This previous weekend I traveled to Atlanta to go to Extra time Elite, the place I evaluated two nights of a playoff collection with Extra time Elite’s Chilly Hearts staff dealing with Hillcrest Prep (Ariz.). In consequence, I used to be in a position to watch many proficient prospects play. Nonetheless, two gamers that might probably be within the 2024 NBA Draft caught my eye: level guard Rob Dillingham and put up Tyler Smith. I’ve seen each gamers many occasions earlier than; nonetheless, as we speak, I’d like to offer you my most up to date pulse on every.
Rob Dillingham, OTE (Hickory, N.C.)6-1 | 170 | Guard | Faculty: KentuckyGame 1: 12 PTS, 5 REB, 5 ASTGame 2: 22 PTS, 7 AST, 4 STL
I’ve been saying lots these days that conventional huge males and undersized guards are shedding worth on the NBA degree at an alarming price. So, at first look, Dillingham doesn’t essentially scream “big-time NBA prospect,” as he’s not tall and has a slight construct at 6-foot-1, 170. As soon as the ball is tipped, nonetheless, it’s simple to see why Dillingham is extremely touted. First, his pace, shiftiness, craftiness, and knack for attending to his spots and establishing his teammates by dishing the ball with good timing and really feel are uncanny. And Dillingham is already a succesful shot-maker, sometimes capturing off the dribble after always altering his tempo and zig-zagging across the court docket whereas recurrently getting as much as speeds that appear like 100 miles per hour and stopping on a dime. Then, there’s Dillingham’s ground presence. There’s no ignoring Dillingham whereas he’s on the court docket, as he exudes an quantity of confidence and swagger that’s not often seen in a participant his age (18 years outdated). He talks plenty of trash and walks a high-quality line between having confidence that creates a aggressive edge and being just a bit an excessive amount of. I feel his method may be efficient if utilized correctly. Nonetheless, once more, he’s strolling a high-quality line, and I’m preserving a pulse on these components of his recreation.
As I’ve collected my ideas after my most up-to-date publicity to Dillingham, I can’t assist myself to think about two gamers that I’ve had the chance to spend so much of time round: T.J. Ford and Brandon Jennings, each gamers who had been lottery picks chosen by my dad’s staff, the Milwaukee Bucks. (My dad, Dave Babcock, is the Bucks’ director of participant personnel, and has been with the staff for greater than 25 years.) Dillingham possesses Ford’s jet pace and water bug quickness and Jennings’ craftiness, shot-making, and swagger.
So the large looming query stays: is Dillingham particular sufficient to be an exception to this newly unwritten rule about undersized guards within the NBA and grow to be a top-tiered NBA prospect? Nicely, I feel so, however I’m not fully certain but. So I’ll watch him intently subsequent season as he’s set to go to Lexington to play for coach John Calipari and the Kentucky Wildcats.
Tyler Smith, OTE (Houston, Texas)6-10 | 214 | Ahead/Heart | Faculty: N/AGame 1: 21 PTS, 7 REB, 4-7 3PTGame 2: 26 PTS, 8 REB, 3-6 3PT
Like Dillingham, I’ve seen Smith play many occasions earlier than my newest journey to Extra time Elite. And really, I keep in mind exactly the primary time I noticed him play in individual. It was at an AAU match in Dallas a few years in the past. Then shortly after, in Houston, when he switched squads to staff up with 2023 NBA Draft prospect Keyonte George (Baylor). Smith was most likely round 6-foot-8 after I first noticed him, and he confirmed flashes of versatility and a capability to stretch the ground by capturing the ball from exterior.
I used to be intrigued.
Quick ahead to now, and Smith is each bit 6-foot-10, and his physique has begun to fill out. So at his present dimension, Smith is a lefty stretch huge, as he sometimes performs confronted in the direction of the ring exterior on the perimeter. And he’s able to capturing from deep, which was evident in these two latest video games I watched as he shot 7-of-13 from three-point vary. Smith can also be a succesful finisher on the rim, using primarily straight-line drives. Nevertheless, he may put it on the ground for a giant man and end utilizing some artful finishes, euro steps, and totally different strikes across the basket. I wouldn’t say Smith is exceptionally explosive. Nonetheless, he’s coordinated, expert, and a superb athlete, making him a well-rounded and versatile huge on each ends of the ground.
Per Cerebro Sports activities, they’ve aggregated metrics from 45 of Smith’s video games at Extra time Elite and the highschool degree. Smith has made 62-of-192 three-point makes an attempt (.322). After all, these metrics don’t essentially counsel he’ll grow to be the following Dirk Nowitzki or Karl-Anthony Cities. Nevertheless, I heard a veteran NBA coach as soon as say, “we want our huge males to shoot it nicely sufficient in order that they maintain the protection sincere by having to protect them on the perimeter, offering needed ground spacing.” Nicely, I feel Smith is already at that time in his growth. Additionally, contemplating that he’s developed a popularity for being one of many largest health club rats within the Extra time Elite program, tells me he’ll maintain bettering.
So over two years, my curiosity in Smith as an NBA prospect has transitioned from intrigue to pleasure. And at this price, I think the following characterization in my analysis will likely be “promise.”
Regardless, I’ll be preserving shut tabs on Tyler Smith transferring ahead.
When you learn this, maintain grinding, huge fella!
