Sam Young - NBA Draft Prospects

Numbers: 18.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 1.2 apg, 1.1 spg, 1.1 bpg, 2.4 t/o's, 51% FG, 69% FT, 38% 3's

About Him: Along with Russell Westbrook from UCLA, Sam Young may have been the most improved player in college basketball this season. Young has always had incredible physical tools. He is 6'6" and very strong despite only being listed at 215lb. He has a huge wingspan and his athleticism, explosiveness, and quickness are as good as anyone his size, and he can run the floor very well. As a sophomore, he was mainly a power forward, getting most of his touches at the high post or a little out side the block, and using his quickness to get past the bigger defenders. He still did the same thing as a junior, but this year added a very effective perimeter jump shot, extending out to the college three point line. He doesn't force this shot too much (just over three 3's attempted per game), instead waiting for when he is open and has his feet set. He is, however, a pretty consistent catch-and-shoot guy out to about 15-17 feet, and has an excellent, if exaggerated, pump fake that just about everyone bites on despite knowing its coming (he extends his fake like he is leaving his feet, but keeps the toe of his pivot foot down). His ball-handling is still a little bit shaky, but his first step allows him to make up for this. He doesn't change directions well, but has added a nice little floater when he can't get to the rim. When he does get to the rim, he is an excellent finisher because of his length and athleticism, and the fact that he loves contact. He is also a good rebounder as a result of this (his rebound numbers a fairly low, but that's more a result of DeJuan Blair and the pace Pitt played at). Defensively is where he will make his mark in the NBA. He has great length, lateral quickness, and toughness, and is very tough to get by on the perimeter, even for wings (often times if an opponent's best wing player was bigger, Young would move to the three and defend him). He still has a bit of trouble with defensive positioning (i.e. helpside, fighting through screens) but he can develop that.

Comparisons: Trenton Hassell, James Posey, Bruce Bowen

Bottom Line: Young will be able to hang around the NBA for a long time if he accepts a role as a glue guy offensively, setting screens, getting boards, and knocking down open jumpers, and a stopper defensively. Being that he is now 23, it probably was not in his best interest to return to school, seeing as his draft stock could not be much higher than it is now and NBA scouts already know what kind of player he will be.