Busting Brackets
Fansided

NCAA Basketball: Midseason scouting notes and takeaways on 2023 NBA Draft prospects

By Brandon Simberg

Feb 5, 2023; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines guard Kobe Bufkin (2) and guard Jett Howard (13) celebrate during the second half against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Crisler Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 5, 2023; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines guard Kobe Bufkin (2) and guard Jett Howard (13) celebrate during the second half against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Crisler Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 8
Next
NCAA Basketball Villanova Wildcats forward Cam Whitmore Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Basketball Villanova Wildcats forward Cam Whitmore Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports /

Cam Whitmore – Villanova – 6’7, 232 lbs – July 2004

I saw Whitmore twice over the past month and oh boy, he is built for an 18-year-old, especially in his lower half. Doesn’t have the widest shoulders but is still strong up top. The 6’7 seems to be pushing it, looks closer to 6’6 in shoes. His shot looked solid pregame. Not the smoothest jumper, but enough of a base to work with.

Whitmore’s clear athleticism and strength help him as a driver, which is what he does best right now. He took off from pretty far for a few athletic slams. On film, I’ve noticed he is much better as a straight-line driver than changing directions. He did have a really nice behind-the-back dribble into a finish in transition against DePaul, but I worry about the ability to change directions in the half-court.

Whitmore’s assist rate is below average this season and it’s easier to see why after watching him. I think he can make simple reads, but he has a hard time distinguishing where the help is coming from and how to process the second line of defense. He does have the ability to be a ball-stopper at times. However, it’s not like Villanova’s team context is great. There are really no-proven guards and it’s an isolation/spacing-heavy offense that doesn’t allow Whitmore to play in the dunker spot or as a roller, two spots on the court I think he would succeed.

Whitmore recorded three rebounds in the 46 minutes I saw, which is probably a bit of an anomaly given his season stats, but I don’t think he played incredibly hard. Whitmore is theoretically better as a 4, but at only 6’6 (instead of 6′ 8)  he probably has to play the 3 at times. He wasn’t bad defensively, but he also wasn’t super impactful.

The team context and his youth (he will be 19 his entire rookie season) are the two things working in his favor. I believe the shot is workable and he ends up around 35-37% from deep in the NBA. There’s enough of a body to work with to make me feel comfortable drafting him in the top 10, with the understanding that he maybe isn’t super helpful as a rookie. On the high end, there’s some Miles Bridges to his game. But on the low end, we could be looking at another version of Naasir Little. He’s one of the tougher evals for me right now, but should definitely not fall outside the lottery.

Home/NBA Draft News