Kentucky
De'Aaron Fox6-4, PG, Freshman
14 points, 2 steals, 5-13 FG
This wasn't Fox's best game statistically. He only ended up having one assist and was mainly looking to get downhill and finish. He is unstoppable going left, but really only wants to go left. If you sit on it and make him go right, he isn't as effective. He had a couple impressive dunks in the halfcourt, showing off his explosiveness and speed. The jumper is ugly, even though he did hit one mid range shot. His three point shooting percentage (23.8%) and free throw percentage (73%) don't bod well for the future in that department either.
Where Fox makes his money is defensively. He picks up full court and stays with a high motor all game long. He is the type of point guard you want to go to war with on that end with how hard he competes. He has great instincts and quickness when pressuring the ball, making life miserable for opposing guards. If he is going to be effective in the NBA without a jump shot, Fox needs to stay elite on defense, become elite as a floor general, and finish well at the rim. He has no margin for error in those departments without the jumper.
Malik Monk
6-3, SG, Freshman
14 points, 4 assists, 3-10 FG, 2-5 3FG
Monk struggled shooting this game, but the shot creation he has is elite. He can get it off quick and whenever he wants. Monk is so smooth in the way he creates his own shot. He can score at all three levels and make it look easy. His dribble isn't as creative as you'd like, but he has a deadly hang dribble that is impossible to stop and time to guard. He has really grown and showed off a lot more playmaking skills throughout the season that at first. He is throwing lobs to Bam easily and making nice reads across the floor. Offensively, Monk is the complete package as an off guard.
The biggest question with Monk will be his size and who he guards. He did a lot better than expected guarding McDuffie from Wichita State, coming up with the huge block at the end on a shot that would've given Wichita the lead. He has the athleticism and requisite length to be passable on defense. He will get exposed on the wing when he has to guard bigger NBA wings that like to post up like DeRozan, Wiggins, Wade, and others. The question for the team wanting to draft him high will be if the tools he brings offensively weight the potential exploitation defensively.
Isaiah Briscoe
6-3, PG, Sophomore
5 points, 4 rebounds
Briscoe's NBA prospects have almost completely washed away this year. His limitations have been exposed as an undersized, unathletic off guard who derives his offense from bullying guys on drives and finishing at the rim. He has taken a back seat to Fox, Monk, and Bam this season offensively, mainly being a drive and kick guy on offense. He can't shoot and it looks really bad coming out of his hands, even though he did hit one three this game.
Briscoe is really tough and competes hard on defense. He is quick and shifty both on defense and with his dribble. Outside of creating shots for others and competing on defense, it doesn't seem like Briscoe has a role in the NBA. He isn't athletic enough to compete with NBA guards and can't shoot at all. It's hard to see him making a roster with these limitations.
Bam Adebayo
6-10, C, Freshman
13 points, 10 rebounds, 6-11 FG
Bam's stock has taken a hit throughout the course of the year, but I might still be one of the few people high on what he can be in the NBA. Bam's role in the NBA looks a lot clearer than his role at Kentucky. At UK, Coach Cal is known for wanting to throw the ball into his bigs, whereas Bam would be much more effective as a pick and roll dive guy where he can catch lobs using his plus athleticism. He gets up high and quick, using his 7-2 wingspan for his advantage, especially protecting the rim. Bam also goes up and grabs rebounds out of his area, something that is desirable for bigs. He had 4 offensive rebounds in this game, something that will be very valuable at the NBA level.
Bam moves his feet well on the perimeter against guards in addition to being a solid rim protector. He seems to have a lot of tools that NBA teams will desire from a center. He doesn't have much in the way of shooting skill or post moves, which makes him limited to being a pick and roll dive guy. It's easy to like Bam when he has a game like this, showing off all the things that made people fall in love with him before the season started.
Wenyen Gabriel
6-9, PF, Freshman
0 points, 0-5 FG
The idea of what Gabriel can be is far away from what he actually is currently. I was quite high on Gabriel earlier in the year, but it doesn't seem like he's made much progress. His physical tools and athleticism are enticing, but he is still really raw with his skills, IQ, and feel for the game. This will be a big summer of development for Gabriel, seeing as Coach Cal is bringing in new talented frontcourt players that will challenge Gabriel for his spot.
Wichita State
Markis McDuffie6-8, SF, Sophomore
5 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2-9 FG, 1-6 3FG
Wichita's leading scorer struggled to find his rhythm against Kentucky. Monk did a great job checking him during stretches. McDuffie is very limited off the dribble and can't create his own shot yet. He had a nifty finish around the rim, but he can really only go places on a straight line drive. He can get away with that at times due to his athleticism, but when he gets to the NBA he's going to need more than that to get a basket.
He forces his shot at times, but he's grown at letting the game come to him. He mostly needs someone to create shots for him due to his lack of creativity. Defensively, he has the athleticism and physical tools to be a real nightmare. At 6-8 with mobility, he can guard 1-4 at the college level and might be able to guard 1-3 at the NBA level. He was Wichita's leading scorer and rebounder this year. Evaluating him definitely won't be tied to this one bad game.
Landry Shamet
6-4, PG, Freshman
20 points, 7-14 FG, 2-7 3FG
Shamet's poise handling the ball at 6-4 was outstanding. Fox's pressure is some of the best in the country, and Shamet handled it well, ending the game with 0 turnovers. He has the shake that you need for a point guard, navigating the pick and roll and trying to create separation from the defense. He seemed to be comfortable going both ways as well.
Shamet's frame is only 188 pounds, but his toughness makes up for it. He didn't get pushed around when he attacked the rim and made some tough finishes towards the end of the game. This kid is absolutely fearless and plays with passion. The types of shots he hit at the end of the game were tough. He is 44.6% shooter from three on a ton of attempts. He gets great elevation and loft on his jumper is perfect. He needs to get stronger and improve his playmaking skills but the raw tools for an NBA point guard are there. Another successful redshirt job by Gregg Marshall.
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