Scouting Report: Noah Vonleh, PF, Indiana
Noah Vonleh has done more for himself since the end of the NCAA season than maybe any other prospect. It's not that the Indiana freshman wasn't already on the radar, because being among the country's top rebounders and shooting almost 50 percent from long range is sure to get you noticed, but there wasn't a great deal of enthusiasm. Simply by being himself - an enormous human being - and allowing himself to be measured, Vonleh has put his name in the top-five discussion.
Background
| Position | DX Rank | ESPN Rank | Height w/o Shoes | Weight (lbs.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PF | 7 | 5 | 6' 8" | 247 |
| Wing | Vert (in.) | Standing Reach | Hand Length (in.) | Agility (sec.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7' 4.25" | 37 | 9' | 9.75 | 11.45 |
| NCAA Stats | PPG | RPG | APG | FG% | 3FG% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-14 | 11.3 | 9 | 0.6 | 52.3% | 48.5% |
Scouting Report
Strengths: For context, Vonleh's measurements rank somewhere between "oh my" and "wow" in the minds of scouts, so his size alone, despite standing an average 6-foot-8 without shoes, is worth dreaming on. He has all the tools to be a great defender and rebounder, and has the athleticism to match. He's not as good as his 3-point percentage indicates, but he's the rare big man ready to help space the floor immediately, and he was a versatile scorer in the paint for the Hoosiers.
Weaknesses: Vonleh struggles to finish around the basket in traffic, but that's the only major flaw in his arsenal. The issue, then, is that he's still just 18 and was hardly featured in the Indiana offense, so he may be further away from contributing than his power forward prospect peers.
Highlight Reel
What to Expect on Draft Day
Vonleh looms as a bit of a wildcard for how the draft will play out. You can make the case he belongs in the "top tier" of the draft rather than the five-to-ten tier that's been established, but so far he's been focused on teams that pick No. 6 or lower. The battle between Vonleh, Aaron Gordon and Julius Randle for draft position is a fun one, but the team that lands Vonleh will get the player with the highest upside of the three.