The 2019 NBA Draft will be a great event for teams to start building for their future. The Game Haus will be doing scouting reports on some of the top prospects in the 2019 NBA Draft. UNC point guard Coby White got better as the college basketball season went on and is now being recognized by NBA executives.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYZ4p8R2wxE
Background
Position:Â Point Guard
Class:Â Freshman
2018-2019 stats: 16.1points per game, 3.5 rebounds per game, 4.1 assists per game, 1.1 steals per game, 0.3 blocks per game, 42.3% field goal, 35.3% 3 point
Size:Â 6-foot-5, 185 pounds
White didn’t start the season off with the same expectations that other top NBA Draft prospects did and started slowly. After a while, he found his groove and became a major part of North Carolina’s team and their best NBA draft prospect.
He was named to All-ACC team for his play over the season. Although North Carolina was able to have a good regular season, the Tar Heels fell to the Auburn Tigers in the Sweet Sixteen. While the season didn’t end like UNC fans would’ve liked, it didn’t start as well as they would’ve hoped either and White’s emergence helped the team for the back half of the season.
As a player that showed flashes of greatness before ending the year strongly, White is now poised to make the jump to the NBA. He is currently projected to be selected within the top 10 picks of the 2019 NBA Draft.
Strengths
White’s height at the point guard position will be among the best in the league. At 6-foot-5 he should be able a mismatch for most other point guards in the league. He will be able to look over defenders to see the whole floor. His length could be disruptive on the defensive side of the ball.
Although he is tall, White still possesses good quickness and speed. This helps him in both on and off-ball situations, as well as on defense. Shorter guards shouldn’t be able to use their speed to get around him. He is so fast that he could be one of the fastest players in the league next season.
He has the ability to score from near the basket, mid-range and deep. White can create his own shot with his dribbling ability as well. He can beat his man off the dribble and get to the basket or pull up from mid-range if his defender is anticipating him going to the basket. His versatility, size and ability to create his own shot, could turn him into an offensive weapon.
Weaknesses
The height is there for White, but he is very thin at 185 pounds. He needs to add play strength so he can finish near the basket over bigger defenders. The added muscle will also help him stay healthier and deal with the grind of an 82 game schedule.
White needs to make better decisions on the court as a point guard. He had 4.1 assists per game, which isn’t a large amount for a point guard. White also had 2.7 turnovers per game. If he can set up his teammates better while protecting the ball, he can develop into a better all-around point guard.
His speed is a blessing, but it can also be a curse, as he sometimes plays out of control on offense. This leads to bad shots and turnovers, which stalled the offense and killed runs. If he can learn to harness his speed and quickness, it will be even more of a strength for him.
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