NBA Comparison: Lindsey Hunter

Strengths: Really quick guard, capable of penetrating and beating opponents off the dribble … Tough to stay in front of for defenders … Handles the ball really well and knows how to finish around the rim with both hands … Finishes well through contact and in traffic … Has really good speed, possessing the capability to run an up-tempo offense … Really thrives in transition, as a quick decision maker on the break … Has a really good feel for the game, knows when to score, when to dish, etc … Has exceptional court vision and always knows where he is on the court and what’s around him … Selfless player, always eager to make the right basketball play … Does a good job of kicking it out to open shooters … Came into his own as a playmaker, becoming one of the deadlier shooters and scorers in the country as a junior … Really smooth form on his shot, shooting 42.9% from 3-point range on 6.2 attempts per game during his junior year. 82% foul shooter … Can score from all three levels: Around the rim, mid-range, and three-point range … Plays with a lot of fire and passion … Possesses a good motor … Capable of scoring both off the dribble and in catch and shoot situations … Good burst off speed off the dribble, and solid ball handling ability … Plays hard on defense, has the size and quickness to stay in front of both point guards and shooting guards … He should be a good defender in the NBA … Has good awareness on defense … He has an NBA pedigree with his older brothers Jrue Holiday, and Justin Holiday (who are six and seven years older than Aaron) excelling in the league … He knows what is ahead of him from that standpoint, with valuable advice from his older brothers … He has really improved from his sophomore year to junior year (12.3 points to 20.3 points) … Really embraced the expanded role … Free throw percentage (83%) and 3-point percentages (43%) increased as well … Pretty durable, playing in 101 games during his three years at UCLA, averaging 31.8 minutes per game … Does a good job defending without fouling (2.6 fouls per game) … Good length. Has a plus 5-7 inch wingspan to height …

Weaknesses: Listed at 6’1”, 185 pounds. He’s small for an NBA point guard, though his wingspan helps … Despite what some would consider "combo skills", lay the point position due to size limiatations … Lack of size and leaping ability make it difficult for him to finish at the rim … He’ll need to adjust to the size and speed of the NBA and further develop his floater and ability to get shots off quickly … Needs to improve upon fighting through screens, but does a good job of recovering … Needs to do a better job of closing out on shooters and not allowing open shooters to get space … Gets careless as a floor general. Needs to do a better job taking care of the ball (5.8 assists/3.8 turnovers). Assist-to-turnover ratio needs improvement … Will turn 22 in September, making him one of the older first round point guard prospects available … Could stand to tone his body some, but has good strength …

Notes: Declared for the NBA Draft on March 26th, 2018, announcing that he had decided to forego his final season of eligibility at UCLA … Averaged 20.3 ppg and 5.8 apg (46% fg, 43% 3p, 83% ft) as a junior at UCLA, guiding the Bruins to an NCAA tournament birth … Measured 6’1 (in shoes) 187 lbs, with a 6’6 wingspan at the 2014 Nike Guard Skills Academy …

Ben Parker 5/9/18

August 18, 2013