Scouting Report: Devin Booker, SG, Kentucky
Tap here to get an in-depth look at the top prospects in this year's draft class leading up to the NBA draft, which takes place on June 25 in Brooklyn.
With apologies to Phil Jackson and Byron Scott, 3-point shooting continues to justifiably have a premium placed on it, which is great news for Devin Booker.
Considered to be one of the best shooters in the class, Booker's pre-draft process has likely been about proving to teams that he can be more than a spot-up threat. With a 41.1-percent mark from outside - even if a lot of those attempts were open looks thanks to the Kentucky juggernaut - NBA teams know he can stroke it. How convincing he is in showing teams he can defend, dribble, or drive could have a 10-spot difference in his draft stock.
Relevant Background
| Position | DraftExpress Rank | ESPN Rank | Height w/ Shoes | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SG | 12 | 13 | 6' 5.75" | 206 |
| Wingspan | Standing Reach | Max Vertical (in.) | Hand Length (in.) | Body Fat % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6' 8.25" | 8' 6.5" | 34.5 | 8.75 | 8.3% |
| NCAA Stats | PPG | RPG | APG | FG% | 3FG% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-15 | 10.0 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 47.0% | 41.1% |
Scouting Report
Strengths: Shooting. Shooting. Shooting. We're officially submitting the nickname "Booker 3" as an homage to the master of the spinaroonie and as a nod to Booker's 3-point bombing, which is likely to be prolific in an NBA offense. There may be a player or two in the draft with slightly better strokes, but Booker's in the conversation as the top marksman. He's also a smart player who can find creases in a defense and defends fairly well himself - he had the best lane agility and shuttle run scores at the combine, intimating more defensive potential than he gets credit for.
Weaknesses: Despite the quickness scores, Booker isn't a particularly great athlete, or at least he fails to leverage those tools in game situations. For now, he's mostly going to be used in a spot-up role, because he doesn't possess a great handle or a nose for driving the lane. There are worse things than being a corner sniper, but the concerns about his overall upside beyond that role are warranted based on his play as a freshman.
Highlight Reel
What to Expect on Draft Day
With his 19th birthday not coming around until the eve of the 2015-16 season, teams would be justified in projecting some non-shooting development into Booker's profile. If a team can sell themselves on defensive potential and really believe he's the best shooter available, it wouldn't be crazy to see him go as high as No. 8, and the Charlotte Hornets make great sense on paper at No. 9. If teams come away unconvinced about the talent gap between him and shooting specialists available much later, it's conceivable he could fall just outside the lottery.