Scouting Report: Cleanthony Early, SF, Wichita St.
While Cleanthony Early is a little older than the other wings being looked at outside of the lottery in the first round, he has one major advantage: his proven ability to shoot the ball. He's 23, which will scare some teams off, but it also means that a team will be getting four years closer to his ultimate peak on a rookie deal, rather than waiting on upside. That means he's a better fit on teams in a certain situation, but it also means he's probably undervalued later in the first round for contenders looking for a contributing piece.
Background
| Position | DX Rank | ESPN Rank | Height w/o Shoes | Weight (lbs.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SF | 30 | 22 | 6' 6" | 209 |
| Wing | Vert (in.) | Standing Reach | Hand Length (in.) | Agility (sec.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6' 10.75" | 40 | 8' 5.5" | 8.5 | 11.15 |
| NCAA Stats | PPG | RPG | APG | FG% | 3FG% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-14 | 16.4 | 5.9 | 0.8 | 48.6% | 37.5% |
| 2012-13 | 13.9 | 5.4 | 0.6 | 45.5% | 31.8% |
Scouting Report
Strengths: Early is big for a small forward, allowing him to play a physical style of game that's well complemented by impressive leaping ability. In short, Early is a problem, physically, for most other wings. The fact that he attacks the offensive glass and can score inside shouldn't be surprising - but what may be is that Early also has a smooth stroke from outside, one that's not yet consistent but should be a weapon at the next level.
Weaknesses: While Early can score inside and out, he struggles a bit in going outside-in due to an occasionally loopy handle. There's also a minor concern about him switching from power forward to small forward - something he rarely did at Wichita St., but one his shot and athletic testing results should allow for seamlessly.
Highlight Reel
What to Expect on Draft Day
While Early may fly under the draft radar due to his advanced age and a perceived bias against the mid-major Shockers, teams would be well-served to remember that he ranked fifth among the top-100 prospects in pace-adjusted scoring this season. Add in the defense and how well he tested at the combine, and it's possible Early could be a steal where he's currently projected, in the 20-30 range. Just don't let him in the dunk contest.