School/Team: Illawara (NBL)
Stats: 17 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 6.8 apg
Measurables: 6-7, 181 pounds
Position: Guard
Age: 18
Projected Draft Range: Top 5
Tier: 1
Strengths:
- Impressive vision on the court
- Nice touch around basket
- Elite handle
- Orchestrates offense well
- Great size for position
- Finishes well in traffic
- Impressive dribble moves to create space
- Uses body well during finishing
- Fantastic passing ability
- Soft touch around basket
- High basketball IQ
- Creates offense using change of speed
- Doesn't need the ball in his hands to impact the game
- Good anticipation and ability to jump into passing lanes
Weaknesses:
- Shot selection leaves a lot to be desired
- Streaky shooter
- Needs to fill out frame
- Okay athleticism
- Needs to improve effort
- Strength needs to be improved
- Overall defense needs work
Summary: In a draft class that truly doesn't have a true number one, the argument can be made that LaMelo is the best prospect out of them all due to his high ceiling. The potential for LaMelo is very high, but for it to truly all come out I believe the team that drafts him has to be the right fit. Him being such a young prospect, means it will take some time to see how good of a player he can truly be. A true boom or bust prospect, LaMelo is a contentious prospect all around.
NBA Player Floor: Evan Turner
NBA Player Ceiling: Penny Hardaway
Looking at the Tape:
In this gif, you can see LaMelo break down the defender with his elite handles and his vision to find his open teammate for the bucket.
In this gif, you can see his shot selection leaves a lot to be desired. He improved a bit in the NBL, but he was still taking some ill-advised shots that tanked his FG pct (37%).
Highlights:
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