NBA Draft Prospects: Elliot Williams, Memphis

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Stats: 17.9 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 3.8 apg, 1.3 spg, 36.6% 3PT, 45.9% FG

Size:

• Listed: 6'4", 175 lb, 21 yrs old
  
• Combine: Did not attend (injury)

About Him: After watching Elliot Williams ride the bench at Duke for much of his freshman season, you would be hard-pressed to believe that the sophomore swingman was considered a potential first round pick. But after averaging over 17 ppg as the focal point of the Memphis offense last season, that's exactly what Williams has become.

Offensively, Williams' game is based almost completely on his quickness. The 6'4", 175 lb, Williams has a tremendous first step and is excellent at beating his defender. This first step is part of the reason he is so good at getting to the foul line, taking 7.5 freebies a game, many of the and-one variety. The problem is that Williams, who is a lefty, really struggles when he is forced to go right. Not only is he much, much better at getting to the basket going left, Williams seemingly has zero confidence in his right hand around the rim. He routinely switches the ball back to his left hand, even if it means having to force up a much tougher shot.

This wouldn't be a huge problem if it wasn't for the fact that Williams has almost no mid-range game. Pull-up jumpers are a foreign concept for Williams, and he doesn't have much of a floater or runner in his arsenal either. That's not to say he isn't a good shooter. Williams knocked down a respectable 37% of his three balls this season. Most of those, however, came as the spot-up variety. When he has time, he can be an effective shooter, which leads one to believe that developing a mid-range jumper is a possibility.
What makes Williams intriguing as a prospect is his ability to pass. Williams averaged nearly 4 apg, and really looked for his teammates if he drew an extrta defender. There definitely seems to be some potential there as a playmaker at the next level. When he did get minutes his freshman season at Duke, he played the point, and while he's not a pure point guard, he definitely has the handle to give minutes as a primary ball-handler.

Defensively, Williams has excellent quickness, the size and length to defend the two, and good anticipation in the passing lanes. The problem is that Williams has a slight frame, weighing in at just 175 lb. He needs to add strength and weight if he is going to be an above average defensive player -- especially at the two -- in the NBA.

Comparison:

• Best Case Scenario: The comparison I've seen often is Jason Terry. Williams isn't quite as good of a shooter as Terry just yet, and he has a bit of size on Terry, but in terms of their style of play and role on the team, it is a good comparison. Cuttino Mobley is another name I've seen tossed around.
  
• Worst Case Scenario: I've seen Michael Dickerson thrown out there, which is decent. Maybe a poor man's CJ Miles.

Outlook: Williams is the kind of player that can go anywhere from the mid-20's to the mid-40's in this draft. But according to multiple reports, Williams has been difficult to work out during the draft process. He injured his knee, which kept him out of the combine, and his camp has been silent on the status of that knee. His workouts and the info he has released has generally been only with the teams interested in him. As a player, Williams has the talent and potential to one day be a starter in the league, but in the long term I see Williams as more of a back-up, instant offense kind of player off the bench.

Highlights: