Memphis Freshman Strengths: Memphis forward with a physical and athletic profile, and stepped up and played quality basketball after teammate and fellow 2020 draft prospect James Wiseman Jr decided to leave the school and prepare for the NBA draft … Achiuwa isn’t a 7 footer, but he has adequate size at around 6’9” 225, with a massive 7’2.25 wingspan and 9’0 standing reach, and the frame to add some bulk … Athletically he is pretty explosive, capable of beating 4s off the bounce in the high post, and the thing that stands out about him is the fact he plays with live wire energy … Pretty quick and twitchy at the 4 spot, with a good 2nd jump that helps him tremendously as a shot blocker and offensive rebounder; the areas where, no surprise, he makes his biggest impact … Long armed (7’2 wingspan), wiry strong, and seems to be rangy enough to easily be a small ball 5 especially as he gets even stronger … Physical player and makes a good amount of effort plays on both ends, definitely shows a high motor on the court … More of a slashing 4 than a pick and pop guy … Moves well without the ball to get some easy baskets … Has shown the ability to finish around the rim, often with authority … Does a good job of moving his feet and playing solid defense, doesn’t really commit a bunch of silly fouls, and has improved as the season has progressed at not compromising his teams defense by gambling for blocks unnecessarily … Solid overall rebounder who is averaging 10 a game so far on the season … Has been encouraging that he has stepped up his play and become more of a leader on this young Memphis squad that lost Wiseman Jr early in the season, it seems to be expediting his development and you can tell his feel for the game is improving … Has played a lot at the 5 in the AAC for Memphis, somewhat out of necessity, and has some interesting positional versatility depending on if his team wants to play a big or small lineup
Weaknesses: His ball skills are a work in progress for a prospect considered a tweener forward, not quite a particularly good ball handler or shooter for a wing at this stage … Currently shooting 40% from 3 point range, but he doesn’t even average 1 attempt a game, and some of his misses were unsightly … His ability to develop at least a standstill jumper with legitimate 3 point range will go a long way in determining his appeal as a potential 3-and-D type of player … Has shot poorly from the free throw line as a Fr at 55% so far this season, illustrating how much his overall shooting needs to progress … Doesn’t have a versatile set of moves off the dribble, struggles to create if he doesn’t win with his quick 1st step … Like Wiseman Jr, Achiuwa sometimes likes to be aggressive looking to block shots and will bite on fakes or give up passing lanes or points occasionally … Mediocre to below average as a playmaker for others as a combo forward (1:2.7 A:TO)…Sometimes gets out of control when creating for himself…Doesn’t seem like he will have very many plays drawn up for him at the NBA level…Achiuwa is also old for his class, as he is 20 years old right now as a Fr …
Overall: This season brought on more responsibility than Achiuwa probably assumed he would get going into the season, but it wasn’t too tall of a task for him as he came into Memphis with a well decorated HS basketball resume … He put up averages of 15 ppg, 10 boards, and 2 blocks a night on 52% shooting on a pretty good Memphis team … At the next level he will need to continue to use his quickness and explosive athleticism to make plays without the ball and be an active defender, 2 things he has shown he can do … How much he improves his perimeter skills, namely his shooting ability, will determine if he reaches his ceiling…He has the makings of a solid role player given his size, athleticism and intensity level …
Jorrye Nixon 5/8/20
Strengths: 6’9 explosive forward … Great length with a 7’2.25 wingspan and 9’0 standing reach … Explosive athlete with an aggressive mindset … Very quick first step … Jumps well off one or both feet … Throws down dunks on defenders and attacks the rim off the dribble … Good slashing ability. Doesn’t shy away from contact … Moves very well at his height and has good versatility … Good motor and activity level … Has shown great progression as a jump shooter, even with ability to pullup off the dribble. Good arc and rotation on shot. … Averaged 13.6 points per game over the Under Armour Association in 2018 … Finished fourth in scoring at the NBPA Top 100 with 14.4 points per game in 2018 … Great strength and powerful body, doesn’t lack physicality … Finishes well through contact and draws fouls at a good rate. Shot a second most 6.8 free throws per game over the Under Armour Association in 2018 … Good rebounder on both ends. Finished fifth on the Under Armour Association with eight rebounds per game in 2018 … Finished third at the NBPA Top 100 with 7.1 rebounds per game in 2018 … Solid ballhandling and passing ability at his height. Can pass out of drives and on the move … Defends well and versatile on that end, defending each position. Gets low in a defensive stance and moves his feet very well … Averaged 1.1 steals per game at the NBPA Top 100 in 2018 … Good timing and quick off the ground as a shot blocker, gets chase downs on occasions … Finished ninth on the Under Armour Association with 2.1 blocks per game in 2018 … Highly confident …
Weaknesses: Needs to add creativity to his dribble, lacks technique when his path gets cut off. Needs work when he can’t dunk it over the defense and finishing contested layups, especially with his left hand. Doesn’t create much in the half court, generally just straight-line slashes to the basket … Can add a floater and midrange game to his offense. He tends to leave his feet without a plan to throw up an off-balanced shot … Perimeter offensive game has room to improve … Jump shot has shown improvement but is still a work in progress, as well as shot selection. Hunts for his shots and predetermines when he’s going to come down and shoot, rather than feel out the situation. Will take a defensive rebound to the other end to force up an ill-advised shot without making a pass. Settles for contested shots. Has made improvement as a 3PT shooter but some of his shooting numbers going into his senior year include shooting 22.2% 3P% over the Under Armour Association in 2018. Shot 6.7% 3P% (1-15) at the NBPA Top 100 in 2018 … Leans forward on free throws and seems off-balanced. Only shot 53.7% FT% over the Under Armour Association in 2018. Shot 60.6% FT% at the NBPA Top 100 in 2018 … Decision making with the ball can improve as well as cutting down on turnovers. Can be more willing as a passer but can also be very loose/wild with his passing. Averaged 2.9 turnovers per game over the Under Armour Association in 2018 … Older for an incoming freshman, will turn 20 in September of his freshman year of college …
Outlook: Played his senior year at Montverde Academy … Led the 2019 McDonald’s All-American Game in scoring with 22 points, also grabbed nine rebounds with five on offense … Finished with 15 points, 11 rebounds, and four blocks in the 2019 Nike Hoop Summit …
Evan Tomes 5/18/19
Strengths: 6’9 explosive forward … Great length with a 7’2 wingspan and 9’0 standing reach … Explosive athlete with an aggressive mindset … Very quick first step … Jumps well off one or both feet … Throws down dunks on defenders and attacks the rim off the dribble … Good slashing ability. Doesn’t shy away from contact … Moves very well at his height and has good versatility … Good motor and activity level … Averaged 13.6 points per game over the Under Armour Association in 2018 … Finished fourth in scoring at the NBPA Top 100 with 14.4 points per game in 2018 … Great strength and powerful body, doesn’t lack physicality … Finishes well through contact and draws fouls at a good rate. Shot a second most 6.8 free throws per game over the Under Armour Association in 2018 … Good rebounder. Finished fifth on the Under Armour Association with eight rebounds per game in 2018 … Finished third at the NBPA Top 100 with 7.1 rebounds per game in 2018 … Solid ballhandling and passing ability at his height. Passes well out of drives and on the move … Defends well and versatile on that end. Gets low in a defensive stance and moves his feet very well … Averaged 1.1 steals per game at the NBPA Top 100 in 2018 … Good timing and quick off the ground as a shot blocker, gets chase downs on occasions … Finished ninth on the Under Armour Association with 2.1 blocks per game in 2018 …
Weaknesses: Jumpshot has shown improvement but needs more consistency … Needs to add creativity to his dribble, lacks technique when his path gets cut off and can’t dunk it over the defense. Doesn’t create much in the half court and can get more action playing off the ball … Can add a floater and midrange game to his offense … Perimeter offensive game has much room to improve. Settles for contested shots at times and can improve consistency. Shot 22.2% 3P% over the Under Armour Association in 2018. Shot 6.7% 3P% (1-15) at the NBPA Top 100 in 2018 … Leans forward on free throws and seems off-balanced. Only shot 53.7% FT% over the Under Armour Association in 2018. Shot 60.6% FT% at the NBPA Top 100 in 2018 … Can cut down on turnovers. Averaged 2.9 turnovers per game over the Under Armour Association in 2018 … Older for his class, will turn 20 in September of his freshman year of college …
Outlook: Playing his senior year at Montverde Academy after transferring from St. Benedict’s Prep … Big talent and explosive athlete in the 2019 high school class …
Notes: Measured: 6’9 in shoes, 223 lbs, a 7’2.25 wingspan, with a 9’0 standing reach at the 2019 Nike Hoop Summit … Originally from Nigeria …
Evan Tomes 4/12/19
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