NBA Draft 2021: Player breakdowns from Jimmy V. Classic doubleheader

Illinois

Ayo Dosunmu – 6’5, 185 pounds – Junior

The All-American guard looked the part through the first three games of the season but faced adversity against Baylor’s length and athleticism. Dosunmu faced constant double-teams and traps on pick-and-rolls and in those scenarios he made the right reads. Playmaking and processing speed have not always been a positive for him, so that was good to see.

But in one-on-one scenarios, he really struggled. Whether it was Butler, Mitchell or Mark Vital switched onto him, the Chicago native had trouble winning those battles. For a player with an excellent burst in transition, that speed gets mitigated in the half-court. He can’t quite blow past defenders when forced to use a dribble combo.

After struggling from three last season, Dosunmu drained two of three shots from behind the arc on Wednesday. I buy his improvement from there as he’s 8-17 this season after shooting 29.6% last season. The pull-up shooting is still a work in progress as he missed two pretty badly. His footwork is clunky when attempting those, and he needs an extra step to gather himself, allowing the defender to catch up.

Defensively, Dosunmu was solid. He spent time on Butler and defended him well in on-ball scenarios. With his length and speed, I want him to make more of an impact off the ball.

Dosunmu is a tough eval for me. Growing up in Chicago, I’ve watched him play since his freshman year of high school. He’s made enormous strides to get to where he is today and is, rightfully, recognized as one of the best players in college basketball. But I am concerned about his projection at the next level.

Outside of transition scoring ability, he lacks a certain skill to hang his hat on. He’s definitely not a point guard and I’m unsure if he’ll shoot it well enough and defend well enough to play the two. He should do well in the Big Ten against way less athletic players, but this Baylor game did not help his stock. Dosunmu will need a strong NCAA Tournament run to help get himself into the first round.

I have Dosunmu in the late-second round, but I certainly, think he’s draftable. He’s a hard-working player who has been a winner throughout his life. His focus and work ethic would be good to have in an NBA locker room.

Andre Curbelo – 6’1, 175 pounds – Freshman

Curbelo was a massive spark off the Illinois bench, keeping them in the contest for a large portion of the second half. After struggling with turnovers in his first three collegiate games, the Puerto Rico native looked like himself against Baylor. He finished with 11 points, four assists, and one turnover in just 16 minutes.

Curbelo is a plus ball-handler and has amazing court awareness and he exhibited just that. Curbelo was the only Illini capable of breaking down Baylor’s defense. He was able to get in the paint and create for others. In the clip below, he brilliantly baits Flo Thamba into jumping to block his shot, clearing the way for a Kofi Cockburn dunk.

Curbelo needs to improve as a shooter, but he made his sole three-point attempt. Adding a proficient pull-up shot would open the floor up for him immensely. He also has a ways to go as a defender. With his size, that end will always be an uphill battle so he needs to improve his awareness and not have lapses. He fell asleep on the help a couple of times on Wednesday.

I was super-high on Curbelo coming into the year, but his somewhat limited role should keep him in college for at least another season. That being said, he’s Illinois’ best true point guard and they have a lack of playmaking. If Underwood releases him more, Curbelo could have some high-assist games this season. I would bet he returns to Illinois for a second year, but regardless he is definitely a guy to track.