NBA Comparison: DeJuan Blair

Strengths: Stokes is a powerful power forward who is a load to stop on the low block … Great at establishing position around the basket, which is reflected by his 53% shooting from the field this past season … Great rebounder for his size; averaged 10.6 RPG last season … Plays with a high motor and crashes the boards/boxes out tenaciously … Plays with a high IQ and has a good team-first attitude for a guy trying to make it in the league … Great touch around the rim.  Very efficient finisher in the post …Very difficult player to back down in the post … Gets to the line a fair amount.  Averaged over 6 free throw attempts per game this season, where he connected at a rate of 70% … Rarely has an "off night".  Recorded 22 double-doubles this year … Gets up and down the floor quickly in transition …Decent jumper from out to mid-range … With a 7’1" wingspan, Stokes has fantastic length … Good at using a few quick dribbles to get around his man in the paint … Great hands … Has gotten more comfortable playing away from the basket this season on both ends of the court…

Weaknesses: Undersized from a height standpoint for an NBA post player, although this can be alleviated some by his wingspan, strength and motor. Appears around 6’7 to 6’7.5 in shoes … Will struggle to defend face-up 4’s on the perimeter due to his below-average lateral quickness…Somewhat limited offensive game, but he does contribute a lot in other areas…Until this year’s postseason, Stokes’ teams at Tennessee always seemed to under perform…

Overall: Stokes is a powerful and well-built power forward who has the maturity and the skill set to contribute as a role player right away for an NBA team.  He’s a skilled post scorer and a tenacious rebounder and could get a look in the late first round…

Notes: Measured 6’9 (in shoes) 256 lbs, with a 7’1 wingspan at the 2011 LeBron James Skills Academy

Jacob Stallard 4/13/14