76ers select Charles Bassey with No. 53 pick
The Philadelphia 76ers have selected Western Kentucky center Charles Bassey with the No. 53 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.
Born in Nigeria, Bassey grew up playing soccer but shifted his full-time focus to basketball before his teenage years. A move to the U.S. followed, and Bassey immediately impressed in his high school freshman year.
Bassey has since racked up plenty of individual silverware in three years at Western Kentucky. He played just 10 games as a sophomore before fracturing his tibia, but he returned for a dominant junior season; he was named 2021 Conference USA Player of the Year after averaging 17.6 points, 11.6 rebounds, and a whopping 3.1 blocks game.
He projects as a solid defensive big man in the NBA. He has the potential to eventually anchor units in half-court settings, but his offensive game may require further refining.
Bio
Position: Center
School: Western Kentucky
College experience: Junior
Height: 6-foot-10
Weight: 230.2 lbs
Wingspan: 7-foot-3
Max vertical: 36 inches
Strengths
- Shows off a high motor by consistently crashing the glass; averaged 11.6 rebounds per contest, including 3.3 offensive boards
- Good mobility relative to size
- Loves to play above the rim, especially as an alley-oop target
- Combines timing with size inside on defense; ranked fourth in the country with 3.1 blocks per game
Weaknesses
- Demonstrated flashes of 3-point shot, but shooting range and confidence remain limited
- Struggles with the ball in his hands after putting it on the floor
- Lack of left-hand finishing allows smart post defenders to shut him down by pushing him to off hand