Editor’s note: This is the fifth in a series examining top prospects in the NBA Draft. Profiles are based on conversations with NBA general managers and scouts.
Andre Drummond arrived at Connecticut as the No. 2-ranked high school prospect and was viewed as an athletic big man expected to give the Huskies a good shot to repeat as national champions.
Instead, Drummond was inconsistent and a bit of a disappointment, and UConn mostly underachieved.
So why are NBA scouts and general managers so high on the 6-foot-10 center?
“Well, because of his upside,” a scout said. “We love that here in the NBA.”
The scout then admitted that “upside” sometimes translates to “bust” — mentioning Kwame Brown and Hasheem Thabeet as centers who were selected too early and never panned out.
This isn’t to say Drummond is similar to either of those players. But the bottom line is, sometimes, teams draft big only to end up with small results. Especially when the big man has as many question marks as Drummond.
On the bright side, Drummond possesses a large frame and superb athleticism. His mobility and overall skills have even drawn comparisons to Lakers center Andrew Bynum.
Nothing to complain about there.
On the downside, despite all the physical gifts and high expectations, Drummond averaged just 10 points and 7.6 rebounds per game at the collegiate level. And let’s just say he wasn’t exactly facing Dwight Howard on a nightly basis. Then again, he does seem to make Howard look like Mark Price from the free-throw line — as Drummond hit an inexcusable 29 percent of his foul shots.
Basically, when the kid steps to the line, the rim cringes with fear.
So all of the above makes Drummond a bit of a project. As noted on the website DraftExpress.com, “Whoever drafts him would be well-served hiring an experienced big man coach who can work with him on a daily basis and help him learn how to play with more toughness, confidence and aggressiveness.”
Still, most scouts seem to think Drummond will only get better at the next level — and any team in desperate need of a true pivot man would be wise to take a flyer on him in the lottery.
“He’s so young and in need of some guidance, but if you think he can be anything like Bynum, you gotta take him,” said one Western Conference GM. “If you’re rebuilding, and most teams in the lottery are, you could do a lot worse. He’d be a good piece, maybe great, if you can team him with another really good player.”
Just like a lot of prospects in what is perceived as a deep draft, so much of Drummond’s stock will be determined by how he fares in individual workouts. It’s pretty clear Kentucky forward Anthony Davis will go No. 1 — but who goes No. 2 remains up for grabs.
“If Drummond impresses (during individual workouts), he’ll be that guy,” one scout said. “If he doesn’t, and just looks so-so, he could drop fast. There might not be a bigger unknown at the moment.”
The scout later summed up Drummond this way: “There’s no doubt about his size and athleticism. It’s far and away better than any other center (in the draft). Now, he just has to answer the rest of the questions. If most of the answers are positive, and you feel he still has a high ceiling, some of the other risks will make him worth taking.”
Andre Drummond File
Height: 6-10
Weight: 260 pounds
Position: Center
Date of birth: 8-10-1993 (18 years old)
Hometown: Middletown, Conn.
High School: St. Thomas More
College: Connecticut
Follow Sam Amico on Twitter @SamAmicoFSO
