The 2021 NBA Draft will be an important event for teams to build for their future. Here is the Ayo Dosunmu 2021 NBA Draft Profile.
Ayo Dosunmu Background
Position:Â Guard
Size: 6-foot-5, 194 pounds
School:Â Illinois
Class:Â Senior
2020-21 stats: 20.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 0.2 blocks, 1.1 steals, 48.8% FG, 39.0% 3PT, 78.3% FT
Dosunmu has been one of the best guards in college basketball over the last three seasons. Now, he is one of the many solid prospects in the 2021 NBA Draft.
As a four-star player in the 2018 recruiting class, Dosunmu chose to play for Illinois in college. He had a solid freshman season with 13.8 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. The Fighting Illini struggled and went 12-21 on the season. Dosunmu improved to average 16.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. The team went 21-10, but the postseason was canceled due to COVID. He decided to return for his junior season and averaged 20.1 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game. His play helped Illinois get a number one seed in the 2021 NCAA Tournament, but they lost in the second round to Loyola-Chicago.
After the season, Dosunmu decided to declare for the 2021 NBA Draft. He is currently projected to be a late first round pick.
Strengths
Dosunmu can run the offense or play off the ball. He handles the ball well for a bigger guard and can break down his man if asked to. Dosunmu runs the offense well as a point guard. In off-ball situations, he runs off screens well and spaces the floor decently. His versatility as a guard will make him more valuable.
Getting to the basket is something that Dosunmu does very well. He is able to put on dribble moves to get by his man. Dosunmu is quick with the ball and finishes strong. A lot of his points will come from inside the lane because he is so good at getting to that dangerous area. Dosunmu can get to the basket in transition or in a half-court offense.
His perimeter defense is among the best in the class. He is a bigger guard who can guard multiple positions, but he also has the footspeed to stay in front of smaller guards. Dosunmu will be able to switch on to different opponents. His length will cause problems for offenses, even if he doesn’t force the most turnovers.
Weaknesses
When driving to the basket, he frequently tries to get the ball to his right hand. He simply doesn’t have the finishing ability with his left hand on a consistent basis. If teams can force him to use his left hand when finishing, they will limit his effectiveness. He was able to be successful with this in college (he did it several times vs. Ohio), but it will be harder to do that at the next level.
His shooting was inconsistent throughout his career. He shot 34.5 percent from 3-point range, but struggled as a sophomore shooting 29.6 percent. Dosunmu will need to work on shooting off the catch, as he is primarily used to shooting off the dribble. His free throw shooting continually improved, which is a good sign that his shooting could still improve. He will also need to work on his form, as he has an uncommon release and kicks his feet wide when he shoots.
For someone who handles the ball a lot, Dosunmu had too many turnovers. At 3.3 turnovers per game, Dosunmu handles the ball well, but puts the ball into dangerous areas with his passing. Being on a bigger NBA floor will help, but Dosunmu can also improve by moving the ball to open players rather than forcing it.
Projected Draft Range:Â Late First Round Pick
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