2016 NBA Draft
Skal Labissiere, PF, Kentucky
12 points, 6-10 FG, 4 rebounds, 6 blocks
Things have finally started to turn around for Labissiere at Kentucky over the course of the last few weeks. The best use of his skills is always going to be as a pick and pop player who can hit mid range jumpers and hopefully someday threes. He got consistent open looks from both elbows out of that action and knocked them down with a consistent, high, smooth form. He isn't as athletic as you would think, but his frame and length make up for that. On defense, he fought hard and did well holding position when Stony Brook's Jameel Warney (260 lbs.) posted him up. You want his rebounding to improve, but this was a nice improvement from him this game.
He doesn't ever dribble ever, and for good reason. He doesn't have a back to the basket game either, looking awkward every time he makes a move from there. Defensively, his six blocks were a great indicator of how dominant he was defensively in this game. He didn't even have to jump at times. Stony Brook players would drive into his arms and all he would have to do his stand straight up to get a block. He has great feel weak side, getting a few blocks from coming over to help as well. This was the type of game that made you feel good about his prospects as a lottery pick. Those people who dubbed him the number one pick before the year started are finally being vindicated a bit with how well Skal is playing.
Jamal Murray, SG, Kentucky
19 points, 7-16 FG, 2-7 3FG, 7 rebounds
Murray struggled to get things going in this game, but he still showed off the advanced feel that will make him succeed in the NBA. The shot wasn't falling, but he has a smooth stroke that he can get off quick. He has phenomenal footwork running around screens, moving around the arc, and shooting off the dribble. It takes him no time to get set and let it fly, which is why he is able to make tough shots. He isn't bashful, but he is also a more willing passer than people think. He moves the ball well off his advantages that he creates one on one, finding the open guy depending on where the help comes from. His handle isn't as tight as you'd like for it to be, which probably doesn't bode well for anyone who still thinks he can be a point guard, but he gets where he needs to go, using his shot as a threat.
He still has a long way to go defensively. He is very undisciplined on that end. He is a decent athlete, but doesn't stay on his feet in closeouts. He also doesn't do a good job with IQ things, like slanting on post ups or keeping his head on a swivel to see man and ball. When he gets to the league, he is going to have to be in a situation where his coach really helps him understand the nuances of NBA defenses, where schemes are complex and difficult to execute if you don't know what is going on. Murray has so much offensive upside, however, that a team drafting in the top five will have to take a long look at him. He is that good.
Tyler Ulis, PG, Kentucky
10 points, 4-10 FG, 0-2 3FG, 7 assists
Ulis, like Murray, struggled to shoot the ball but his mechanics are nice and quick. With how small he is, it will be important for him to have a quick trigger on that shot to get it off in time before longer players close out on him. His size will always be a problem for him, and it even showed against a weaker team like Stony Brook. Ulis had a tough time finishing at the rim when he would attack the paint. He overall was forcing things at times in this game instead of just controlling the pace like he normally does. For the most part, however, he did the things that made you fall in love with him. He is everything you want in a point guard offensively. His feel and IQ is off the charts and his handle is superb. He even does well at "putting guys in jail," a move lots of NBA players do by coming off a ball screen then getting their defender on their hip. He made passes and floaters out of that position regularly, freezing help defenders in terror of what he is going to do. His is a step ahead of everyone on the floor mentally.
Ulis is a spectacular offensive player, which makes it hard to believe the fact that his defense is the best thing he does. Ulis is the definition of a pest. Every player that he guards is immediately uncomfortable. It is easy to look good against the less talented guards that Stony Brook has but the way Ulis moves his feet and uses his hands actively make you terrified for the ball handler. Just as much as he controls the floor on offense, he does on defense as well. He will come out of nowhere to poke the ball out for a steal or just straight rip the guy he is guarding. Right now, Ulis is seen as a second round lock. I might be the only one that thinks this crazy thought, but if I'm a team in the late lottery to early twenties and I need a backup point guard, there aren't many point guards I would have on my board ahead of Ulis.
Jameel Warney, C, Stony Brook
23 points, 10-21 FG, 15 rebounds, 2 blocks, 3 turnovers
Warney had a nice stat stuffing box score, but he struggled against the NBA length and size that the Wildcats put out on the floor. Warney is huge at 6-8, 260 lbs, and you would think he could've used that size to his advantage agains thin guys like Labissiere and Alex Poythress. It was disappointing to see that he couldn't get deep post position regularly give his massive size advantage. Kentucky also threw double teams at him and Warney couldn't handle that pressure. He turned the ball over dribbling or passing out of the post, again showing his struggle against length. His touch with his right hand is nice, but he has no left hand and his jumper is ugly. He basically a high volume rebounder who finishes well on second chances.
He had a lot going against him at Stony Brook. His team isn't very good outside of him. His guards were blatantly looking him off and not throwing it to him when he had his man sealed. There were several missed high low opportunities. His guards were even more scared of Kentucky's length than he was. His guards can't shoot either, so there was never any room for him to even move around the floor, whether it was on the block or in ball screens. It was easy for the Wildcats to take him completely out of the game and make the rest of the Seawolves beat them. Warney could sneak into the second round, and he will for sure be on a Summer League roster, but right now, he looks the part of a big that will dominate overseas.
Alex Poythress, PF, Kentucky
12 points, 4-6 FG, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 blocks
Coach Calipari is doing Poythress a favor this year by strictly playing him at power forward. His first few years, Coach Cal fell in love with the idea of having a gigantic front line with him at small forward and he clearly doesn't have the skills to be that. His handle is weak and he only dribbles with his right hand, shown in the few post ups he got throughout the game. He doesn't look comfortable in the post which makes him a perfect candidate to be a small ball four who can ball screen and dive, given he can't shoot. He plays hard and crashes the glass, which should translate in some way shape or form to the NBA.
His best bet to make a roster will be on the defensive end. He can switch and guard just about any position, even holding his own guarding Warney at times. His length and bounce led to a few steals and monster blocks from the weak side. Poythress probably won't be drafted, but he will definitely be on a Summer League team and is the perfect candidate to be a D-League player next season. He can play freely there while developing other skills as well.
2017 NBA Draft
Isaiah Briscoe, SG, Kentucky
13 points, 5-8 FG, 11 rebounds, 4 turnovers
Briscoe had a solid game, but he still has a ways to go in order to be the first round pick that everyone projected him to be before the season started. Briscoe is strong for a 6-3 player. He uses that to bully his way into the paint on drives and combines that with his long wingspan to get in and grab rebounds amongst big men. He is very shifty with his handle and relentless when attacking. When he catches the ball, he is looking to attack. Along with his size, he has a nice combination of hesitation dribbles, in and outs, and crossovers that help him get by his man, even if he isn't elite athletically.
Briscoe is an elite defender like Ulis, and in a lot similar ways. He is more undisciplined than Ulis is, but he still has fast hands and incredible instincts that bother his man. His anticipation in moving his feet is impressive, showing that he works hard on that end to be the type of defender he is. If Briscoe could shoot at all, we would be looking at an NBA combo guard that would be a lottery pick this year. Instead, he looks more like a player that should wait another year and come back to school. The only problem with that is with the revolving door that Kentucky has, he might get overshadowed by another crop of recruits. He has one of the tougher decisions of any underclassmen.
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