NBA Draft Prospects: Greg Monroe, Georgetown

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Stats: 16.1 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 3.8 apg, 3.3 t/o's, 1.5 bpg, 52.5% FG

Listed Size: 6'11", 240 lb, 20 yrs old


About Him: Out of every prospect in this draft, I probably know Greg Monroe's game the best. I live in DC, which has afforded me the opportunity to see him in person a good 20-25 times the last two years, watching him play countless other games on TV.

Perhaps the most important thing to note about Monroe is that he is big enough to play the center position in the NBA. He's 6'11" in shoes, he has a 7'2" wingspan, and he weighs almost 250 lbs. This is important because athletically, Monroe may have problems matching up with power forwards. His 29" max vertical isn't the worst we've seen, but it does confirm the fact that Monroe has, at best, average explosiveness. Dwight Howard, he is not.

Monroe's most noteworthy skill is his passing ability. He has a tremendous feel for the game, great court vision and court awareness, and is capable of making pinpoint passes out of the post, the high post, or on the perimeter. Playing in Georgetown's Princeton offense really allowed Monroe to show off this aspect of his game.

The rest of Monroe's game is a bit hit and miss. He's mobile, he has quick feet, and he has good footwork in the post, and when he goes over his right shoulder (to his left hand; he's a lefty), he's can be an effective scorer. He has a solid lefty hook and can get a good shot off equally well using his finesse or a power move. The issue is that Monroe is not a great finisher, especially if there is contact. He may power through a defender and draw a foul, but he does not earn an and-1 as well as one would like. Monroe's right hand is virtually non-existant. If he goes over is left shoulder, odds are good he will bring the ball back to his left hand. Teams overplayed Monroe's right shoulder heavily the past two years, and far too often he would settle for a tougher, low-percentage shot going to his left hand.

The rest of his offensive repertoire is equally questionable. He has decent form on his jumpshot, but he doesn't knock it down all that consistently. He has the mobility and the quickness to have a decent face-up game -- especially when he is going up against centers -- but he doesn't have a good enough handle to take advantage of it, especially going right.

Defensively, Monroe will likely never be a shot blocking presence or an all-defensive team kind of player, but he has good size, mobility, and footwork. There is no reason he cannot be a capable defender at the next level.

The biggest knock on Monroe has always been passion. Does he love the game? Does he care? Does he play hard? As someone that has seen him play in person quite a bit, I don't question his passion for winning. The kid plays hard all the time. This season, he really seemed to be tougher, both physically and mentally. He was more effective holding position in the post, he was more aggressive on the glass.

I cannot, however, comment on his work ethic. Word is that Monroe came into this season really out of shape, and it will scare teams off if they believe that a player that so obviously can make a huge improvement skill wise with some hard work (handle, right hand jump shot) doesn't put in the effort.

Comparisons:

• Best Case Scenario: Brad Miller in his prime, which would make him a pretty good player. A less perimeter-oriented Lamar Odom is another comparison I like.
  
• Worst Case Scenario: The comparison a lot of websites have been using is Josh McRoberts, who actually had a similar profile coming out of Duke. Monroe is much more talented, however.
  

Outlook: Greg Monroe is not going to be a franchise player in the NBA. He doesn't have the demeanor to be a star. But he will be an excellent role player (assuming he puts in the work). He's unselfish, he's heady about the game, and he has a skill set that would allow him to blend in nicely in a lot of systems. Big men that can pass, rebound, defend a pick and roll, and get you 12-15 ppg are a commodity. There's no reason Monroe can't be that kind of player.

Highlights:





(I couldn't find a lot of good videos of Monroe, so if you know of any, please share them in the comments section.)