No Stone Unturned 2023: The Wings, Part 1
No Stone Unturned 2023: The Wings, Part 1
No Stone Unturned is back! Today, Maxwell examines five under-the-radar wings with NBA potential. Plus: Insights from Chicago State wing Wesley Cardet Jr.!
Welcome to the first of the 2023 installments of No Stone Unturned! In this series of articles, I will be digging into five players at different positions who are flying under the radar but warrant attention. For my methodology, I started by seeking out players with interesting statistical profiles or players who had popped on film for me this past season. From there, I compiled a list, worked my way through the film and date, then chose my favorites. I avoided prospects who have received rankings on mainstream Top 100 lists and early mock drafts. I’m looking for deeper cuts who aren’t receiving much love yet but still have a real crack at making a mark in the draft space this coming season. Today, we are looking at the first group of unheralded wings who could sneak into the NBA Draft conversation by the end of this draft cycle.
The “wing” distinction is a broad one, obviously. We’re talking guys who will primarily guard positions 2 through 4, whether on the higher or lower side of that equation. 15 total wing players will be covered. They’ve been broken up into different groups based on their skill sets, so there won’t be too much overlap in terms of style, proclivities, and concerns. No matter what type of wing you’re looking for, I tried to find them! You can check out last week’s column on big men here. Also, don’t forget to follow me on Twitter!
Michael Belle, 6’7”, VCU, Freshman
(All statistics from the LNB Espoirs League)
2022-2023 Season Stats: 17.0 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 3.1 APG, 3.2 TOV, 2.2 SPG, 0.5 BPG
2022-2023 Shooting Splits: 56.3/45.5/62.4
Signature Performance: vs. Espoirs Le Portel. 22 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, three steals. 10-11 FG, 1-1 3FG, 1-2 FT.
Tough Test(s) (games against Quad-1 Competition):
-N/A
Background
An England native, Michael Belle began playing basketball at 13 years old. He competed for Great Britain during the 2019 U16 Euro Championships, averaging 11.0 PPG, 9.0 RPG, and 1.6 SPG. He appeared on Great Britain’s senior national team during the 2021 FIBA European World Cup qualifiers. In 2019, he began to play for Espoirs Strasbourg. The Espoirs league is a 21-and-under French pro league that sits under the LNB umbrella (France’s premier basketball association), and Espoirs Strasbourg is a feeder program for Strasbourg IG (obviously). Over four seasons, he earned increased playing time and a larger role. In his most recent season, he posted numbers that were in a similar vicinity to Bilal Coulibaly’s production in that same league. That said, Coulibaly is seven months younger and also managed to carve out a significant role for his team’s highest-level squad, whereas Belle did not. In May, Belle announced that he had committed to VCU to play college basketball. He will have four years of eligibility.
What’s Good
Michael Belle is a big wing athlete who moves like a pro on both ends of the floor. At his best, he looked like a man amongst boys in the Espoirs league. It shows up most prominently on the defensive end of the floor. He’s a mobile, active defender. If he has to chase a player around off-ball screens, he can do it. At the point of attack, he can keep his man out of the paint and poke the ball loose with his fast hands. When it’s time to contest a shot, he gets off the floor quickly. Rotationally, he’s outstanding. His closeouts are potent but balanced, covering ground in a hurry with long strides and ready to pop back into his stance if a player tries to blow past him. He knows where to go and he has the ability to get there in a flash. Belle’s rim protection instincts are potent for a wing, which is a skill that I’ve placed an increasing level of value on as offenses become more sophisticated and NBA floors more spaced. His motor doesn’t shut off, and he’s as competitive as it gets on the glass. The icing on the cake is that he has the offensive tools to grab and go. Between his rebounding and defensive playmaking (3.4 STL% and 1.3 BLK% in Espoirs play last season), he can end the other team’s possession and turn it into offense.
Belle is a nightmare in transition thanks to his speed, length, and passing chops. Those tools help in the halfcourt as well. His vision is rock solid and he’s comfortable making more complex decisions. He can make a quick swing pass with zip and intent or thread the needle with a pocket pass out of a ball screen when the situation calls for it. While he can dribble a little too high at times (a common issue for players his size at that age and not a major concern), Belle knows how to attack and take easy driving lanes to the basket. Even when there isn’t a simple path to the cup, Belle can make himself skinny to dice through the lane. He’s tremendous at the basket and loves contact, which enabled him to get to the free-throw line almost five times per game last season. Even while “playing up” for Strasbourg IG, he wasn’t fearful of opponents when he got into the restricted area. Belle is ambidextrous as a finisher, further accentuating the threat he poses on the interior.
His off-ball activity is good, too. He’s not a “stand around and wait for the ball” kind of guy. Belle moves, cuts, and screens. His timing and instincts help him get clean looks inside if his man falls asleep. The rebounding comes into play on this end, too. 2.7 of Belle’s 9.0 rebounds per game came on the offensive glass. He’s ready to crash and disrupt, snaking around defenders to get his hands on the rock. Even without the ball in his hands, teams still need to concentrate on keeping him out of the paint.
What Needs Improvement
Though Belle shot 45.5% from distance last season, the jump shot still scares me a little bit. He only took a hair over two attempts per game this past year. In his prior two seasons, he shot 21.1% and 25% from deep, and he’s never been above 70% from the free throw line. My biggest concern comes from his mechanics, which can vary significantly from attempt to attempt. Sometimes he’ll drift to one side when he jumps, sometimes his guide hand is involved to the point that it looks like he’s shooting with two hands, and sometimes he won’t follow through all the way. When playing with Strasbourg IG, he subsisted almost entirely on cuts, which is a tough way to live at a higher level. The jumper is the major swing skill here. Belle could also benefit from playing with more pace. He doesn’t change speeds much, often flying around as fast as he can, leading to mistakes and turnovers when he can’t get to his spots.
Conclusion
Michael Belle is a fascinating prospect, but also one of the more difficult projections to make for this coming cycle. On paper, there’s a lot to love—he’s a pro from an athleticism and size standpoint, makes a ton of plays on defense, has some intriguing playmaking chops, and he hit his threes last season. Conversely, he can be a little too wild at times, and the shooting variance (from both a form and results standpoint) is concerning.
Then, add in the change in context. He’ll go from being a leading option for his Espoirs team to joining a talented VCU squad that was largely pieced together via the transfer portal. Guard Max Shulga (stay tuned to this series for more on him later) and forward Sean Bairstow followed the team’s new coach, Ryan Odom, from Utah State. Both are productive, proven, and reliable. Joseph Bamisile has posted big numbers in the Atlantic-10 before and could contribute if he’s granted an eligibility waiver. Zeb Jackson is a reliable decision-maker with solid size. Fifth-year forward Kuany Kuany brings high-major experience. Alphonzo “Fats” Billups II was also a highly touted recruit a year ago. While there may be rotation spots available, the size of Belle’s role is tough to pin down given the up-for-grabs nature of the situation.
Ultimately, I want to make this bet. Michael Belle is a game-wrecker. He’s all over the place (in a good way) on defense. He’s going to find ways to get to the basket at the college level. A steady set-up man like Max Shulga will do wonders for him. Belle makes things happen, and I’m willing to put my foot down and say that with his physical tools, instincts, and motor, he’s going to carve out a solid role on this team at worst. He’ll have plenty of time with four years of eligibility remaining, so if it doesn’t all click right away, that’s okay. Still, I’ve placed him just outside the Top 60 range on my (very tentative) initial Big Board for 2024. I think there’s a real chance he puts everyone on notice in a hurry. But if we’re talking about him on a more immediate basis, he has to prove that the shot is at least on the right path. If he’s in the 25% range and his more erratic tendencies limit his opportunities next season, there won’t be much to work with in an NBA context. A ranking this high could look disastrous a month into the season, but I’m simply too intrigued. If Michael Belle can get his shot right, he’ll look a lot like what NBA teams want on the wing.
Wesley Cardet Jr., 6’6”, Chicago State, Junior
2022-2023 Season Stats: 16.6 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 3.1 APG, 3.1 TOV, 1.0 SPG, 0.6 BPG
2022-2023 Shooting Splits: 45.3/34.4/81.3
Signature Performance: vs. Bethune-Cookman. 27 points, six rebounds, one assist, two steals, two blocks. 8-13 FG, 1-5 3FG, 10-111 FT.
Tough Test(s) (games against Quad-1 Competition):
-vs. Northwestern. 11 points, five rebounds, one assist, one steal, four turnovers. 3-16 FG, 1-6 3FG, 4-5 FT.
-vs. Kent State. 17 points, nine rebounds, four assists, four turnovers. 6-9 FG, 5-6 FT.
-vs. Marquette. 18 points, three rebounds, four assists, two steals, three turnovers. 7-14 FG, 2-3 3FG, 2-2 FT.
-vs. Gonzaga. 16 points, two rebounds, one assist, six turnovers. 7-14 FG, 1-3 3FG, 1-2 FT.
Background
Wesley Cardet Jr. comes from a basketball family, and he credits his stepdad for getting him into the game at a young age. He played high school ball at West Oaks Academy in Florida and competed for Team Breakdown on the Under Armour circuit. He was a highly touted recruit, receiving a 4-star rating from 247Sports. The RSCI metric rated him as the 84th best prospect in the high school class of 2021. Cardet was the subject of significant high-major interest and was offered scholarships by the likes of USC, St. John’s, Rutgers, Maryland, Miami, Kansas State, Iowa State, Illinois, Florida, Clemson, DePaul, Auburn, and Alabama. He elected to attend Sanford for his freshman season, which took some onlookers by surprise. Cardet noted in an article he wrote for SI.com that the coaching staff, including his uncle Gerald Gillion, played a role in that decision. Gillion would leave Sanford to take the Chicago State head coach job before Cardet’s freshman season. In that same article, Cardet commented that the fit and opportunity were factors in his decision. As a freshman, Cardet had flashes, but was unsteady. He averaged 0.9 assists to 2.2 turnovers and struggled to score efficiently. After the season, Wesley Cardet entered the transfer portal and made the decision to commit to Chicago State. There, he would have a breakout sophomore season, improving dramatically in every facet of the game.
In this background section, it’s equally critical that I cover the background of Chicago State, one of the most unique programs in college basketball. They currently stand as an independent, the only team in the country without a conference. Prior to that, they were the lone Midwest team standing in the Western Athletic Conference. Before the hiring of Gillion, the team had gone 7-63 over the three seasons. They infamously bailed on the 2020-2021 season after an 0-9 start. As someone who lives in the area, the program was often the butt of jokes about bad college teams. Since Gillion took over, he’s brought in a much higher level of talent. Cardet is a former Top 100 recruit, Elijah Weaver transferred in from Dayton, Brent Davis came over from The Citadel, and they landed solid incoming players such as Bryce Johnson, Deshawn Jean-Charles, and Jahsean Corbett. This is an astounding turnaround from the types of players Chicago State was able to get in the past. Gillion is doing a remarkable job, and he led the team to a 10+ win season for the first time in almost a decade last year.
I had the chance to speak to Wesley Cardet Jr. this past week. When I asked him about the decision to attend Chicago State, he told me, “I had a really good connection with a lot of the players here—a lot of guys, I knew from my past. The coaching staff is really welcoming, and I really liked what they had to offer me here.” Given the team’s independent status, they’re forced to play an obscenely road-heavy schedule. Only eight of the team’s 31 games were at home. When I asked Cardet about that, he commented, “It definitely helped my development. It brings adversity, and playing those tough road games makes you and your teammates come together.”
What’s Good
My favorite aspect of Wesley Cardet’s game is how he attacks the basket. At 6’6”, he can put it on the floor and he’s super powerful at 204 pounds. When he goes north-south, he’s tough to contain. If a smaller player is in front of him, they’re toast. Cardet eats up contact and it leads to great results. Per Synergy, over 50% of his shots in the halfcourt came at the rim, and he gets to the charity stripe a lot. This past season, Cardet took 6.2 free throws per game, and even better, he made 81.3% of his shots there. While he’s physical, Cardet has real craft and isn’t overly reliant on bullying players to get to his spots. He’s savvy and calculating, explaining to me, “Before I drive, I look to see which side has the least amount of help. The first man is the least of my worries, it’s the help side. I’m worried about what move I’m giving the help side rather than the man in front of me. That’s the main thing I’m worried about.”
The rest of Cardet’s offense is nothing to sneeze at, either. After struggling with his playmaking as a freshman, the game appeared to slow down for Cardet as a sophomore. His turnover rate fell, and he increase his assist percentage from 7.0 to 20.3. Speaking about his playmaking balance, he stated, “My game is never focused in one area (scoring or passing)—it’s about making the right play. If it’s for my teammates, I’m there for them. If they create openings for me, I’ll take them. It’s always just about making the right plays.” Cardet keeps his head up, passes out of trouble, and rewards teammates when they get open. The biggest leap in Cardet’s game came in the form of his shooting, though. He went from 28.3% from distance to 34.4%. This is particularly impressive given the difficulty of his shot diet. Per Synergy, only 23 of his 93 three-point attempts were unguarded looks off the catch, and he converted 43.5% of them. Many of his shots are contested or off the dribble. He’s very comfortable pulling up from deep, having hit 34.1% of his threes off the dribble last season. This makes his attacking game even more potent, as teams can’t play off him. Cardet has east-west shake to him and can create looks for himself behind the arc or in the mid-range. These developments were a focal point for Cardet, who told me, “The summer coming into this past year, my stepdad and I really locked in on getting my mechanics right and getting the reps in every day. I worked really hard on getting my shot better.”
The thing that surprised me the most when I did my deep dive on Cardet’s film was his defense. A 1.8 STL% and 2.1 BLK% are solid numbers on paper, but Cardet’s intensity for such a high-usage, leading-scorer like player really popped. He plays big on defense, using large movements to eat up space. When he guards the ball, he’ll throw his body on players to prevent drives, but he still moves his feet well. If he gets shaken, he recovers quickly. He contests shots well. There’s a consistent knowledge of the shot clock and a change in approach as it gets lower, making it even harder for teams in a time crunch. His engagement doesn’t fade off the ball. Despite a big role, Cardet brought a genuine competitiveness on that side of the floor. He takes pride in his defense, explaining, “Since I was young, I was preached to about defense. In my family, I’ve always been told to focus on defense. I’m very versatile, and being a 6’6” guy, I think I can guard 1-4 comfortably. In any matchup, I feel like I can guard comfortably.”
What Needs Improvement
Cardet needs to get a hair quicker. At times, he can play a tad heavy, and his reaction times can become a little slower at the end of the game. During our discussion, he noted that conditioning has been a focus for him this off-season. “I want to be able to play a whole game without getting tired,” he told me. His shooting has to continue on its upward trajectory, as there’s little room for backsliding on that front for wing prospects. The biggest skill improvement has to come in terms of his decision-making. He can still force passes and drives at times, which leads to turnovers. Cardet would also benefit from making off-the-catch decisions more rapidly on a consistent basis, as he can “get the ball, then read the floor” at times rather than just shooting or attacking a rotating defense.
Conclusion
It’s been a fascinating journey for Wesley Cardet Jr. He took his lumps as a freshman, transferred to a school that plays a hefty majority of their games on the road, and then broke out in that environment. He tested the draft waters last off-season before deciding to return to school. Had he stayed in, he likely would’ve wound up with a Top 100 grade from me. Instead, he’s headed back for his junior year, which is probably the best move for him in the long run. His sophomore year performance was night and day from the season prior, and it’s clear he is part of a developmental program that is working for him. After talking with him, I’m buying the intangible stuff. He has a real “person from a basketball family” vibe radiating off him. He knows that the little things matter a lot, he loves to put in the work, and he can discuss the game in intricate detail. He cares about the energy he gives off in practice and spoke about the steps he wants to take to improve as a leader this coming season. Many of his answers saw him give credit to teammates and coaches.
Between his sophomore leap and having his head in the right place, I’m feeling positively about Cardet continuing to make strides as a junior. It’s not going to be easy—Chicago State always has a brutal schedule and he’ll be at the top of the scouting report every night. He’s not going to get a great deal of exposure, and he doesn’t have the opportunity to generate headlines by winning things like a Conference Player of the Year Award. His efficiency may not be ideal next year, but if the shot continues to look the part, it will be hard not to be interested. Cardet’s 6’6”, he’s bringing NBA physicality to the table, he can put it on the floor, and he defends. If the playmaking improvements keep on coming, we’re looking at a powerfully built dribble-pass-shoot wing. With his unguarded shooting numbers, he appears to be scalable to a smaller role. To start the year, I’ll have Cardet in the Top 75 range. Progress with his three-point volume and percentage, along with his turnover rate, would be where Cardet has the biggest chance to climb.
RJ Luis, 6’7”, St. John’s, Sophomore
2022-2023 Season Stats: 11.5 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 1.3 APG, 2.2 TOV, 1.1 SPG, 0.3 BPG
2022-2023 Shooting Splits: 45.5/34.8/78.9
Signature Performance: vs. Richmond. 23 points, seven rebounds, five assists, one steal, one block. 6-12 FG, 2-6 3FG, 9-10 FT
Tough Test(s) (games against Quad-1 Competition):
-vs. North Texas. Five points, one rebound, two steals, two turnovers. 2-9 FG, 0-2 3FG, 1-2 FT.
Background
RJ Luis was one of the top performers for Team SOH on the Under Armour circuit alongside notables Angel Montas and Hansel Emmanuel. He was an All-State selection in Florida’s 7A tier. Luis took a prep year at Mt. Zion Prep in Maryland prior to college. He was labeled a 3-star recruit by 247Sports and received considerable college interest. Luis received scholarship offers from a long list of schools, including high-major programs like South Carolina, Marquette, Georgia, Rutgers, and Kansas State. During his freshman year, he attended UMass. During the first portion of the season, his production fluctuated. Eventually, he carved out a starting role, stabilized his output, and earned an Atlantic-10 Conference All-Freshman Team nod. After the season, he entered the transfer portal and announced he would be attending St. John’s this coming year.
What’s Good
The first thing that stands out about RJ Luis on film is that for a player with his size and length, he has a tantalizing set of on-ball creation skills. His handle is both slick and under control. He can keep his dribble low, he has multiple moves to get his defenders off balance, and he’ll play ball screens in a variety of ways to keep defenders guessing. There is footwork, rhythm, and pace here. Given the variety that Luis plays with, he’s tough to read for defenders, which makes it easier for him to get where he wants on the court. Even better, Luis is a capable passer, making the occasional sharp, deceptive dish to set up an open teammate. Per Synergy, he ranked in the 87th percentile in Division I on pick-and-roll possessions including passes.
Right now, Luis shines most when it comes to getting buckets for himself at the basket and in the mid-range. The ball skills help him get inside the paint, but it’s his toughness and creativity that take things to another level. Luis will find clever, clean finishing angles to convert at the cup. Per Synergy, he shot 56.9% at the basket in the halfcourt last season, and that was where he took over one-third of his attempts. Contact doesn’t bother him, either. He’ll finish through it or get to the charity stripe. His free throw rate of .393 is a great mark for a college prospect who projects to play at the 2 and 3 spots in the NBA. Getting to the line further heightens Luis’s efficiency, too, as he was a 78.9% free throw shooter last season. Luis’s pull-up game is solid, and he knocked down 38.5% of his half-court dribble jumpers inside the arc. I’m bullish on his development on that front, as he’s a genuine tough shot-maker with a high release who faced significant defensive attention.
There’s a lot to like on defense, too. From a baseline metrics standpoint, Luis grades out well for a wing prospect with a 2.9 STL% and 1.5 BLK%. His length stands out here, but so does his general ability to move. Luis will use his long arms to poke the ball loose or get his hands on passes. In terms of rotations, his awareness is strong whether it’s a situation where he has to go contest a shot on the perimeter or defend the rim. He’s light on his feet and ready to react. His footwork is impressive, and even when players are testing him at high speeds, he doesn’t come undone. Luis does a great job of keeping his man in front of him, even when a screen is involved. In total, he’s a well-rounded defender who can make plays but does so within a fundamentally sound brand of basketball.
What Needs Improvement
Luis had a great freshman season, but in order to generate NBA attention, he needs to “turn the dial” in a few areas. The biggest concern right now is his jumper. Luis shot a respectable 34.8% from long range, but he only took 4.2 attempts per 100 possessions. Worse, he often passed up open looks and appeared tentative on the draw. His shot is a high-arching moonball, and it can look different from attempt to attempt. He needs to increase his volume and consistency to grow as a threat from distance. Without the respect of the defense, the fact that he’s more fluid than fast can make it harder for him to get to his spots. I’d like to see him improve his first step. Right now, he’s much more comfortable going right than left, and balancing that out could make him a more dynamic creator. He’d benefit from leaning into his playmaking for others a tad more and cutting his turnovers. His decision-making needs to speed up, as he can tend to stop and survey instead of making an immediate decision off the catch.
Conclusion
RJ Luis has been quietly sitting on the cusp of a breakout. After an up-and-down start to his freshman year, he seriously ironed things out down the stretch.
Before 1/1/2023:
13 GP, 20 MPG, 8.2 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 0.8 APG, 1.8 TOV, 1.2 SPG, 0.2 BPG
39.0/33.3/63.0
After 1/1/2023:
14 GP, 25 MPG, 14.6 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 1.7 APG, 2.5 TOV, 1.1 SPG, 0.4 BPG
50.4/36.0/85.3
During the back half of the year, Luis got better at just about everything. He scored efficiently, got the line more often, made more plays for others, and cut down on his mistakes. On the right day, you could catch a UMass game and think, “that’s an NBA player.” The question now becomes whether or not Luis can build on that strong finish at St. John’s. He’ll be in a tougher league on a crowded roster. If he is in a more tertiary role, his jump shot and willingness to shoot will become even more important.
If all goes right, RJ Luis can play himself into widespread 2024 NBA Draft consideration, and possibly even warrant first-round consideration. He’s 6’7”, he defends well, has loads of ball skills, and has the potential to shoot it. If he does that, he’s the quintessential well-rounded modern wing. He can grab and go, make plays when chased off the line, and cover 1 through 3. There’s real value to multi-faceted players with his size.
The shot remains a big question mark, though. Another year at this level of volume and percentage would likely slot him as a longer-term prospect, and there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s tough for guys that don’t take a lot of threes and struggle with efficiency. They can find themselves hanging on by a thread in the NBA rather quickly. He’ll need to develop a more malleable, complementary skill set paired with quicker, steadier decision-making. With a high free-throw percentage down the stretch and enticing pull-up proficiency, there’s real reason to believe in RJ Luis getting past that, though. He is sitting comfortably inside my Top 100 (right around the 75 mark) to start the year with the chance to ascend.
Darrion Williams, 6’6”, Texas Tech, Sophomore
2022-2023 Season Stats: 7.6 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 2.7 APG, 0.9 TOV, 1.4 SPG, 0.3 BPG
2022-2023 Shooting Splits: 41.4/35.7/79.5
Signature Performance: vs. Utah Tech. 15 points, nine rebounds, three assists, one steal, one block. 5-7 FG, 3-4 3FG, 2-2 FT
Tough Test(s) (games against Quad-1 Competition):
-vs. Kansas State. 10 points, two rebounds, one assist, two steals. 3-4 FG, 2-3 3FG, 2-2 FT.
-vs. Oregon. Six points, six rebounds, five assists, one steal. 3-11 FG, 0-5 3FG.
-vs. Boise State. Three points, four rebounds, one assist, one steal, three turnovers. 1-4 FG, 1-4 3FG.
-vs. San Diego State. 10 points, six rebounds, one assist, four steals, two turnovers. 4-8 FG, 2-5 3FG.
-vs. Utah State. Four points, five rebounds, four assists, two blocks. 2-2 FG.
-vs. Boise State. Two points, 10 rebounds, two assists, one steal, one turnover. 1-3 FG, 0-2 3FG.
-vs. San Diego State. Zero points, four rebounds, two assists, one steal, one turnover. 0-3 FG, 0-2 3FG.
-vs. New Mexico. Eight points, five rebounds, five assists, one steal, one block, two turnovers. 3-8 FG, 2-4 3FG.
-vs. Utah State. Nine points, 11 rebounds, one assist, one steal, two blocks. 4-7 FG, 1-3 3FG.
Background
Darrion Williams started out his high school career at Capital Christian before transferring to national powerhouse Bishop Gorman. He stuffed the stat sheet there and was named the Gatorade Player of the Year in Nevada. During his final EYBL season, he played for Vegas Elite 17U and displayed a similarly diverse statistical output. This earned Williams a 3-star rating from 247 Sports. He received scholarship offers from Nevada, Eastern Washington, Long Beach State, Montana, and Weber State. Williams attended Nevada for his freshman season, which was a resounding success. After three games, Williams earned a permanent spot in the starting line-up. He was an integral part of the Wolfpack’s 22-win season and NCAA tournament bid. His performance led to him being named the Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year. This off-season, he entered the transfer portal and announced he would be attending Texas Tech for his sophomore campaign.
What’s Good
Darrion Williams is wise beyond his years and he’s going to give you a little bit of everything. Even the “bad” Darrion Williams games aren’t so bad. No matter what, he’ll find ways to leave his fingerprints on the game and make a positive impact. He’s a true jack-of-all-trades, and that made him a constant across many of the different BartTorvik queries I ran throughout the course of the season. The phrase “connector piece” has become overused, but there are few more deserving of that monicker than Williams. He sets good screens, makes sound decisions in a jiffy, and never holds the ball for longer than necessary. Williams keeps the offense flowing and does the right thing an unusual percentage of the time for a young player. His assist rate of 17.8% is a great mark for a forward prospect, but it’s particularly strong for someone with a low usage rate of 14.7%. It’s a testament to his feel and accuracy. He sees everything at warp speed, delivers passes on a rope, and knows the right type of pass to make given the movement of the defense. Those factors are why he posted a 3-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio as a freshman forward. Since 2013, only one other player who stood 6’6” or above hit that mark in their first college season—Lonzo Ball.
Williams puts his intellect to use on defense as well. His STL% of 2.8 and BLK% of 1.4 are strong starting points. His sturdy frame helps him guard up against bigger players, and when he’s on a smaller guy, he’ll throw his chest on them to prevent paint penetration. Where he really pops is off the ball, though. His motor runs hot, his engagement doesn’t fade, and he has to be accounted for on the glass. A DREB% of 23.5 is a tremendous mark, and he doesn’t let teams get easy second chances. Williams racks up steals and blocks by knowing where to be and when to help. He’ll sneak along the baseline then rip it loose from a posted-up big man. He’s a master ball-tracker who loves to get in low for blocks around the basket rather than trying to meet opponents at the rim. Simply put, teams have a hard time getting easy buckets when Williams is on the floor. It feels like he sniffs out holes in his own team’s defense before the offense can find them. His DBPM of 3.8 was one of the top marks in the country for a freshman. Only 10 others joined him at that level or above, and six of them were one-and-done prospects.
Let’s circle back to the offense—earlier, I noted how Williams can keep plays going and set up his teammates. He’s effective as a play-finisher, though, too. Williams is a reliable spot-up target, converting 40.2% of his catch-and-shoot threes last season. His timing as a cutter is electric, too. Per Synergy, he finished in the 81st percentile on those play types and shot 59.3% on those attempts. If you give him too much space, he’ll knock down an open shot. If you lose track of him, he’ll burn you back door or position himself open from deep. He makes great decisions on the ball, but you can’t ignore him off of it, either.
What Needs Improvement
Darrion Williams is going to be behind the curve athletically at the next level. He’s not fast or explosive. He’s slow to get off the floor and doesn’t rocket end-to-end. Where this really bites him is on offense when he’s chased off the line. He doesn’t pressure the rim much, and when he does get to the basket, his ground-bound nature doesn’t do him well. He shot 48.5% at the rim in the halfcourt this past season. Dunks are generally a decent athletic indicator, and Williams only dunked once last year. These issues make it hard for Williams to create much of anything for himself with the ball in his hands. If he’s struggling to convert in the Mountain West (which is a good conference, no slander intended), I worry about him finishing in the Big 12 and NBA. Even a solid one-dribble pull-up would go far, as Williams shot 34.5% on off-the-dribble twos and 11.8% on off-the-dribble threes. Most of his made threes were spot-ups, so he’ll need to add more movement dynamism, as well. Right now, his feel carries him on defense, but when everyone is faster and stronger, that will be more difficult.
Conclusion
Darrion Williams is going to be one of the most fascinating test cases in the draft space going forward. He’s going to tell an interesting story as far as how far feel and intelligence can carry a player in the face of pretty severe athletic limitations. Before we get to the NBA, though, his fit at Texas Tech needs to be examined. Last year, D’Maurian Williams transferred in after a strong college season at Gardner Webb. The Big 12’s physicality and a crowded backcourt made it hard for him to carve out a substantial role. Williams is definitely more ready from a physicality standpoint, but I do think the league’s athleticism could give him trouble in certain matchups. Thankfully for him, Texas Tech’s forward rotation is a bit thinner, so he should have plenty of opportunity to carve out a significant place in the pecking order.
While a sophomore breakout could happen, I’m currently viewing Williams as more of a four-year prospect. There will be challenges at the next level—he’s a little small for a four and a little slow for a three. In my mind, the best path for Williams is to become a better, more multi-dimensional, higher-volume three-point shooter. I think it’s possible. His high percentage on catch-and-shoot threes on moderate volume paired with an encouraging free throw percentage is a good base. If teams have to respect Williams behind the arc and have to close out hard, it could open up the court for him and allow him to do his thing. Shooting is the great equalizer. Still, he has to progress athletically and improve at the rim. Regardless of where this ends up, I’ll be glad to watch all of the Darrion Williams tape available in the meantime. He’s a winning player who can fit into any system, so if he continues to produce at a high-major program, NBA eyes will be on him.
Rasheer Fleming, 6’9”, Saint Joseph’s, Sophomore
2022-2023 Season Stats: 5.8 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 0.6 APG, 1.1 TOV, 0.9 SPG, 0.8 BPG
2022-2023 Shooting Splits: 42.7/29.7/69.0
Signature Performance: vs. Duquesne. 15 points, nine rebounds, three steals, two blocks. 6-10 FG, 3-5 3FG.
Tough Test(s) (games against Quad-1 Competition):
-vs. Houston. Nine points, seven rebounds, two steals. 3-5 FG, 2-2 3FG, 1-3 FT.
Background
Rasheer Fleming wasn’t lauded with attention coming out of the high school ranks, but he played alongside and against great talent. He was flanked by both DJ Wagner and Aaron Bradshaw at Camden High School and on the NJ Scholars EYBL team. Camden High School went 31-3 during his senior season with Fleming playing a complimentary role, scoring 6.9 PPG and grabbing 3.6 RPG. The team played a national schedule against some of the best squads in the country. Though he wasn’t given a star rating by 247 Sports, Fleming’s size and ability to move still drew Division I interest. He received scholarship offers from Siena, Albany, Towson, and the team he wound up committing to, Saint Joseph’s. Despite choosing the most prestigious program of the bunch, Fleming still managed to carve out minutes as a freshman. He came out of the gate strong against a loaded Houston team. Though his production was uneven, the team leaned on him down the stretch, and he saw his most playing time at the end of the year.
What’s Good
The sales pitch here is simple: at 6’9” and 230 pounds, Rasheer Fleming can move like a wing, protect the rim, and has the potential to space the floor. Let’s start with the offensive side of the floor and Fleming’s jumper in particular. To be clear, the shot is a work in progress. He shot a hair under 30% from three and a tad under 70% from the free-throw line. The ball doesn’t always follow a straight-line trajectory up his body. Still, I’m encouraged. Fleming is able to move into his shot well thanks to his clean preparation footwork. Though he wasn’t used in that capacity much, there’s clear pick-and-pop potential here. If nothing else, at this very moment, teams can’t leave Fleming alone on the perimeter. He knocked down 39.4% of his unguarded threes this past season, and those made up under half of his attempts. The fact that he takes nearly seven threes per 100 possessions doesn’t hurt his case, either. Teams respect his gravity, which alone helps to space the floor. He’s already dragging a bigger player out of the paint, and as he gets more consistent on that front, he’ll only be more dangerous. For a freshman with his size and athleticism, he’s in a great place.
Fleming can offer a few other things, too. His best skill on offense right now is his rebounding. His OREB% of 10.2 is a stellar number for a big wing. He crashes hard, and teams have to account for his whereabouts at all times, lest they yield a second chance opportunity. Fleming is intelligent in terms of getting positioning and knowing where the gaps are, like a running back bursting through the offensive line. Per Synergy, 14% of his offense came on putbacks. This gives him an efficient, low-maintenance way to leave a positive impact on the game. He’ll have moments of timely cutting, he’ll throw in the occasional interior counter to get a clear look, and he doesn’t look to monopolize the ball. He shot a satisfactory 57.1% at the basket in the halfcourt this season, and that number feels like a floor for him given his tools. There’s a clear path for him given how complimentary his skillset can be on offense given how much value he could bring on the defensive end of the floor.
And now, let’s get into that defense. Fleming is a true defensive playmaker. He posted 2.3 steals and 2.4 blocks per 100 possessions last season. The steals are a product of him knowing how to use his length. He excels at poking it loose, he tips a lot of passes, and he knows when he can dig successfully on a post player. His blocks come in a variety of exciting ways. His ground coverage enables him to swat threes on the perimeter. When players drive, his mobility and strength enable him to swallow up the opponent before turning away their questionable shot at the rim. The help instincts are there, too, rotating to the rim when needed to bail out his beaten teammate and reject the attacker. Between his ability to end the opposing team’s possession, his strength, and his agility, Fleming could become a multi-positional defender and havoc-inciter at the next level.
What Needs Improvement
First and foremost, the shooting has to become more actualized and less theoretical. The rest of Fleming’s offensive arsenal needs to round into form, too. He needs to take better care of the ball, as he turns it over a lot relative to his usage. Fleming struggles to anticipate help defenders when dribbling, his pass placement can be haphazard, and he refuses to go left. When he gets stranded after failing to get to his spot, his decision-making can falter. His assist rate of 5.8% was extremely low and he has to do a better job of finding the open man. Given his lack of dynamism, his game can go quiet on offense when he isn’t hitting shots. Defensively, there needs to be a greater degree of consistency when it comes to guarding the ball. He can be too upright and handsy at the point of attack instead of using his frame, footwork, and stance to keep his man in front of him. That’s part of what leads to him fouling more than necessary. I’d also like to see more “fight” from him at the point of attack, as he can be too content to get beat off the dribble at times.
Conclusion
I can understand having reservations about Fleming. On paper, his production for a freshman was fine on offense and intriguing on defense. But when I throw on the tape, it’s hard to prevent my imagination from getting carried away. The biggest thing that would help get Fleming on the map is a shooting breakout, and as my previous research shows, most real-deal prospects who undergo a major shooting leap do it after their freshman season. For that reason alone, Fleming warranted inclusion on this list. An explosion in his three-point percentage could easily launch him into the Top 60 conversation. If he’s a real deal shooter at 6’9” and a frame that’s well built for NBA physicality, front offices are going to key in on him. It’s more likely that it will take some time for the connective tissue to come together for Fleming. Even still, he’s on my radar now, because players with his size, athleticism, and defensive production with the potential to shoot are hard to find.