D'Angelo Russell
Birthdate: Aug. 16, 1995 (Flint, Mich.)
School: Troy (Troy, Mich.) Class: 2015 (OFFICIAL) Height: 6'5" Weight: 180 NBA Position: PG/SG |
The Ohio State University (2014-2015)
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Scouting Report 1.0 — 04.29.2015 (Joseph Fafinski)
Six months ago, D'Angelo Russell was merely a contributor to an Ohio State team (SI’s season preview noted the Buckeyes “lack a standout”); now, he is a consensus lottery selection among NBA Draft pundits.
That kind of quick rise to fame is detrimental to some, but Russell has the potential to turn it into a full-fledged body of work because his skills are set up for success at the professional level.
In the NBA, Russell projects as a hybrid guard, a guy who can develop at both positions. Standing 6’5 and clocking in at 180 pounds, Russell has the size scouts love, and his skill set is undoubtedly among the finest this class has to offer. He handles the ball as well as anybody in this draft, and possesses an unmatched combination of athleticism and confidence among the early entries.
Russell’s defense in Columbus wasn’t stout, per se, but his 6’9 wingspan will bode well in the association, particularly in disrupting passing lanes and altering shots. He’s not as quick as the Rajon Rondos of the world. Watch any tape and you’ll note this aspect particularly in transition offense. The lack of explosiveness in college, as scouts call it, can yield similarly dismal results in the pro rank.
Russell passes and rebounds as well as any guard entering the draft. There’s a little James Harden in Russell’s game, the way he struts and glides his way across the court with confidence. His self-assurance at Ohio State never prevented the guard from routinely jacking up 15 or more shots per game, resulting in scoring outputs of 33 (a win over Northwestern), 32 (a win over Sacred Heart), and a pair of 28s (both wins). In fact, the Buckeyes were 14-2 when Russell scored 20 points and undefeated in 16 games when he made at least half his shots.
When the stakes are high, Russell performs, plain and simple. He has a mean set of skills and should be a force to reckon with in the pros if all goes as planned. In the NBA, it’s rare that a lottery selection, usually playing for a struggling franchise, will be called to immediately contribute rather than let their skills flourish. Russell’s weaknesses can easily be dealt with in the right system. I have faith.
That kind of quick rise to fame is detrimental to some, but Russell has the potential to turn it into a full-fledged body of work because his skills are set up for success at the professional level.
In the NBA, Russell projects as a hybrid guard, a guy who can develop at both positions. Standing 6’5 and clocking in at 180 pounds, Russell has the size scouts love, and his skill set is undoubtedly among the finest this class has to offer. He handles the ball as well as anybody in this draft, and possesses an unmatched combination of athleticism and confidence among the early entries.
Russell’s defense in Columbus wasn’t stout, per se, but his 6’9 wingspan will bode well in the association, particularly in disrupting passing lanes and altering shots. He’s not as quick as the Rajon Rondos of the world. Watch any tape and you’ll note this aspect particularly in transition offense. The lack of explosiveness in college, as scouts call it, can yield similarly dismal results in the pro rank.
Russell passes and rebounds as well as any guard entering the draft. There’s a little James Harden in Russell’s game, the way he struts and glides his way across the court with confidence. His self-assurance at Ohio State never prevented the guard from routinely jacking up 15 or more shots per game, resulting in scoring outputs of 33 (a win over Northwestern), 32 (a win over Sacred Heart), and a pair of 28s (both wins). In fact, the Buckeyes were 14-2 when Russell scored 20 points and undefeated in 16 games when he made at least half his shots.
When the stakes are high, Russell performs, plain and simple. He has a mean set of skills and should be a force to reckon with in the pros if all goes as planned. In the NBA, it’s rare that a lottery selection, usually playing for a struggling franchise, will be called to immediately contribute rather than let their skills flourish. Russell’s weaknesses can easily be dealt with in the right system. I have faith.