Magic 8 Ballers: Take It To The Max (Shulga)
In this edition of Magic 8 Ballers, Rowan Kent looks at one of the mid-major marvels of this season in Max Shulga. What parts of his game make him most ready to crash the 2025 NBA Draft party?
With the winds of college basketball changing faster than anyone can keep up with, hopeful prospects need to strike when the iron is hot. New NCAA rulings have made it possible to earn money in college, stay in college longer, transfer to other schools that may offer better opportunities, play professionally abroad before committing to a college, or even play extended JUCO minutes and still have full eligibility.
On the one hand, recent rulings have seemingly opened up a potential world where one can make a living as a basketball player while earning a degree and do so into their late 20s. That’s a far cry from the old model of college athletics, but additional JUCO eligibility and NIL payment structures have made this a viable model for those who want to stay in college.
On the other hand, while timing has always been everything about a player’s draft stock, it’s now a more complex calculus to solve. Would another year of guaranteed college money result in increased development and buzz? What if one falls into the trap of missing out on their window of intrigue to the NBA? What if they come out too early when another year would’ve done them better?
Every player has to answer these questions; some do better than others. For this week’s Magic 8 Ballers, I wanted to zero in on a player who has, in my eyes, maximized their time and opportunities in the modern college era: Max Shulga. Shulga’s both made the right decisions on when to move or not move around at the college level, but has steadily improved his game to set himself up to capitalize on his improved play and evident talent to drive his NBA draft stock.
Quick Shakes of the 8 Ball
Before it was a fad, Max Shulga transitioned from overseas basketball to college in 2020. After developing at the Basketball School of Excellence in Spain and having some inspired performances for the Ukrainian U18 National Team at the FIBA European Championships in 2019, Shulga took a massive leap of faith and distance to commit to Craig Smith at Utah State.
Shulga came to Logan to fill the shoes of Sam Merill, who had just left the university, alongside fellow future college basketball star Steven Ashworth. While Ashworth brought a squat scoring punch to the team, Shulga came in with a reputation as a tough, rugged, all-around guard, which he’s carried forward and improved upon throughout his college career.
On both ends, Shulga’s main appeal is his plus size and what he does with it. He’s a bigger guard at 6’4”, has solid muscle on his frame, and has notably lanky arms. That long reach helps him to finish over taller players and shoot over them with his quick release. The defensive appeal comes from his lightning-quick stabs for steals, his ability to stay in front of defenders, and his frenzied nature to hound opposing guards into mistakes.
It took him until his junior year, after spending a year under Craig Smith and then Ryan Odom, before Shulga unlocked his full potential at the college level. After starting just two games over his first two years as an Aggie, Shulga fulfilled his backcourt prophecy with Ashworth by starting every game. He ranked fourth in points, rebounds, blocks, and steals per game and second to Ashworth in assists per game.
Like many stars in the transfer era, Shulga chose to stick with the man who had helped him reach his successful heights. He transferred to VCU, where Odom took the job and stepped into a starring role for the Rams from day one. Shulga was the undisputed lead dog for the team, ranking in the top three in most statistical categories. He also saw his three-point percentage improve so that his well-rounded game had finally lost one of its only weaknesses.
Shulga almost chose to find a third home this past offseason, as he was a Villanova Wildcat for three weeks. A change of heart led to Shulga staying with Odom at VCU, where he’s helped the Rams get to a 10-3 start early in the season. More than that, however, Shulga’s shown off such a powerful all-around game that it’s a boon, not a detractor, that he’s a jack-of-all-trades and master of none. His all-around game is arguably the strongest aspect of his appeal as a prospect and what will keep him on NBA forecasts all season.
Occult Offense
As an offensive player, Max Shulga stands out in a few key areas while still being impressive in others. He usually plays with the ball in his hands for VCU, organizing the on- and off-ball actions for the Rams. He looks especially comfortable this year in how he sets up the offense. Shulga knows how to get to his spots better than ever, and that’s led to arguably the best season of his career on the offensive end.
One of the key driving factors (haha) for Shulga’s offensive adeptness is how he gets to the rim. He has a quick, tight handle that helps him set up his moves and get around screens. Shulga also boasts a decisive first step and long strides that ease him into the lane and past help defenders. Finally, Shulga blends his long reach with his gentle touch to loft reverses and floating lay-ups over those who try to challenge him at the basket.
This has led to Shulga shooting, per Synergy, 59.0% on lay-ups this season, which ranks as “Good” by the site’s metrics. He only has one dunk on the season, which speaks to his lack of vertical pop, but that’s the only real issue that Shulga has around the rim. Otherwise, whether he’s creating in an isolation situation or manipulating the defense off of a pick-and-roll, Shulga has developed into a dangerous driver that teams must hone in on, lest they get torched.
Shulga doesn’t have the necessary standout athleticism to be a lead guard at the NBA level, but he’s certainly capable of running side actions or taking advantage of a bent defense. His mastery of using his body and dribble at the college level will help him once his speed advantage is reduced in the pros, but he hasn’t rested on his laurels either.
Slowly but surely, Max Shulga has improved his grift at drawing fouls on the way to the rim. Getting free throws will always be a valuable factor for an offensive player. While neither the flashiest nor the most ethical way to hoop, it’s a necessary tool that any ballhandler needs in their arsenal. Luckily, Shulga’s only improved as a fifth-year college player, drawing a career-high 6.3 free throw attempts per game from his subtly improved deceleration and pace.
With his driving talent and positive size for the guard position, it’s not a problem that Max Shulga will likely not have the ball in his hands as often at the NBA level. His driving is good, not great, and it’s certainly suitable next to a better ball-handler. It may even do Shulga some good to worry about less defensive attention when driving the lane, as he can take advantage of the defense through the rest of his varied skills.
One of those skills that makes him a viable off-ball option in the future despite his current on-ball tendencies is his shooting. Shulga didn’t come into college basketball with a sterling reputation as a shooter, but he’s incrementally built himself into a lethal bomber from beyond the arc. It was one thing to shoot 18/40 from deep in his sophomore season at Utah State when he saw limited action; it’s another ballgame that, over his last two seasons and in the early goings of this one, that Shulga has shot 169/421, or 40.1%, on his three-point tries.
I wouldn’t call Max Shulga’s form “textbook,” but it’s repeatable, quick, and works off balance. He still shoots the ball in front of his face, which could make him susceptible to closeout blocks, although his quick trigger has kept that from happening so far. Shulga’s most consistent weapon is his standstill three-pointers, as he’s shot 35.5%, 42.1%, and 49.1% on catch-and-shoot threes in the past two seasons and this campaign, respectively.
With a limited sample size this year, some of Shulga’s metrics have flipped from where they were the past two years. While he hit 39.7% of the 116 dribble jumper threes in his last year at Utah State and his first year at VCU, Shulga is only 2/13 on pull-up bombs this season. I’d attribute that more to statistical noise, as even the misses look similar to his makes from last year and the year before.
On the flip side, a similar small sample size situation may be afoot with his threes off screens. Over this past two full seasons, Shulga shot just 8/41 on “Off Screen” three-point attempts, per Synergy, while he’s hit 8/15 this season. Each has a small sample size, making it hard to come to any substantive conclusion, but it would be a positive development for Shulga to add this last bit of off-ball movement shooting to his repertoire.
Shulga’s solid jump-shooting form extends to his mid-range jumpers, too. He’s had moderate success statistically, per Synergy, shooting a combined 42/99, or 42.4%, on two-point jumpers over his past two full seasons. The sample size is again small this year, at just 7/14. Still, Shulga’s shown off two patented moves to get himself separation: either a clean behind-the-back dribble step back or a slow-mo spinning jumper where he sometimes throws in a pump fake or nudge to get separation.
Although it’s gone out of style, having a serviceable mid-range arsenal to bail him out will help Shulga’s professional future. He’s missing standout athleticism; otherwise, there aren’t many holes to poke in Max Shulga’s scoring game. He’s a capable driver, can get easy looks through fouls, and has developed into a borderline deadeye shooter while still having some upside. That, alongside his size, has already put him on the periphery of NBA radars.
What’s going to keep him on radars and in the league itself is his ability to pass the ball. Until his junior season, Shulga was never tasked with being a primary distributor. Under Ryan Odom, however, Shulga has averaged 3.73 assists per game in those three years. Odom’s vision for Shulga as a creator, not just for himself but for others as well, has bore fruit for both Utah State and VCU and Shulga’s future.
I wouldn’t call Shulga a threatening or advanced passer. He’s deliberate, makes the correct read, and can even get a defense turned around with his decision-making. He won’t manipulate a defense with his dribble to open up space or be two steps ahead of a rotation. That’s a necessity even for league-average point guards and is what separates Shulga from projecting him to be a floor general at the next level.
Still, he’s no slouch as a secondary creator at the NBA level and a primary at the college level. Max Shulga consistently makes the correct kick-out pass to the shooting pocket of his teammates, can quickly rifle a touch pass to a window just about to close, and operates well as a ball-handler in screen situations. That’s enough to keep a defense bent and take advantage of an already disrupted defensive structure.
Throughout this section, most of my praise for Max Shulga seems to come with a “but,” which is a bit unfair to his game. Yes, he isn’t an elite shooter, driver, or passer. But, importantly, he’s good at all of those skills while also being able to handle the ball or play off of it. That’s important for his NBA future, as he won’t be drafted as a starting point guard. Instead, due to his versatile role and high floor, Shulga should be a rotation guard as a rookie with the upside to finetune and maximize his game into a starting-caliber player archetype within just a few years.
Inside Scoring Package: Outlook Good
Outside Scoring Package: You May Rely On It
Passing/Ball-Handling Package: Signs Point to Yes
Defensive Divination
If Max Shulga were a good offensive player with his size, he’d get some NBA looks. It’s easy to imagine a player his size who hits shots and makes good decisions sticking in today’s climate. What makes Shulga an even more enticing and sustainable player is that his defense is just as potent as his offense.
Shulga is sometimes a quietly confident, if not slightly demure, offensive player, but that all goes away on the other end of the floor. He removes the glasses, enters a phone booth, and emerges as a physical defender for every team he’s been on. His long wingspan and height certainly help Shulga’s effectiveness as a defender, but he wouldn’t be half as good without his bad attitude.
It’s not a huge part of his game, but an underrated aspect of Shulga’s defense is his rebounding. He’s not crashing the glass at any historical level, but he has a violent and quick nature to his snags on both ends of the floor. Shulga’s impact as a rebounder is more about raising the floor of a team’s rebounding efforts than his ability to transform it himself.
He instead shines on how he affects players on and off the ball. Shulga is a committed on-ball defender who uses his length and effort to put players in jail on the perimeter. He slides his feet well, is always in a good stance, fights over screens to keep the defensive structure in place, and uses his physicality well. On the few times he’s beaten off the dribble, Shulga’s length and fundamentals let him catch up and still contest the look.
Shulga shows the same dedication and focus when guarding players off the ball. He rarely gets beat backdoor, fights through off-ball screens with the same zeal as on-ball screens, and keeps his head on a swivel. It’s a testament to Shulga’s awareness and instincts that he seamlessly switches between players on the perimeter and can get out to a shooter with a controlled closeout throughout a single possession.
These types of play don’t appear on the stat sheet but are often what coaches look for when evaluating whether a rookie can hack it at the NBA level. Not having to worry about Max Shulga’s defense holding up when he doesn’t make a snazzy steal or monster block is noteworthy, as it makes it easier for coaches to simply plug Shulga in and know he will make the right play.
That doesn’t mean he doesn’t generate positive plays on defense, however. This season, Shulga is averaging a career-high 2.0 steals per game and a 3.7% steals percentage, both of which are positive indicators for the next level. Shulga’s swipes fall into two main categories: baiting a pass that he can pilfer from the air with his long reach or flashing his hands into an unsuspecting player’s dribble, causing chaos.
Those same steal instincts that Shulga shows transfer over to 50-50 balls. Shulga is often one of the first players to the floor when the possession is alive around him, and he’s willing to put his body on the line to get the ball. That sort of spirit will further endear him to his future coaches, as his level of effort and commitment will never have to be questioned.
Like his offense, Max Shulga’s defense sits firmly in the good, not great territory. He’s not a defensive game-changer in any area, but he won’t take away from any aspect of a defensive game plan. There are multiple ways to deploy Shulga to get a good result, making him a valuable do-it-all guard who is harder to keep off the floor, given the fast-paced nature of NBA basketball.
Perimeter Defense: Yes Definitely
Interior Defense: Don’t Count On It
Team Tasseography
Max Shulga represents one of the cheerier stories of a mid-major monster in the modern era of college basketball. He took his time to develop, grew into a bigger role, and was more “ethical” in the transfer portal by following the coach who helped him unlock his game. There’s something to be said about how Shulga has been patient with his approach and seen it bear tremendous fruit.
At the same time, there will understandably be questions about how Shulga can scale down his game at the NBA level. That’s the case for any college or international-level star player who isn’t on a preordained star trajectory. There are only so many possessions on offense that a team can spare for someone who isn’t their star, which creates necessary scrutiny for a star player like Shulga.
Or at least that’s how it may appear. VCU’s team is built mostly around the fact that Shulga can fill several holes on both ends, but they aren’t dependent on him like Weber State was with Dillon Jones last year, for example. Joe Bamisile is a talented two-way wing who takes a ton of shots. Zeb Jackson played high-major ball before finding his place on the Rams. Even others like Jack Clark and Phillip Russell take their fair share of shots in Ryan Odom’s offense.
It’s fascinating to think about Max Shulga’s usage, as he seems like the type of player who needs the ball in his hands to be effective. When looking at the numbers, however, that doesn’t seem to be the case. Over the past three seasons where he’s been a star, Shulga has ranked fourth, fifth, and fourth on VCU and Utah State in usage rate. Those numbers speak more to how little Shulga may need the ball to be effective, which bolsters his pro case.
That doesn’t mean that VCU wouldn’t crumble without Shulga; far from it. Instead, the fact that Shulga can impact the game in many different ways without needing the rock is why VCU can play the way they do. When they need a stopper, Shulga is there. If the shot clock is running low, he can create for them. Is there a ball bouncing on the ground that could swing the momentum? You already know who will be the first to the ground.
His college coaches and pro scouts should applaud Shulga’s star power on limited usage. The Rams are set up to make the NCAA Tournament again after a year away, all of which can be credited to Shulga staying with the team. With that, scouts will have more time to marvel at how Shulga can impact the game without the same worries about ball dominance that they may see with other stars. It’s a strong statement of maximizing his chances on the floor to give his team the best results.
The Final Shake
While not a household name outside of the Atlantic 10, Max Shulga has taken different parts of his game to their maximum capacity on the way to college stardom. He can lead an offense, create his shot, fight in scrums for loose balls, and lock up opposing players on defense. There aren’t many holes to poke in his game, even though he doesn’t have a truly elite trait on either end of the floor.
If I had to pick a place where Shulga was most impactful on offense, it would have to be his shooting. His ability to hit on spot-ups and off movement will always give him a path to find the floor in the NBA. Shulga’s effort level will also earn him more playing time on defense. He never takes possessions off and doesn’t give up on plays.
At worst, Max Shulga should be able to find some minutes early in his NBA career based on shooting and defense. He’s not quite a 3-and-D player, but he’s pretty close. That, alongside his height, makes it easy for coaches to slot him next to other players. They won’t have to have the same rookie ruminations that offensively-tilted players inspire, as even when the shots aren’t falling, they’ll know that Shulga will still be making an impact.
If it all goes right for Shulga, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him have a similar trajectory in the pros that he had in college. He can spend a few years on the bench, letting him craft his skills while adjusting to the NBA pace. Then, once a team has an opening on the wing, they can comfortably slot Shulga in and see his play pay immediate dividends. That would be the best outcome, where an NBA team maximizes a maxed-out Max Shulga, but it’s one of the more plausible outcomes for a truly well-rounded and pro-ready player like him.