Scouting Report: Aaron Gordon, PF, Arizona
Regardless of where he gets drafted, we can be sure of one thing when it comes to Arizona freshman Aaron Gordon: he will be one of the league's three best in-game dunkers immediately. We are not willing to concede an inch on this point, because it is not opinion, but fact. As for his potential as an actual basketball player, well, that's pretty solid, too, and Gordon is battling with Noah Vonleh and Julius Randle in the five-to-10 range of the draft.
Background
| Position | DX Rank | ESPN Rank | Height w/o Shoes | Weight (lbs.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PF | 9 | 7 | 6' 7.5" | 220 |
| Wing | Vert (in.) | Standing Reach | Hand Length (in.) | Agility (sec.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6' 11.75" | 39 | 8' 9" | 8.75 | 10.81 |
| NCAA Stats | PPG | RPG | APG | FG% | 3FG% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-14 | 12.4 | 8 | 2 | 49.5% | 35.6% |
Scouting Report
Strengths: Let's start here: when factoring in standing reach and vertical jump, Gordon has a maximum jumping reach of 12 feet. That may be one inch shy of Vonleh's score, but it also happens to be among the elite scores in the history of the draft combine. Gordon is, in a word, a freak. Beyond that, he also plays hard constantly, making him one of the best defenders in the class.
Weaknesses: Gordon may have shot 35.6 percent on threes this season but his shot is broken and needs a lot of work. Look no forward than his 42.2 percent mark from the free throw line for confirmation that he's not quite polished offensively. Shooting is the main knock, though, after Gordon safely measured as a four and put the "tweener" label to rest.
Highlight Reel
What to Expect on Draft Day
Gordon is reportedly polarizing among scouts, more than his power forward counterparts. That makes his landing spot hard to predict, as he's perhaps more likely to jump up and slide down on draft night, though the realistic draft range for all Gordon, Vonleh, and Randle seems to be the five-to-10 range. Gordon's upside is immense given the physical tools he has, but whichever coach lands him may need to practice patience and creativity to get the most out of him.