In-Person Scouting Notes: Ohio State vs. Minnesota
John Mobley Jr. was the main attraction and the clearest 2025 NBA Draft prospect, but Isaac Asuma and others left strong impressions.
The other night, I attended Minnesota vs. Ohio State and came away with plenty of thoughts. First, Minnesota should figure out how to make free throws. That was an absolutely brutal way to lose a game, especially in double overtime. Second, college games tend to drag on long enough—there’s no need for a ton of reviews to be added to the equation. Finally, there are some really intriguing prospects on both of these teams. Here are my takeaways on potential 2025 NBA Draft (and onwards) prospects John Mobley Jr., Isaac Asuma, and more.
John Mobley Jr. – Freshman G Ohio State
John Mobley Jr. was easily the biggest draw in this game. The freshman guard is one of the best shooters in the country, but I wanted to get a better sense of how else he impacts the game. I always try to get in the building as early as possible so I can get a sense of the habits, personalities, work ethics, and preparations of these players. I know this all is going to sound like a cliché, but Mobley’s warmup was by far the most impressive and professional I’ve seen in the last few years. Typically, guys are going through the motions, having fun, and just getting loose. Mobley was one of the first guys on the floor and the last one to leave. He cracked a few smiles and had some fun trying to knock down some shots from the stands, but all of that came after a pretty intensive, detail-oriented warmup. Mobley took about a million jumpers that came from every area of the floor and mimicked realistic game shots. Sometimes, during games, his shot selection is eye-popping, but he takes those because he’s already taken about 100 of them before the game even tips. Mobley also focused a lot on different finishing packages—through contact, with both hands, and with using different footwork. I know this all sounds like an overreaction, but it was far more detailed, focused, and longer than nearly any other player I’ve seen.