NBA Comparison: Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje

Strengths: Bigman with excellent length and defensive potential … 7-foot-3 wingspan gives him exceptional length and makes him a potential rim protector … His bread and butter is his ability to defend as he shows solid lateral foot speed and the ability to smother opponents and limit their open looks … Shows natural timing on blocked shots, and does a solid job of not biting on fakes and exploding on blocked shots … Surprising touch on his mid range jumper considering his lack of all around offensive skills … Uses his length, size and ability to leap off of 2 feet well to grab rebounds … Has become an effective half court player when given an open look from mid range … Scores mainly on face up shots within 10-12 feet of the basket … Put on solid strength over the past year and after appearing to lack strength early in his college career, it no longer looks to be a deficiency … Solid decision maker and passer for a big, had a positive a/to ratio as a senior … Considered hard working player and a high character guy who was an excellent run/jump athlete before becoming a collegian and joining Louisville …

Weaknesses: Lacks great post skills, scoring most of his points on open looks around the basket or face up shots … Limited offensively and likely won’t ever be much of a scorer. Even as a senior failed to average in double digits … FG% is low for a post guy showing his inability to convert a high amount of inside baskets … Midrange shooting is good but touch on plays around the basket is average at best … Will need to develop a back to the basket game and go to move … Not a very effective transition player. A bit of a plodder … Lacks great hands … Leg strength and balance is questionable as he is much better while on balance and explodes off two feet much better than one foot … Lack of body control limits his effectiveness, making plays in transition or when moving toward the basket … Stiff legs. Legs and ankles appear to be very tight, limiting his ability to make adjustments on the fly … Dieng is already 23, so his upside is questionable …

Aran Smith 6/3/13