No Stone Unturned 2024: The Big Men

No Stone Unturned 2024 is here! Today, Maxwell examines five under-the-radar big men with NBA potential. PLUS: Insights from UAB's Yaxel Lendeborg and High Point's Juslin Bodo Bodo!

Jul 17, 2024

Welcome to the first of the 2024 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 data, then chose my favorites. I excluded prospects who have received rankings on mainstream Top 100 lists and early mock drafts or received an NBA Combine/G League Elite Camp invite. 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. Today, we are starting out by looking at the unheralded big men who could sneak into the NBA Draft conversation.

Let’s dig in! But before you do that, make sure you’re following me on Twitter/X here!

Miles Rubin, 6’10”, Loyola Chicago, Sophomore

2023-2024 Season Stats: 6.2 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 0.7 RPG, 1.2 TOV, 2.3 BPG, 0.5 SPG
2023-2024 Shooting Splits: 66.4/0/56.9
Signature Performance: vs. Davidson. 13 points, nine rebounds, one assist, one turnover, five blocks, two steals.
Tough Test(s) (games against Quad-1 Competition):
-vs. Florida Atlantic. Two points, three rebounds. 1-3 FG.
-vs. Creighton. Nine points, seven rebounds, one assist, three blocks, one steal. 4-5 FG, 1-3 FT.
-vs. VCU. 11 points, 11 rebounds, one turnover, three blocks. 5-6 FG, 1-1 FT.
-vs. Dayton. Zero points, three rebounds, one steal, four blocks.
-vs. Bradley. Seven points, seven rebounds, one assist, two turnovers, one block. 3-5 FG, 1-2 FT.
Reminds me a little bit of: Nic Claxton, Daniel Gafford, Isaiah Jackson

Background

Miles Rubin was a big name on the Chicago prep hoops scene. He was one of the top contributors for the Meanstreets 17U EYBL squad and played high school ball for the prestigious Simeon High School. During his senior year, Simeon made it all the way to the state finals. His athleticism and defensive output helped him earn three-star status and a Top 200 ranking from 247Sports. He received offers from the likes of Western Illinois, Southern Illinois, Northern Illinois, Akron, and DePaul, but he opted to attend Loyola Chicago. As a freshman, he won a starting spot in the Ramblers’ veteran-laden frontcourt. Rubin helped anchor the nation’s 26th-best defense while earning Atlantic-10 All-Freshman Team and Atlantic-10 All-Defensive Team distinctions. He will be returning to Loyola Chicago for his sophomore season.

What’s Good

Miles Rubin is an outstanding rim protector. While he only played 17.8 MPG, he managed to block 2.3 shots per game in that short time span. His 14.0 BLK% was the best mark of any freshman in the nation. For context, that’s a higher block rate than the likes of Anthony Davis, Chet Holmgren, and Walker Kessler posted during their freshman seasons. Rubin swats shots due to a sublime combination of athleticism, anticipation, and attentiveness. He’s always engaged and ready to step in at the rim. He takes long strides to get where he needs to go and can fly off the floor quickly to bat a shot out of the air. Given the spacing the NBA offenses typically operate with, Rubin’s ability to eat up ground in a hurry before erasing shots is a tantalizing trait. But even when he doesn’t get a rejection, his presence is still felt. Opponents only made 45.2% of their halfcourt rim attempts against him. What’s more, though, is that there are so many shots that opponents don’t take because of Rubin. His mere presence often forces attackers to spray the ball out or use a Nash dribble to reset the offense. Rubin limits shots at the basket, and when opponents take them, they’re usually going to miss or get sent packing.

Rubin isn’t just some hulking presence who hangs out in the paint, though. He’s a nimble, agile mover who is more than comfortable on the perimeter. He’s always light on his feet. That pays dividends when he needs to switch onto a smaller player in a ball screen action or coming off a handoff. He uses his hips and feet well to contain the ball. He’ll even block shots beyond the three-point line, thanks to his quick lift off the floor when he springs for a contest. Pair these skills with his traditional rim protection acumen, and the defensive appeal is easy to see. In drop coverage, Rubin can make himself big to take away options for the ball handler while stifling the roller. If a team is using a switching scheme, though, he can more than hold his own in space on the ball while still having the requisite instincts and speed to rotate to the rim off-ball when needed. He is an exceptional talent on this end of the floor, and a malleable one, too.

Offensively, Rubin is primarily a play finisher for now, but he’s a super effective one. He had an eFG% of 66.4. His 29 dunks on the year ranked 29th among freshmen. He mostly operates out of the dunker spot and as a roll man (96th percentile in points per possession as a roller per Synergy) while feasting on putbacks (98th percentile per Synergy). Rubin has good hands and is capable of reeling in or controlling the ball with just one of them. His quick leaping ability and above-the-rim bounce are key ingredients to his success. He knows how to position himself to get open for dump-offs without crowding the paint. Despite being on the slender side, Rubin is a good screener, too. He loves to play into contact and makes sure he finds a body on a consistent basis, helping his teammates to maximize their advantages. While his assist numbers aren’t anything to write home about, there are moments when the gears are turning, and he whips a sharp feed to a teammate (8.2 AST%). Rubin’s defense is his primary selling point, but the fact that he screens well and finishes with excellent efficiency gives him something to offer on the other side of the ball, too.

What Needs Improvement

Miles Rubin has to get stronger. Right now, he’s listed at 210 pounds, which is a weight more common among wings than bigs in the NBA. This needs to be approached carefully so as to not limit his speed and agility. But even at the mid-major level, some opponents can find success plowing their way through him. He was a solid defensive rebounder but not a great one, and much of that is due to his struggles to establish and maintain positioning inside. This issue shows up on offense, too, as he can have a hard time punishing mismatches inside. He lacks a scoring punch as a result.

What I’m most interested in on that end, though, is whether Rubin can become a more skilled offensive player. The “play finishing rim protector” archetype will probably always have a place in the NBA, particularly with players like Rubin who are more versatile defensively. But big men are being tasked with more responsibilities than ever on offense. Rubin’s negative assist-to-turnover ratio and poor free-throw shooting (56.9%) are ceiling inhibitors at the moment. Many of his turnovers are preventable—illegal screens and “too soon” outlet passes to teammates who weren’t anticipating the ball. By cutting down his mistakes and adding some polish to his offensive game, Rubin could go from “interesting prospect” to “can’t-miss prospect.”

Conclusion

There is a lot to like with Miles Rubin. He has NBA length, he’s exceptionally agile, and he plays with a high motor. His combination of attentiveness, speed, and bounce made him one of the nation’s most potent defensive anchors as a college freshman. He rejects opponents at a ridiculous clip, but he also stifles rim attempts and has the versatility to guard out on the perimeter. Few can swat shots and send home dunks like Rubin, and even fewer can do that while also possessing the lateral quickness of a wing. Though he needs to get stronger, he still plays with a high motor and never backs down from contact. I feel really confident projecting Miles Rubin as a player who will, if nothing else, play in the NBA at some point. Few players have produced, blocked shots, and scored as efficiently as Rubin did during their freshman seasons.

The question then turns to this: How good can Miles Rubin become? The rim-runner/shot-blocker is still a player that holds some value, but not quite as much as it did a decade or so ago. If Rubin can become a more prolific scorer and playmaker, he will be an exceptional player at the next level. Either way, it’s important not to lose sight of the bigger picture. Rubin boasts excellent physical gifts and instincts, and it’s rare for a player to produce at the clip he did as a freshman. It’s time to put him on your scouting radar, whether it’s for the 2025 NBA Draft or further down the road. But don’t be surprised if Rubin starts making noise sooner rather than later.

Yaxel Lendeborg, 6’9”, UAB, Senior

2023-2024 Season Stats: 13.8 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 2.1 APG, 2.0 TOV, 2.1 BPG, 0.7 SPG
2023-2024 Shooting Splits: 53.7/33.3/80.0
Signature Performance: vs. North Texas. 26 points, eight rebounds, four blocks, one assist. 8-13 FG, 1-1 3FG, 9-12 FT
Tough Test(s) (games against Quad-1 Competition):
-vs. Clemson. Six points, five rebounds, one assist, three turnovers, one block. 2-5 FG, 2-2 FT.
-vs. Florida Atlantic. Eight points, five rebounds, four assists, one turnover, two steals, one block. 2-6 FG, 4-4 FT.
-vs. Southern Methodist. Nine points, 13 rebounds, three assists, three turnovers, two blocks. 3-8 FG, 0-1 3FG, 3-4 FT.
-vs. Memphis. Six points, eight rebounds, four assists, three turnovers, two blocks. 2-7 FG, 0-2 3FG, 2-2 FT.
-vs. San Diego State. 11 points, six rebounds, one assist, one turnover, one steal. 2-7 FG, 7-8 FT.
Reminds me a little bit of: Trayce Jackson-Davis, Brandon Clarke, Anton Watson

Background

Yaxel Lendeborg was born in Puerto Rico. Growing up, he wanted to be a baseball player. He tried out for his school’s basketball team in middle school but was cut every time. He finally landed a roster spot as a freshman, but poor academic performance led to him getting booted from the team. His grades rendered him ineligible for the following two seasons, as well. After getting his classroom situation in order, Lendeborg played 11 games during his senior year. He was then taken to a showcase event, somewhat against his will. During a phone call, Lendeborg told me, “The night before, I was up late playing PlayStation with my friends. The next morning, I'm up early, my mom drags me there. I see all these kids, there were a lot of kids there…I'm scared, I'm worried. My cousin was there, and that was comforting. I was picking him up full court, going at it with him. And I ended up being one of the better players at that camp.” This performance led to him attending Arizona Western College, a JuCo program.

His college career began modestly. Lendeborg only played 19.2 MPG as a freshman (during the redshirt/COVID year), primarily coming off the bench. But soon, Lendeborg’s career would take off. “I progressed; I got better and more confident. My coaches put the thought process into me that I could actually be somebody,” he explained. This mentality shift would take Lendeborg to new heights. The next year, he upped his production and was named an NJCAA Third-Team All-American. The following season, Lendeborg led the NJCAA in rebounding and earned Second-Team All-American honors.

Lendeborg received offers from high-major programs such as St. John’s, Xavier, and Houston, but he ultimately elected to attend UAB for his redshirt junior season. “Coach AK (Andy Kennedy) had high hopes for me. He told me he thought I could be one of the best fours the program ever had, and I'd never had anybody say things like that to me before. It felt like a home here. It felt like God was telling me to come here,” Lendeborg said. After a solid start, Lendeborg hit his stride around mid-December. He earned an All-AAC First-Team nod and won the AAC Defensive Player of the Year Award. Even sweeter, he won the AAC Tournament MVP Award and helped UAB secure an NCAA Tournament bid. Following the conclusion of the season, he elected to return to UAB for his final college campaign.

What’s Good

As it stands now, most of Lendeborg’s value stems from the defensive side of the ball. At 6’9” with a reported 7’3” wingspan and a listed weight of 240 pounds, Lendeborg has good measurements for a 4/5 hybrid big man. He has the defensive versatility of one, too. He was often tasked with anchoring the Blazers’ aggressive defensive scheme. He’d hard hedge and blitz ball screen actions before flying back into the paint to protect the rim. He’s all over the place, and I mean that in a good way. Despite often finding himself out on the perimeter, Lendeborg still managed to post 2.1 BPG and a 7.2 BLK%. While operating as a center, he showed solid discipline and timing to reject opponents at the cup. When he was a 4 acting as a low man, he displayed sharp instincts rotating to the cup. His high motor also allowed him to swat shots in transition. “Rim protection came naturally, but I did watch a lot of film on guys like LeBron,” Lendeborg noted before explaining the angles he can take to get to an opponent. “It's all about timing,” he closed.

Playmaking numbers don’t always tell the whole story on defense, though. Lendeborg’s on-ball defense is good, too. When he’s on smaller opponents, he more than holds his own. He sits down in his stance and slides his feet well. Quicker guards have a hard time beating him, and even when they do, his recovery tools and willingness to give multiple efforts often get him back in the play. “The on-ball D just came from street ball, playing one-on-one with my friends. Even if guards get past me, I have a higher chance of blocking the shot than anyone else because I can stay in the play and time the layup,” Lendeborg said. Even when he doesn’t nab a block, Lendeborg often forces his man to turn back around, reset the offense, or settle for a tough, contested shot. There are times when his defensive play might not show up on the stat sheet but created a positive result for his team. He also limits second chances, posting a fantastic 27.4 DRB%. Ultimately, he has a mix of important traditional and modern defensive big man skills. He can block shots, protect the rim, and rebound, but he can also play in multiple ball screen coverages and guard a variety of positions.

Let’s not sleep on his offense, though. Lendeborg has a fun blend of skills on that side of the ball, too. He cleans up on the offensive glass (11.8 ORB%). When I asked about his rebounding prowess, he explained, “It’s all about angles. I watched the Dennis Rodman video with him talking about how the ball comes off the rim. When it goes up and I can’t get it, I try to tip the ball up again because I have a great second jump. [Playing] Football [in the past] helped me out a lot too, because I can do a swim move to get in front.” He has good hands and can snare lob passes with one hand. When he doesn’t have the path to a dunk, he has the body control to contort and finish, along with a beautiful floater (80th percentile on those attempts, per Synergy). On the interior, he’ll routinely bully mismatches for an easy bucket. He’s fearless of contact, which allows him to get to the free throw line a lot (.637 FTr, 5.6 FTA/game).

What’s most enticing, though, is his perimeter game. Lendeborg is pretty comfortable putting the ball on the deck and routinely makes impressive passes from the top of the key. He can quickly skip it to an open man or wire a more complex delivery to a cutting teammate. His 13.4 AST% and 2.1 APG grade out very well for a center prospect. The NBA increasingly requires big men to make good decisions, and despite a relative lack of basketball experience, Lendeborg checks that box. “I just love passing the ball. I’ve never been the guy to be the main scorer. But I love passing the ball and getting my teammates involved, and I’m hoping to add more of it to my game this year,” Lendeborg said. While I may be going out on a limb here, I also think Lendeborg can become a reliable floor spacer. This year, he hit 33.3% of his threes on one attempt per game. While the volume was low, the shot looks good. His mechanics are consistent, with his right foot a little in front of the left, a clean energy transfer, and a pure, fairly high release. His 80% from the charity stripe on a large number of free throw attempts is a good indicator for bigs who don’t take many threes, too. “I’m feeling great about my shot,” Lendeborg noted. “It's what I've been working on all summer.” He added that he’d like to try to hit 50 threes this coming season.

What Needs Improvement

The biggest thing I’d like to see Lendeborg improve is his interior finishing. He only made 58.1% of his halfcourt rim attempts this season, a poor number for a big man prospect. He’s often too reliant on finesse and touch and would be better served going up stronger on a more consistent basis. While I’m bullish on his passing upside, Lendeborg did average two turnovers per game last season. He needs to be more conscious of off-ball defenders both as a passer and ball-handler. Defensively, he can tend to lean too far forward in his stance, and he can turn his hips more often than I’d like at times. The tools are there, and those things can be coached up, but it’s a technical thing that could make him even more potent on that end.

Conclusion

I can see why one would have reservations about throwing Yaxel Lendeborg on a draft board. He’s going to be 22 in September. He’s got good size for a hybrid big, but not a traditional big. He’s a great rebounder, but he plays in a mid-major league. He should finish more efficiently. There are passing flashes, but he makes mistakes, too. The jumper is more theoretical than actualized.

In the end, though, I can’t help but look at Yaxel Lendeborg and get excited. He’s exceptionally close to being an incredibly valuable modern big man. He can switch, but he still has the rim protection skills to anchor a defense. His motor never shuts off. “I always play hard…I play until I can't breathe anymore and try to be the best teammate I can be,” he said. Despite being newer to organized basketball than his peers, he’s demonstrated an impressive understanding of how to orchestrate offense out of NBA actions at the top of the key. He was constantly telling me about which legendary NBA players whose film he watched to get better at different facets of the game. The shooting indicators are there. If the shot comes along, he could be an admirable five-out big on both ends of the court. Plus, we’re talking about a guy who was scoring 6.1 PPG at a JuCo three years ago. Now, he’s an All-AAC First Team player. His trajectory is a rocket ship.

At worst, Lendeborg will be a guy who gets looks from NBA teams during the pre-draft process. Even with a “double draft” of COVID-year graduates and regular seniors, he should at least find himself on the Portsmouth invite list come April. But I do think there’s a path to more. If Lendeborg can cut down on his mistakes and take more threes, there’s a chance he could hear his name called on draft night. He did those things throughout this past season, so that’s not a big stretch. With his first full D-I year under his belt, I’m hoping Lendeborg will be off to the races next season.

Danny Wolf, 7’0”, Michigan, Junior

2023-2024 Season Stats (at Yale): 14.1 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 2.4 APG, 2.3 TOV, 1.3 BPG, 1.0 SPG
2023-2024 Shooting Splits: 50.9/34.5/71.7
Signature Performance: vs. Gardner Webb. 21 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, two steals, one block. 8-13 FG, 2-4 3FG, 3-3 FT.
Tough Test(s) (games against Quad-1 Competition):
-vs. Gonzaga. Zero points, six rebounds, two assists, one steal, one block. 0-4 FG, 0-1 3FG.
-vs. Kansas. 11 points, six rebounds, two assists, two turnovers, four blocks, one steal. 5-12 FG, 1-5 3FG.
-vs. Princeton. Zero points, nine rebounds, two assists, two turnovers. 0-8 FG, 0-1 3FG, 0-2 FT.
-vs. Auburn. 13 points, five rebounds, three assists, one steal. 4-15 FG, 1-5 3FG, 4-5 FT.
-vs. San Diego State. Nine points, ten rebounds, five assists, four turnovers, one steal. 2-8 FG, 2-3 3FG, 3-4 FT.
Reminds me a little bit of: Naz Reid, Frank Kaminsky, Quinten Post

Background

Danny Wolf hails from Glencoe, Illinois. He competed for the Mac Irvin Fire EYBL squad based out of Chicago. He attended Northfield Mount Hermon High School in Massachusetts and was a part of their run to the finals of the NEPSAC Triple-A championship tournament. Though not a highly touted recruit, he received a wide range of recruiting interest. Wolf was given offers from smaller programs such as Chicago State and Albany, a slew of Ivy League schools, and even high-majors like DePaul and Minnesota. Ultimately, he opted to attend Yale. He didn’t see the floor much as a freshman, playing only 153 total minutes his first year on campus.

Soon, the Danny Wolf breakout would commence. During the offseason, he had an impressive showing in the FIBA U20 Euro Championships. Wolf averaged 17.7 PPG and 12.0 RPG for an Israel squad that would go on to win a silver medal. His momentum continued during his sophomore year at Yale. Wolf became the team’s starting center and leading scorer. He made the All-Ivy League First Team and helped lead the Bulldogs to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. After the season ended, Wolf entered the transfer portal and committed to Michigan.

What’s Good

There are few seven-footers on Earth who can match Danny Wolf’s offensive talent. It starts with his jump shot. Wolf knocked down 34.5% of his triples on 5.2 attempts per 100 possessions. Those aren’t the most breathtaking figures in the world, but they’re stellar for a big man his age. What’s more, Wolf can move into it a little bit. He converted 14 of his 23 pick-and-pop threes this past season. Wolf has the power to lay in a screen, but he also has the surprisingly pristine footwork to ghost or slip a screen and gather cleanly before going into his shooting motion.

When opponents close out on Wolf, he has a much stronger way of responding than most other bigs. He can really put it on the deck. Wolf has a slick handle that he uses to make other bigs uncomfortable in space. He has a bag of crossovers and counters to get inside, and when he gets there, he can finish with either hand. If he leaves a fellow big man in the dust and a help defender steps in, he can respond to that, too. Wolf is one of the most “heads up” big men in college hoops. He can whip an array of passes to shooters or cutters while driving downhill. This passing also shows up when he runs delay actions or gets the ball in a short roll setting. His 15.2 AST% is a fantastic mark for a big man prospect and demonstrates his passing proficiency.

There are some nice odds and ends in here, too. Wolf, isted at 250 pounds, is rarely outmuscled. He sets good screens and establishes position well on the glass. His 29.2 DRB% is a top-of-the-line number. He uses his frame well on the perimeter defensively, throwing his chest on opponents to stifle athletic advantages they may have. His high level of feel allows him to collect more steals than your standard big man by being a step ahead of the offense.

What Needs Improvement

Right now, Wolf is in a precarious position defensively. He doesn’t have the agility to be a switch defender. He does a great job of using his chest and staying big while sliding, but ultimately, he’s heavy-footed. His recovery tools can leave a lot to be desired. Wolf doesn’t have much in the way of vertical bounce, either. That limits his effectiveness in drop coverage as a rim protector. By the time he enters the draft, Wolf will need to have an answer for how he can effectively cover ball screens and stay above board on an NBA floor on defense. Given these issues, it’s imperative that Wolf continues to progress as a shooter. The more value he can provide on offense, the less of an issue his defensive shortcomings will be.

Conclusion

The defensive concerns are certainly scary. But Danny Wolf has a few things in his corner. The first is time, as he has two years of eligibility remaining. The second is his improvement trajectory, as Wolf is a substantially better basketball player than he was a year and a half ago. The third is that Wolf is a special offensive talent, which means that he might be able to get away with certain defensive shortcomings. It’s extremely rare for young big men to shoot and pass as well as he does.

Wolf may face some ups and downs during his first high-major season. The speed of the game could cause some hiccups, and the fact that Michigan has another great college center in Vladislav Goldin could eat into his minutes. Regardless of how this coming season goes, Wolf remains an interesting long-term proposition. The NBA has a hankering for dribble-pass-shoot big men right now. Few 20-year-olds (Wolf doesn’t turn 21 until May) have this particular combination of size and skill. The fact that he’s 7’0” and 250 pounds shouldn’t go overlooked—he’s huge. Still, he’ll need to make strides on the defensive end. If Wolf can even sniff competence on that end, NBA interest should come his way. The path that Quinten Post followed to draftability is on the table here. I’m eyeing Wolf as more of a 2026 prospect, but even so, his quirky offensive arsenal warrants attention.

Juslin Bodo Bodo, 7’0”, High Point, Sophomore

2023-2024 Season Stats: 7.1 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 0.2 APG, 1.1 TOV, 1.9 BPG, 0.4 SPG
2023-2024 Shooting Splits: 67.7/0/39.8
Signature Performance: vs. Seattle. 18 points, 16 rebounds, three blocks, one steal. 8-9 FG, 2-6 FT.
Tough Test(s) (games against Quad-1 Competition):
N/A
Reminds me a little bit of: Mark Williams, Moses Brown, Adem Bona

Background

Juslin Bodo Bodo didn’t play basketball growing up in Cameroon—he played soccer. During a phone conversation, he explained, “I was playing soccer when I was 15 or 16, and one day, a basketball coach saw me and told me I was too tall to play soccer.” Bodo Bodo excelled in his new sport, and soon, he was off to the United States. He played high school ball at SoCal Academy alongside recent first round pick AJ Johnson and G League Elite Camp invitee Garwey Dual. “The level [of play] at SoCal Academy was so high. It was so different. The pace, it was so different than how we played in Cameroon. Everything was so fast. I was the last one on the team getting offers. People were making jokes, asking how many offers I had. It made me want to be like them and get an offer. I pushed myself to go harder every day.”

While he wasn’t the star of the team, he was effective in his role and earned a three-star rating from 247Sports. The offers did eventually come his way—he received them from IUPUI, East Tennessee State, New Mexico State, Montana, East Carolina, and the college he would eventually attend, High Point. His decision to enroll at High Point was tied to his familiarity with Graduate Assistant Martynas Rubikas, who had been on the coaching staff at SoCal Academy during Bodo Bodo’s tenure. “I knew Coach Rubs would take care of me. If there was something I didn't understand, he would take time to explain it to me,” Bodo Bodo noted. He started his freshman campaign on the slower side, but he got more comfortable as the year progressed. He earned both the Big South Defensive Player of the Year and Big South Freshman of the Year awards. He would help lead High Point to the CBI Finals, averaging 15.3 PPG, 13.7 RPG, and 3.3 BPG during his most impressive three-game stretch of the season. He will be returning to High Point for his sophomore year.

What’s Good

Bodo Bodo played with one of the best motors in college basketball this past season. He’s in good shape, and he’s always running hard. He’s able to get easy dunks in transition offense, and he’ll occasionally swat a shot in transition defense. Bodo Bodo plays with the type of work rate and intensity that coaches dream of. His combination of size (7’0”, 240 pounds) and activity led to him being one of the most consistent rebounders in the sport. His 25.3 DRB% is a strong mark, but his 19.9 ORB% is out of this world.

Bodo Bodo is best on the defensive side of the ball. He won his conference’s Defensive Player of the Year Award in part due to his motor, but he’s as skilled as he is hard working on that end. Bodo Bodo has strong anticipatory instincts around the basket. He’s a fantastic leaper, so it’s tough for opponents to lob shots over him. His 7.9 BLK% (third in the nation among freshmen) and 1.9 BPG are both great figures for a big man prospect. “Shot blocking comes naturally to me,” he told me. “I work in practice, having to go in different directions and take different angles. When I see it [those practice situations] in the games, I apply it.” Still, Bodo Bodo isn’t just a guy who jumps for everything. He’s good at using his length and hand placement, particularly in drop coverage and when showing at the level in ball screen coverages, to keep opponents from getting too deep into the paint. So, while he does block a lot of shots at the rim, his technique prevents opponents from even getting to that point a lot of the time. While he’s best utilized in drop coverage, Bodo Bodo can handle his business when he gets switched down. He’s always light on his feet and showcases good balance. “The footwork from soccer helped me. We used to do a lot of right-left, left-right, that's how we moved. It helped me be a better defender,” he explained. Bodo Bodo has the athleticism, size, and fundamentals to indicate that he could anchor an NBA defense at some point.

Offensively, Bodo Bodo is best keeping it simple. He’s a classic rim-runner and play-finisher. He sets good screens for his teammates. When he slips a pick or rolls downhill, he gets to the basket in a hurry. His bounce and good hands make him an ideal lob target. Per BartTorvik, he was fourth in the nation among freshmen in total dunks with 41. He was 78.1% at the rim in the halfcourt, which is a top-of-the-line number. Even when it’s not a dunk, he’s powerful on the block with a degree of touch. The fact that he’s such a pest on the offensive glass is also draining for opponents, and most of his shooting attempts actually came on putbacks. “I have to get my own rebound if I want to score. If my teammate misses, I will try to get us a chance to score again,” Bodo Bodo explained. If defenses don’t put a body on him, he’ll make them pay.

What Needs Improvement

Bodo Bodo’s biggest issue is his lack of offensive polish. NBA offenses are demanding more and more of their centers from a creation and spacing standpoint. Bodo Bodo rarely got to make decisions with the ball (13.6 USG%), but still, his 1.4 AST% and seven total assists on the year were dangerously low. Offensively, he gets sped up with the ball, leading to travels and forced shots. His anticipation and feel for the game aren’t as good on offense as they are on defense. He’s also a poor free throw shooter who converted only 39.8% of his shots at the charity stripe. Bodo Bodo has put a great deal of focus into that department this off-season. “I will definitely be better at the free throw line. I think this year I might go up to like, 75%. I am working through that every day. I've started working on my three-point shot, too,” he noted.

Conclusion

As it stands, Juslin Bodo Bodo has some real shortcomings. He offers little as a creator and floor spacer, and his free-throw shooting is a liability. Still, he’s pretty new to this whole basketball thing and has three full college seasons of eligibility remaining. I also love that he went back to High Point, where he can continue to workshop his skills in an environment where he’s a safe bet to get loads of playing time. And while I don’t want to hand wave any of the issues in his game, it’s also tough to ignore that Bodo Bodo has NBA traits. He looks and moves like an NBA five, and he plays defense like one, too. Though more polish is needed, the fact that he can at least finish plays with exceptional efficiency gives him something to hang his hat on. Plus, he’s one of the best rebounders out there, and it’s hard to imagine a coaching staff not falling in love with his motor. It’s likely going to take him some time and refinement, but Juslin Bodo Bodo is one of my favorite long-term sleepers at the big man spot.

Elijah Malone, 6’10”, Colorado, Graduate

2023-2024 Season Stats (At Grace College): 17.3 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 1.9 APG, 2.0 TOV, 2.5 BPG, 0.6 SPG
2023-2024 Shooting Splits: 63.0/36.9/81.4
Signature Performance: vs. Saint Francis. 20 points, 15 rebounds, two assists, five blocks, two steals. 5-12 FG, 1-2 3FG, 9-12 FT.
Tough Test(s) (games against Quad-1 Competition):
N/A
Reminds me a little bit of: Naz Reid, Jonas Valanciunas, Kenneth Lofton Jr.

Background

Elijah Malone played high school ball at Prairie Heights in LaGrange, Indiana. He then enrolled at Grace College, an NAIA school about an hour south of LaGrange. During his freshman season, he primarily acted as a reserve, but he still posted 9.6 PPG, 5.4 RPG, and 1.9 BPG. He got better in each subsequent season. As a senior, he helped lead Grace to the NAIA “Fab Four” and won the NAIA Player of the Year Award. He entered the transfer portal with one year of eligibility remaining. Malone received interest from the likes of Boise State, Notre Dame, and Indiana, but he decided to sign with Colorado.

What’s Good

At 6’10” and 280 pounds, Elijah Malone won’t find himself physically overmatched as he scales up in competition. In fact, Colorado could throw him on the football team’s defensive line, and he could hold his own there. He’s exceptionally strong, and he uses that to his advantage. Whether it’s staying vertical at the rim, bumping a driver off their line, or plowing his way to the cup, Malone uses his physical gifts to the best of his ability.

He has sharp instincts on defense. He’s engaged as a rim protector. Malone’s power causes attackers to bounce off him, but he still has enough lift to pop off the floor and swat the ball out of the air when needed. He averaged 2.5 BPG each of the past two seasons due to his blend of feel and tools. Malone plays with real discipline, too, rarely leaping out of position to chase stats. He held opponents to a measly 35.4% at the rim in the halfcourt as a result. While Malone was often kept closer to the basket, he’s solid in space, too. He has good balance, and when he sits down in his stance, he slides his feet well.

The real sell with Malone is his offense. At Grace, he primarily operated on the block. He ranked in the 98th percentile on post-up plays, per Synergy. Malone has an array of post moves, polished footwork, and of course, heaps of strength. He goes up with force, allowing him to post a comical 69 dunks on the year, but he’s also got good touch and impressive vision. When doubles come his way, he’s ready to sling the rock cross-court to an open shooter. While he won’t be posted up much as a professional, the feel, passing, and power that Malone displayed on those play types could be transferred into other areas of his game.

What makes Malone’s offense so intriguing is that he’s really good at the “modern big” stuff. He drained 36.9% of his threes this past season on nearly three attempts per game. Malone is a confident shooter who is ready to pull the trigger when given space. He’s even comfortable launching from behind the NBA line. When opponents close out, Malone can respond emphatically. He displays a surprising level of bend and straight-line burst when going to the rack. Once he has his man behind him, he can explode off one foot for an above-the-rim jam. He’s a super functional straight-line attacker for a big man. Circling back to his passing and vision (1.9 APG), Malone could fit into a 5-out offense as a dribble-pass-shoot big.

What Needs Improvement

Malone’s frame does allow him to overpower his foes, but it comes with some drawbacks. He only played 24.5 MPG last year, and he wasn’t in foul trouble often. He may need to lean out to improve his cardio. While he was an outstanding defensive player at the NAIA level, he will need to clean up some of his habits as he goes to the next level. His hands are down far too often, and he can be too passive as a shot blocker. He’s also a bit of a load leaper, preventing him from getting to as many balls as he could otherwise. Whether or not he has the stamina and quick vertical pop to remain a highly effective player against a better level of competition remains to be seen.

Conclusion

Elijah Malone is a tricky projection, but he’s ultimately too fascinating for me to pass up for this series. On one hand, his defensive habits, shaky speed, and iffy cardio could be limiting factors. But Malone also hasn’t had Division-I resources at his disposal. He’s improved year-over-year and boasts a rare set of skills. While his defense technique isn’t perfect, he still managed to be extremely effective. His jumper, passing, and straight-line driving, blended with his outlier physical strength, make Malone one of the more intriguing up-transfers in college basketball. If his game scales up well, his uncommon blend of talents and functional athleticism, paired with his late-blooming development, could land Malone on NBA radars.