Willie Cauley-Stein NBA Draft Scouting Report

Credit: Clay Jackson

7-0 – Center – Kentucky

An athletic 7-footer who plays with great energy and hustle.

Pros
Has unusual athleticism for a 7-footer with great agility, lateral quickness and straight line speed. Is very active on defense and hustles for loose balls. Shows good timing as a shot blocker and is a real asset as an interior defender. Also gets a lot of steals and has a good feel for team defense.

Shoots a high percentage from the floor and knows his limits as an offensive player.  Does all of the little things well and doesn’t need to be featured in the offense to make an impact.

Plays with passion, energy and intelligence. Has good basketball I.Q. and is an unselfish player.

Cons
Not an overpowering player and can get pushed around a bit.

Needs to improve his back to the basket game and put in a lot of work as a free throw shooter. Not much of a threat from mid-range. Doesn’t catch the ball well.

Comparisons
Somewhere between Tyson Chandler and JaVale McGee. Chandler was a better offensive player coming out of school (high school to the pros).

Projection: late lottery to mid first round pick in the 2015 NBA Draft

by NBA Draft Room