UNC Basketball: 2019 NBA Draft profile of Tar Heel guard Coby White

Draft Stock: Top 10

Although “safety” is a rather vague term that’s typically applied callously when it comes to evaluating draft prospects (often being placed on players with relatively low upside), it’s a fitting descriptor for Coby White’s placement in the NBA. He’s rather safe as a prospect in regards to the translatable skill set — shooting off the catch, respectable defense, pick-and-roll passing, ball movement, sheer speed — and has a wide range of potential outcomes in terms of his “basement” and “ceiling” results.

Given his current arsenal of dribble moves and scoring instincts, as well as respectable passing traits, he fits the profile of a sparkplug scorer off the bench, with the potential of being a super-sixth-man, in the mold of the Jamal Crawford’s and Lou Williams’s of the world (this isn’t to say that he’s comparable to them in play style or skill set, only role). This is a fine outcome, especially if this is the role he fills in his first few seasons in the NBA, but it’s a bit underwhelming for a prospective top-10 draft selection.

That’s why his lead-guard skills must improve — his handle must tighten up, his feel as a passer and willingness to slow things down a bit (in terms of cautious playmaking) must improve, and he needs to value his shot selection more carefully. In order to be a primary option in the NBA today, one must have a dynamic dribble and scoring arsenal, as well as respectable passing abilities — if one of those areas is relatively weak, then the other must pick up the slack.

With White, he’s shown plenty of flashes of fiery offensive production as a scorer, but his handle and consistency (which is largely connected to his handle, shot selection, and his ability to control his speed) as a shooter must improve for him to be fully realized as a scorer. As a lead guard, White’s grown rapidly as a decision-maker and passer, making notable leaps as a facilitator in the last year alone between his last days in high school, his short stint with Team USA at FIBA U18 Americas, and his freshman season at UNC.

Given his growth trajectory and the significant strides he’s taken in a short time frame, as well as the flashes of valuable scoring, it’s hard not to believe in his further growth into a lead guard in the NBA, albeit one that operates best alongside other playmakers (so, in the realm of Jamal Murray, Jeff Teague, Darren Collison, guards with smaller offensive loads, albeit to varying degrees and styles). He may not be a full-time primary, but that’s OK if he lands in the right spot. Play him alongside other capable ball-movers and creators, and his skills should be utilized in a more efficient, team-friendly manner.

Perhaps other teams carry a similar assessment of White, as he’s routinely mocked in the top-10 on most draft sites, with the point-guard-needy Phoenix Suns (No. 6) and Chicago Bulls (No. 7) dubbed as the likeliest homes for the 6-5 guard from Goldsboro, North Carolina.