one.
Whitmore's offensive game could potentially turn into a weapon down the road. He has a game that reminds me of a young Miles Bridges, to be honest. His athleticism, work ethic, and base of skills are really strong. However, it will take development for him to grow into a Miles Bridges-type player, and not level out as a DeAndre Hunter type.
