NBA Draft Profiles: Andrew Goudelock, Charleston

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Stats: 23.7 ppg, 4.2 apg, 3.9 rpg, 3.2 t/o's, 40.7 3PT%

Age: 22, senior

Size:

• Listed: 6'3", 200 lb
• Official: 6'1" (no shoes), N/A (with shoes), 6'4.5" (wingspan), 8'0" (reach), 200 lb

Strengths: Goudelock may have spent his career in the Southern Conference, but that fact shouldn't diminish what he is able to do scoring the ball. There is a legitimate argument to be made that Goudelock is the best shooter and has the deepest range of anyone in this draft, and that includes Jimmer Fredette. He's got a very quick release and is capable of getting his shot of at almost any time -- off the dribble, off the catch, curling around a screen, with a defender hugging him. Goudelock is far from what you would consider a promising athlete, but he is able to use his dribble to create space because he uses hesitations and excellent footwork to keep his defender off balance.

Weaknesses: The fact that Goudelock is a legitimate candidate to get drafted this season is a testament to just how good of a shooter he is, because the rest of his game is far from what you would consider NBA ready. For starters, Goudelock does not project as an NBA point guard. He did average 4.2 assists this past season, and while he can make plays and find assists, he's still a score-first player who needs to have the ball in his hands to create. He won't get many of those opportunities in the NBA. Goudelock is also an underwhelming athlete. He doesn't have the quickness or the explosiveness to get by his defender on the perimeter. It also hampers him on the defensive end, where he will struggle to stay in front of NBA point guards.

Comparisons:

• Best Case Scenario: Goudelock likely isn't going to be a starter in the NBA, but if he can prove that he can defend at that level, he is a good enough shooter to carve out a career. Think JJ Barea or CJ Watson with a better jump shot. I can even envision a scenario where Goudelock ends up playing a Steve Kerr-esque role for some team down the road.


• Worst Case Scenario: The one thing that is certain for Goudelock is his ability to shoot and his ability to score, and at the end of the day, basketball games are won by outscoring your opponent (duh). Someone will be paying Goudelock to play. It may be in the NBA, or it may be somewhere in Russia or Spain or Germany. Jannero Pargo turned a hot postseason into a $3.8 million contract from a team in Russia.

Outlook: We know that Goudelock can score. He proved it time and again against some of the best teams in the country. He had 27 points in a one point loss at Maryland. He had 28 points in a five point loss to UNC this year and 24, including the game-winner, in a win over the Heels last year. He scored 31 points in a win over Tennessee this season. We know that, at any level, he is going to be a weapon because he can camp out on the three point line. He spreads the floor and will likely be good for a couple of jumpers a game simply because he gets lost in transition or on an offensive rebound. What will determine the longevity and effectiveness of Goudelock's NBA career will be his ability to defend and his ability to run a team. He does has decent size and length for a point guard, which means that he should, theoretically, be a capable defender at the next level despite some underwhelming lateral quickness. Goudelock has also shown an emphasis on trying to be a point guard and trying to direct a team throughout the draft process. Will he be willing to accept that role?

Draft Range: Mid 2nd Round

And the experts say...

• Chad Ford: "Goudelock has earned a rep as a bit of a poor man's Jimmer Fredette. He's a big-time scorer with deep, deep range on his jumper. But his lack of size and athleticism hurts his draft ceiling even more than it hurts Jimmer's."


• Draft Express: "An exceptionally efficient scorer for the type of shots he attempts, Goudelock lacks NBA physical tools, but he's a terrific shooter from range and knows how to compensate for his weaknesses. While he's had some solid games against quality competition over the years, a tournament berth and a strong showing at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament would be big steps in the right direction as he attempts to make the transition from small conference scorer to NBA draftee. We've learned over the years not to rule out scorers in Goudelock's mold, but there's no question that he's going to have to catch some breaks and hope that all of his cards fall the right way if he's to make it."


• Swish Scout: "Proven 3-point shooter in the NCAA and an intriguing player with ridiculously deep range on his jump shot that made teams have to respect his range out to 30 feet in the SoCon. Goudelock could be a second round steal in 2011 because of his playmaking and shooting, but is a ‘shoot first’ player with some nagging issues that hinder his learning curve."

Highlights: