NBA Comparison: Dante Exum

Strengths: 6’4 point guard … Good size and length for position with a 6’7 wingspan and 8’4 standing reach … Very good ball handler. Creates and breaks down the defense off the dribble; effectively uses his crossover, changing direction/speed, and knows how to shift his defender. Can fit in tight spaces and gets where he wants with the ball. Good pick and roll ball handler. Doesn’t rely on triple threat, can get to the rim off the dribble in the half court. Fearless driver and very good at drawing fouls. Shot third best 6.6 free throws per game over the Under Armour Association in 2018. Shot 12.3 free throws per game over his four games of the Nike EYBL in 2019, which was the highest of the session … Good court vision and passing ability. Very good in drive and kick situations when attacking the baseline. Makes accurate cross-court passes. Averaged a second most six assists per game over the Under Armour Association in 2018. Averaged 4.5 assists per game in his four games over the Nike EYBL in 2019 … Good scoring ability. Led the Under Armour Association in scoring with 24.6 points per game in 2018. Averaged 28.8 points per game in his four games of the Nike EYBL in 2019, which was the second best of the session … Very good athlete. Finishes plays above the rim with good body control and attacks with aggression. Quick off the ground and first step. Handles the ball well at a high speed, gets going downhill and blows by the defense. Can lead and finish in transition … Good defensive tools with his length and quickness. Will lock in and pick the ball handler on occasions. Anticipates and covers a lot of ground jumping passing lanes. Averaged 1.8 steals per game at the U16 Americas Championship in 2017. Averaged 1.5 steals per game at the U17 World Cup in 2018. Averaged 1.8 steals per game over the Under Armour Association in 2018. Averaged two steals per game over his four games of the Nike EYBL in 2019 … Blocks shots well for a guard …

Weaknesses: Can work on shot selection, tends to settle for deep and contested shots at times … Can improve scoring from midrange; doesn’t show much of a floater or midrange pull-up, and generally doesn’t add many points in that area … Can improve as a three-point shooter. Shot 33.3% 3PT% over the Under Armour Association in 2018. Shot 26.9% 3PT% over his four games of the Nike EYBL in 2019 … Very high-volume shooter and can improve efficiency, took 22 shots per game and shot 40.9% FG% over his four games of the Nike EYBL in 2019. Took 19.3 shots per game over the Under Armour Association in 2018. Can improve finishing in traffic … Can get more movement when playing off the ball … Has room to get stronger … Decision making as a ball handler can improve. Averaged a third most 3.9 turnovers per game over the Under Armour Association in 2018 … Wears his emotions at times. Wants a foul called after missed layups and argues a lot of calls …

Outlook: Playing for the New Zealand Breakers of the NBL … Played in one Nike EYBL session (four games) before reclassifying to the 2019 high school class … 2019 Texas Gatorade Player of the Year … Won Gold at the U16 Americas Championship in 2017 and U17 World Cup in 2018 …

Evan Tomes 8/7/19