NBA Comparison: John Starks

Strengths: Gifted and natural scorer … Scored over 17 points per game this season for Oregon while shooting 53% from the field…Is a very good decision maker, and understands when to take shots versus when to pass … Elite three-point shooter, converting 42.4% of his threes on five attempts per game … Shot selection pairs well with the modern NBA, with 77% of his field goal attempts either at the basket or behind the arc … Elite finisher, as Duarte made over 71% of his looks inside, and has an immaculate 63.3% effective field goal percentage … Has solid size and weight to play the shooting guard position immediately at the pro level … Very good free throw shooter at 81% this season … Took a significant step forward as a senior, developing his scoring ability to become a perimeter threat, and scored five points per game more while raising his field goal percentage … Has a quick, smooth and high release on his jump shot … While he is not overly athletic, his ability to shoot from beyond the arc and finish consistently inside raise his floor as a high-level scorer … Also a tenacious defender, and averaged just under two steal per game this season … Has the length and strength to guard point guards through small forwards in the NBA … Is always engaged defensively, and understands where to position himself … Very good at keeping his man in front of him on dribble penetration … Quick and active hands, leads to steals and well contested shots … Had 21 blocks this season, and can use timing to repel smaller guards shots … Solid rebounder, boxes out well…Has the handle and vision to be an effective secondary playmaker, but was rarely given the opportunity to run the offense at Oregon …

Weaknesses: At 23 years old, Duarte’s most glaring weakness is his advanced age for a draft eligible player … He handles the ball well, but was rarely impacted with assists, averaging just 2.3 this season … He is limited athletically, and his lack of speed and vertical may make being a lockdown defender challenging, as well as creating his own shot more challenging … His scoring and defense give him a high floor, but his age and athleticism somehwat limit his ceiling … Will need to turn the ball over less to be given the chance to have the ball as a playmaker so often, as he averaged nearly as many turnovers as assists this season … Duarte should be a solid player in the NBA, but it is difficult to see more than a good three and D player with his lack of burst and upside …

Notes: Won the Jerry West award for the best shooting guard in college basketball … Was selected as a First-Team All-Pac 12 player and first-team Pac 12 all-defense team. Played two years at Junior College Northwest Florida State where he won MVP honors of the NJCAA … Turned down an invite to participate at the 2021 NBA Draft Combine sparking speculation that he may have a first round promise in place …

Michael Hopp 6/9/21