It’s conference tournament time for college basketball players, and that means it is officially time for March Madness. For the interest of this weekly feature though, it is also a time when players eyed more than ever. It’s when draft stocks rise and fall. Remember Evan Turner’s game-winner against Michigan in the Big 10 tourney? That shot arguably catapulted him to the second overall pick in the draft. Well, at least in Doug Collins’ eyes.
A player who should be a big factor in this week’s action will likely by Nik Stauskas of Michigan. The sophomore has risen up the draft boards with his tremendous campaign, posting 13 20-point games this season. And last year, you may remember his 6-for-6 day shooting beyond the arc as the Wolverines knocked off Florida in the Elite Eight as a freshman.
With three consecutive games of 20 or more points, he is showing a knack to turn it on when it counts. He also did that in their big games against Michigan State, as the two have been jockeying for positioning in the conference standings. Stauskas averaged 22 points against the Spartans this year.
How does he do it? He’s a natural scorer with a tremendous stroke. He is only 6’5’’ so he is not an inside player, but with his shot he makes up for it. Stauskas shot 46% from three this regular season, third in arguably the nation’s best league.
What leads to the great rate is his robotic shooting style. Everything is crisp, clean and quick. Stauskas gets his feet set and rises up with a powerful jump into the air, and his release is very repeatable. He can do this on the ball or off, and has shown an ability to spot up his shots. Furthermore, if he sees daylight in the lane, he can quickly burst through and get in position to score. He has embraced his role of being the go-to guy, something you like to see in a guy with his talents.
As far as weaknesses, it’s not so much that he’s bad at any particular thing, but rather that is where his strengths stop. He will be undersized at the pro level, which is not the greatest thing in the world. Already at a disadvantage, he does not have great foot speed running up and down the floor, and I would call him a liability on defense at the pro level at this stage. He’s gotten by at the amateur level, but if he has to keep up with a guy like James Harden, like he would in the NBA, he will not keep up.
Pro Comparison: J.J. Reddick
The Verdict: Sometimes, I use this weekly post to talk about a guy not to target, rather than target, just to use a “Process of Elimination” for the top picks. He is a fun guy to root for, but I don’t think he’s nearly good enough to be a lottery pick. In fact, I’m prepared to call him an automatic bust if any team expects him to be the guy to turn an organization around, like the 76ers need. I would love having him on my team because he serves a clearl purpose, fills a role, and does it well. If he is hanging around at the top of the second round, which may be a stretch if he keeps up the solid play, I’d jump on him. He could be a seventh or eighth man for the next five years and be a difference-maker at times. But he is not a lottery pick.
