No Stone Unturned 2024: The Wings, Part 2
No Stone Unturned 2024: The Wings, Part 2
Maxwell examines five under-the-radar wings with NBA potential. PLUS: Insights from the players and their coaches!
Welcome to the latest installment of No Stone Unturned 2024! In this series of articles, I will be digging into 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 looking at our second of three wing groups.
Before we get down to business, make sure you’re following me on Twitter/X here! Also, if you missed the first two installments of the series, you can find the big men here, and the first wing group here. Now, let’s dig in!
Igor Milicic Jr., 6’10”, Tennessee, Senior
2023-2024 Season Stats (at Charlotte): 12.8 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 1.7 APG, 2.0 TOV, 0.7 SPG, 1.1 BPG
2023-2024 Shooting Splits: 48.7/37.6/81.8
Signature Performance: vs. Rice. 26 points, 10 rebounds, one assist, one block.
Tough Test(s) (games against Quad-1 Competition):
-vs. Duke. Eight points, six rebounds, one assist, two turnovers, one steal, four blocks. 4-10 FG, 0-4 3FG.
-vs. Richmond. Six points, five rebounds, one block. 2-8 FG, 2-8 3FG.
-vs. SMU. Six points, 13 rebounds, two assists, one turnover, one steal. 2-10 FG, 1-3 3FG, 1-2 FT.
-vs. Memphis. 16 points, five rebounds, four turnovers. 6-12 FG, 2-7 3FG, 2-3 FT.Reminds me a little bit of: PJ Washington, Harrison Barnes, Thaddeus Young
Background
Igor Milicic Jr. is the son of Igor Milicic. The senior Milicic had an excellent pro career in Poland and has since gone on to become one of the premier coaches in Europe. Milicic Jr. came up in the Ratiopharm Ulm system. He played for their German B League squad, Orange Academy Ratiopharm, during the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 seasons. Milicic also saw action in three Ratiopharm Ulm games that second year. He came stateside to attend Virginia. He saw limited playing time as a freshman, only getting 100 minutes of game time action. Milicic transferred to Charlotte, where he found his footing as a sophomore. During his junior campaign, Milicic broke out, earning All-AAC Third-Team honors. He entered the transfer portal, where he drew significant interest prior to committing to Tennessee. I had the pleasure of speaking with Tennessee Assistant Coach Gregg Polinsky, who spent over 20 years working in the NBA. Polinsky started as a scout with the Nets back in 1999, but he eventually rose into a Director of Player Personnel role for them. He then took on similar responsibilities for the Pistons from 2018-2021. Polinsky detailed what the Volunteers saw in Milicic.
Once the portal opened, we have two guys in the office that do a great job of identifying players. [The portal]…it's quick. We're not a program that messes around with this during the year. Those two identified him, and we watched him and saw a really unique skill set for his size. The things that immediately impressed me—his ability to dribble, pass, and shoot at his size. And the other thing that stood out was how light he is on his feet. He looks like he was moving on ice skates…Then I started thinking about what we do offensively, the things we expect defensively…
[Coach Rick] Barnes was excited seeing him. Then, how do we get him? At the time, he had 53 schools involved. Sometimes we hit on a guy, sometimes we don't. But in this case, there was a level of interest [from Milicic]. The Dalton Knecht thing didn't hurt us. Igor has one year and wanted to be coached by a guy with 33 draft picks…Igor's dad has coached him hard and coached him well. Coach Barnes is going to coach you hard and push you to your max. Some guys run from it; some guys run to it. Dalton ran to it, and Igor ran to it. We saw some really unique things in Igor and the way he's wired to compete, he's a good teammate.
Milicic also had the honor of competing for Poland’s senior national team this summer. Coach Polinsky noted how helpful that experience can be for a college player and NBA prospect. “We've always encouraged our guys to play overseas, Olivier Nkamhoua, Santiago Vescovi, Uros Plavsic...They play with grown men, not college kids. It's very physical, the IQ level is generally very high, [Milicic is] a coach’s son, and all that with international experience…It's been a big plus for him.”
What’s Good
Igor Milicic Jr’s sublime combination of size and skill is tailor-made for the next level. Let’s start on the offensive side of the ball. Milicic is an exceptional spot-up player, ranking in the 87th percentile on those play types last season, per Synergy. He hit 37.6% of his triples on 9.5 attempts per 100 possessions last season. His percentage and volume are great for any forward prospect, but particularly one his size. The functionality of his shot makes it all the more exciting. Milicic has clean shot prep footwork and is capable of moving into his jumper. He was 9-for-22 on transition threes and 7-for-19 on threes coming off screens, showing that he’s not just a guy who hits unguarded threes while parked in the corner. Additionally, Milicic can get it off in a hurry. “One thing about Igor that's pretty unique, especially for a big guy, he's got a really quick release,” Coach Polinsky noted. Add in the high apex of his shooting motion, and there’s a lot to like about how his shot should translate to the next level.
Milicic leverages that gravity to impact the game even further. He’s capable of attacking closeouts and using big, long strides to get to the rim. Milicic’s first step is a little better than one might expect from such a large player. He also has counters and some surprisingly slippery footwork to navigate defenses downhill. At the rim, he has the touch and coordination to contort and finish with either hand. He can also use the threat of his shooting off-ball to change directions and cut to the rim, getting behind opponents for easy baskets inside. Milicic’s technique, savvy, and size enabled him to convert a preposterous 67.3% of his halfcourt rim attempts this past season. He’s also made 64.9% of his overall two-point field goes over the past two seasons. The highly efficient, inside-out scoring element of his game is ideal for an off-ball role in the NBA.
That said, Milicic can do some really impressive things with the ball in his hands. “The biggest surprise [since coming to campus] has been his ability to pass the ball,” Coach Polinsky remarked. Milicic’s numbers might not pop off the page (1.7 APG, 11.3 AST%), but on tape, Milicic consistently made impressive passes. He’s displayed vision as both a downhill driver and top-of-the-key orchestrator, wiring passes to shooters or lasering bounce passes to cutters. Milicic’s passing upside gives him an additional tool when chased off the line. It allows him to slot easily into delay or short roll actions.
He’s a force on the glass, too. Milicic’s combination of size, toughness, and timing allows him to feast on the boards. While his 8.5 RPG sounds like a lot, context makes it all the more impressive. Charlotte played at a slower pace. Accounting for that, Milicic grabbed 16.7 rebounds per 100 possessions. His 5.8 ORB% is rock-solid and his 25.9 DRB% would be a great mark even for a traditional big man. “How many times do you see a guy that is really skilled, that shoots the jump shot well, and yet, he wants to go do the dirty work? Rarely. That is a rare combination. So again, I'm going to go back to his dad, that’s been ingrained with him, and the other schools, they did a great job with him…You don't see it often,” Polinsky said.
Milicic can provide value on the defensive end, too. On the ball, he’s capable of covering a wide variety of opponents. While he’s more of a 4 than a 5, even bigger opponents can struggle with his size on the block. On the perimeter, he does a great job of staying in front of opponents. He uses his fundamental stance, hand placement, and agility to prevent opponents from getting to advantageous spots on the court. His fluidity allows him to respond favorably to countermoves and prevents him from getting dusted. Even if he has to play further off of a quicker player, he can still meaningfully contest shots because of his length and spring off the floor. Off-ball, he’s an in-tune defender who covers ground well. He’s great as a low man, with sharp rotation instincts to meet opponents at the rim and send them packing. His 4.0 BLK% and 1.7 STL% are both good marks for his position.
What Needs Improvement
Offensively, I’d like to see Milicic become more consistent as a passer. His assist-to-turnover ratio was under water at 1.7 PG to 2.0 TOV, and his 16.3 TOV% is higher than one might hope, given his usage. Because he’s tall, his handle can get high and is easier to dig into. He gets overly daring as a passer. The good news is that according to Coach Polinsky, he’s made strides on this front. “He was too casual at times with the ball. There's vision, but there's also the execution of the pass. He could see it, but not deliver it. That has been very good here. That’s credit to Igor because it’s a level of concentration. Knowing you can't turn that over and be tighter with the ball so you can make better reads, better decisions, and execute the pass,” Polinsky noted. Defensively, I’d like to see him continue to maximize his lateral quickness.
Conclusion
I’m beyond excited for Igor Milicic Jr.’s senior campaign. He has great positional size, he’s efficient in the two most important areas of the floor, and he’s an impactful defender. There are a variety of ways for Milicic to leave his fingerprints on the game. His move to Tennessee is an exciting one. Milicic’s dominance at the mid-major level bodes well for how he should scale up. Rick Barnes has produced over thirty NBA draft picks, and their recent success in the transfer portal makes Tennessee an even more intriguing fit.
“The things that we do here are very NBA-ish. We try to give our guys, not just Igor, ‘what do you need to do to have any chance at all to get to the NBA?’ Based on your physical attributes, the dynamics of your game, your positional size, etc. Igor has positional size. I think he’s an intriguing NBA prospect. This guy should be really being looked at. Really being looked at, often and early,” Coach Polinsky said.
There is always work to be done. I’d love to see Milicic become a more consistent, reliable passer while cutting down on his mistakes. It would be nice if his upward trajectory as a three-point shooter continued onward. I’d like to see him move even better now that he’s back with a high-major training staff. Still, I was intrigued with Milicic last year. If he’d stayed in the draft, I likely would have had him as a Top 45 prospect. His size and skill are too difficult to overlook. Everything he does screams out, “NBA functionality” to me. For that reason, he’ll be starting this cycle in that same range on my board. How he adapts to his new environment, and how he evolves with another off-season under his belt, will determine where he goes from there. There isn’t a returning sleeper I’m more excited about than Igor Milicic Jr.
Javan Buchanan, 6’7”, Boise State, Junior
2023-2024 Season Stats (at Indiana Wesleyan): 20.5 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 2.6 APG, 2.2 TOV, 1.1 SPG, 1.1 BPG
2023-2024 Shooting Splits: 51.9/35.0/84.5
Signature Performance: vs. Saint Francis (IN). 32 points, six rebounds, three assists, three blocks, two steals. 13-24 FG, 1-4 3FG, 5-6 FT.
Tough Test(s) (games against Quad-1 Competition):
-N/A
Reminds me a little bit of: Caleb Martin, Christian Braun, Wesley Matthews
Background
Javan Buchanan entered college as an under-the-radar recruit. He played at Lafayette Jefferson High School (the same school as fellow No Stone Unturned 2024 prospect Brooks Barnhizer) in Indiana. Buchanan earned All-State honors there. Still, he didn’t have much buzz. In a phone conversation, Buchanan told me, “I was a late bloomer, and I only had one true year of AAU. I was always the fat, chubby kid. Right after COVID I had a growth spurt (6’0” to 6’7” over the course of a few years) and an athleticism boost. Then, I had a good senior year. I went to Indiana Wesleyan because it was the best move for me. It was a really cool experience.”
Buchanan had a solid freshman campaign at IWU, earning a spot on the Crossroads League All-Freshman Team. As a sophomore, his production exploded. “My sophomore year, I took on a big change in my diet and got in really good shape. I got stronger, faster, leaner, and I was able to play more of the wing role and bring the ball up the floor,” Buchanan noted. He took on more usage and scored more efficiently while simultaneously blossoming as a creator and defender. Despite his bigger workload, he posted bigger counting numbers on defense, too. His play earned him NAIA First-Team All-American honors. He entered the transfer portal after the season.
When he entered the transfer portal, Boise State took notice. Assistant Coach Roberto Bergersen talked to me about their process in recruiting Buchanan. “When he entered the portal, we had just recently lost one of our players. We needed someone who would have a major impact early and play a huge, huge role. We were looking for a very specific player and specific person. When we looked him up, physically, he stood out. Obviously, we looked up a lot of his tape. We felt very good after we were able to watch a lot of film and get to know him, and the people around him. We did a very extensive dig on him. It wasn't just, ‘okay, this is somebody we're gonna bring in.’ We need an impact from day one, and we felt really good about that [with Buchanan],” Bergersen told me. Similarly, Buchanan was enthusiastic about Boise State, choosing them over other high-level programs. “It felt like the right choice. Just like with Indiana Wesleyan, I got that feeling. I felt at home. The guys on the team, the coaches, it felt like something I wanted to be a part of,” Buchanan said.
What’s Good
Javan Buchanan is an exceptionally versatile player. He’s great at putting the ball on the deck. Buchanan has a polished handle and impressive footwork. “I've always had huge hands since I was a little kid. I palmed a ball at like, 11, and that helped. I just have a natural inkling for handling the ball,” Buchanan noted. He’s able to string together complex dribbling combinations and multiple counters. Coach Bergersen explained, “He's the absolute definition of a match-up nightmare. He's one of the strongest players I've been able to witness in college. He has an incredible, low center of gravity. He has that Bonzi Wells type strength where you can't move him, paired with explosive athleticism and good feet.” When Buchanan has a bigger player on him, he’ll get them off-balance and leave them in the dust. If he’s going against a smaller opponent, he’ll bully them inside or simply shoot over them.
Buchanan’s creation ability wouldn’t mean much if he couldn’t put the ball in the basket, but he can. He’s capable of scoring at all three levels. He has clean gather footwork when pulling up off the bounce, which enabled him to drain 36.4% of his pull-up threes last season. While his 37.1% on pull-up twos isn’t anything to write home about, he did that on high volume, often tasked with bailing out his team late in the shot clock. Best of all, Buchanan is outstanding at the rim. His potent first step and willingness to attack in either direction gets him there frequently, too. His strength allows him to play through contact at a high level. Buchanan is able to explode off one foot and he seems to float when he gets up in the air. His 64.6% mark on his halfcourt shots at the basket is an elite number. That type of rim dominance bodes well for his translation to the D-I level. This multi-level scoring acumen is why Buchanan was able to post 20.5 PPG on 59.9 TS% for one of the best NAIA squads in the country.
Even better, Buchanan is a selfless operator. He posted 2.6 APG to 2.2 TOV this past season, a marked improvement from his freshman year (1.0 APG to 1.9 TOV). Buchanan attributes this in part to work he’s done off the court. He told me, “Watching more basketball and learning more about the game slowed the game down for me…it really helps you make easier reads. Getting in better shape helped me, because it slowed the game down for me even more, but the biggest thing is watching more film and becoming more of a student of the game.” He has shown the ability to wire sharp dishes through tight windows and he’s begun to deliver more creative, advanced reads in transition. Add in his on-ball scoring prowess, and the defense needs to have all eyes on Buchanan when he’s initiating offense. It’s hard to find well-rounded, dynamic, creators at 6’7” and 210 pounds, but that’s what Javan Buchanan has proven himself to be.
Despite heavying a hefty offensive workload, Buchanan still got after it defensively, posting 2.2 stocks per game. He’s energetic and plays with a real level of engagement off the ball. He displays good timing when he goes to make a play. Buchanan has the speed to pick off passes and the bounce to swat shots above the rim. He’s able to guard multiple positions. Coach Bergersen noted, “He gives us so much versatility on that end. Those guys are so multi-dimension, O'Mar [Stanley] and Tyson [Degenhart] can guard anything. Javan, with his strength, is the same way. That just helps us to be that much better defensively. We don't have to worry about mismatches because he can guard everything.” His aforementioned power enables him to guard the post well, which is something he was tasked with frequently at IWU. But against quicker players, that same strength, paired with his length and agility, helps him to stifle his foes on the perimeter.
What Needs Improvement
The biggest challenge facing Buchanan this year will be adapting to a new environment. He’ll have to play off the ball more, which means he’ll need to improve as a catch-and-shoot player. This past season, Buchanan only made 32.8% of his 67 catch-and-shoot threes (though only 16 were unguarded, per Synergy). Mechanically, his feet and hips can be aligned too far to the left, and the dip in his shooting motion makes him easier to contest. “My shooting overall [is what I’ve been most focused on]. I was a good shooter, but not an excellent shooter. That's something I worked on a lot this summer and continue to work on,” Buchanan told me. Coach Bergersen is optimistic about Buchanan’s strides on this front as well, noting, “That's one thing we've really been focusing on. Let's be a sharpshooter, let's be knockdown. He's a really good shooter. The one thing about him that's phenomenal about him is he's a ‘money time’ shooter. He makes the big ones when it matters, and that makes it easy for guys. He's a shooter, he just needs to get those game reps he hasn't gotten before.” There will be other slight tweaks needed as Buchanan changes roles, too. Scouts will want to see snappier, “.5” style passes from him more consistently and less ball stopping. Defensively, he’ll need to give extra efforts more consistently and be more mindful of his stance.
Conclusion
There’s reason for skepticism here. NAIA and Division-I basketball are two different things. It’s risky to bet on a player to scale up from a lower level to a higher one. He’s also joining a good team loaded with established talent. And if he can’t keep the defense honest off the catch, he’ll be an easier cover. But Buchanan checks so many boxes that it’s hard not to get excited about him. He’s 6’7”, he can move, he’s strong, he can jump, he can create for himself, he sees the floor well, he rebounds, and he makes plays on defense. If nothing else, his well-roundedness should allow him to find some way to make an impact during his junior season, even for a Boise State program that routinely wins 20 games and makes the NCAA tournament.
But beyond that, there’s a lot to like from an NBA standpoint. Buchanan is a late bloomer. We’ve seen a lot of success in recent years from players who grew up as more of a guard before hitting a growth spurt. He’s also shown a willingness to put in the work. Buchanan transformed his body and improved across all fronts from his freshman to sophomore year. The character stuff is there. “He absolutely exudes passion and love for the game. He's an absolute joy to coach. He is a joy because he just loves to hoop. He's an energy giver. A lot of times, that goes unnoticed and under-discussed. He brings energy to others, that adds to their production, and that's his number one superpower,” Coach Bergersen remarked.
Even better, everything Buchanan has shown has value in the NBA. The playoffs demonstrated how important it is for wings to have a versatile skill set on both ends of the floor. Buchanan is comfortable guarding several different player types. He has a good level of feel. He can create for himself at all three levels, but he’s also more than happy to spread the wealth when holes open up in the defense. Plus, he’s a big, tough dude who eats up contact. Sure, there’s risk in pinning my hopes on an NAIA up-transfer. But Javan Buchanan’s physical traits, the value of his skill set, and his rapid upward trajectory make him one of my favorite sleeper bets out there.
Jacob Crews, 6’8”, Missouri, Senior
2023-2024 Season Stats (at UT-Martin): 19.1 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 1.1 APG, 1.3 TOV, 0.8 SPG, 0.5 BPG
2023-2024 Shooting Splits: 48.5/41.4/81.6
Signature Performance: vs. Southeast Missouri State. 31 points, 11 rebounds, one assist, one steal. 10—16 FG, 3-6 3FG, 8-8 FT.
Tough Test(s) (games against Quad-1 Competition):
-vs. Mississippi State. Two points, nine rebounds, one assist, two turnovers, one block. 1-4 FG, 0-3 3FG.
-vs. McNeese State. 22 points, nine rebounds, three assists, one turnover. 9-13 FG, 4-7 3FG, 0-1 FT.
-vs. North Carolina State. 20 points, seven rebounds, two assists, three turnovers, one steal, one block. 7-14 FG, 3-5 3FG, 3-6 FT.Reminds me a little bit of: Corey Kispert, Pat Connaughton, Jordan Nwora
Background
Jacob Crews had a successful prep career at Hillard High School in Florida. He was a three-time county MVP and led his team to their first appearance in a state title game since 1963. Crews received offers from Bryant, Little Rock, North Alabama, and the school he would eventually attend, North Florida. He played sparingly as a freshman and entered the transfer portal midway through his sophomore season. Through his first two college seasons, he’d averaged 4.0 PPG on 29.2/27.9/80.0 shooting splits.
Crews would head down to the JuCo level, playing his next season at Daytona State College. He rejuvenated his career there, scoring 19.9 PPG on 48.6/37.0/89.1 splits. He also produced 6.9 RPG, 1.3 APG, 1.1 SPG, and 1.1 BPG. This bounce-back year grabbed the attention of several Division-I programs. Crews then committed to UT-Martin with two years of eligibility remaining. He maintained his momentum, putting together one of the best scoring seasons in the country en route to an All-OVC First-Team nomination. Following the season, Crews hit the portal once more before committing to Missouri.
What’s Good
Jacob Crews can shoot the cover off the ball. He’s a 6’8” sniper who canned 41.4% of his triples while launching 10.8 attempts per 100 possessions. He was one of only eight players 6’6” and above to make 80 total threes on 40%+ accuracy this past season. His range extends all the way to the parking lot, enabling him to stretch defenses beyond their capacity. Crews is dynamic, too. He hit 53.3% of his handoff threes, 44.7% of his transition threes, and 46.3% of his pull-up threes. Whether he’s pulling up or coming off movement, he’s a threat from deep behind the line. Even better, Crews gets his shot off quickly, and he even has the touch to speed up his release at times when necessary. It’s hard to imagine that a player with his combination of size and shooting won’t generate NBA looks.
He’s more than just a bomber, though. Crews is a legitimate three-level scorer. He’s polished in the mid-range and a tough shot maker. He’s smooth with the ball in his hands. His understanding of pace, counters, and his defender’s momentum allows him to shake his man and get good looks. He was 57.1% on pull-up twos and 50% on floaters this past season. It’s not like he’s allergic to the rim, though. Crews still took 21.6% of his halfcourt shots at the rim, which is a solid mark for a more perimeter-oriented scorer. He’s a threat there, too. Crews made 60.1% of his shots at the basket in the halfcourt, per Synergy. Even more impressive, according to BartTorvic, only 33.9% of his rim attempts were assisted. Crews can get to the basket and finish there on his own thanks to his combination of bounce, strength, and touch. Crews’s shooting off the catch and ability to attack a closeout led to him ranking in the 97th percentile on Spot Up possessions this past season, per Synergy. Given how often most role players operate without the ball, that’s a great skill set to have.
There are some nice odds and ends here, too. Crews is a low-mistake player who doesn’t force bad passes or get out of control with his handle. His 7.9 TOV% is the type of number you want to see from a “score quickly or get off it” type operator. He’s a good rebounder on both sides of the floor (6.6 ORB%, 17.9 DRB%), enabling him to get easy second-chance looks or lead the break in transition. Defensively, his size and fluidity give him a chance to develop into a solid contributor. He can use his body well on an island when opponents try to target him.
What Needs Improvement
While Crews is one of the best scorers out there, he needs to fill out the rest of his game. He has a long way to go defensively. His attentiveness waxes and wanes. He can be late to recognize things in ball screen scenarios. When he has to chase opponents around off-ball actions, he can be a little clunky. Generally speaking, it felt like he was giving a low level of effort on that side of the ball last season. I’m hoping we see more buy-in on that front in a new environment. My other gripe with Crews is that while he doesn’t make many mistakes offensively, I’d like to see him look to pass more. His 6.2 AST% is a red flag-level mark for a wing prospect.
Conclusion
There’s one last curveball I have to throw at you. Jacob Crews will turn 25 years old shortly after the 2025 NBA Draft. That gives him little room for regression as he heads into his final college season. On top of that, it also makes it necessary that he takes as many strides as possible in his improvement areas. When he gets to the NBA, he’s going to have a short leash, and teams are much less likely to kick the tires a second time on older prospects. Look no further than a former Missouri Tiger in D’Moi Hodge. Hodge had a stellar final college season, entered the draft as an older prospect, got cut from his two-way contract with the Lakers, and now finds himself overseas one year later.
But here’s the thing—it’s not all doom and gloom. Why? Because NBA teams love big dudes who can shoot the ball. 24-year-old Blake Hinson and 25-year-old Branden Carlson both signed two-way contracts this off-season because they’re tall shooters. Plus, the data on older, tall shooters isn’t too shabby. During a column this past cycle, I looked at the commonalities among older prospects who ended up sticking around the NBA. The most common throughline was that they weren’t shrimps, they made their threes, and they took them readily. It’s the Buddy Hields, Duncan Robinsons, and Sam Hausers of the world that make it work.
Jacob Crews isn’t without his flaws. The defense needs to get better, and he needs to develop as a playmaker for others. Plus, he’s in a somewhat precarious position from a roster construction standpoint, as Missouri has no shortage of options for the two through four spots in their lineups. With all that said, I still believe in Crews to a “potential two-way guy” degree. That’s why I’m covering him in this series. He’s been on a long, winding journey, but there’s a blueprint for success. He’s 6’8”, he can shoot in a way that few others his size can, and he has the physical tools to round out his game. I’m rooting for Crews, and I’m hoping we’ll see him in that Portsmouth/Elite Camp mix come April.
Caden Pierce, 6’6”, Princeton, Junior
2023-2024 Season Stats: 16.6 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 3.2 APG, 1.8 TOV, 1.2 SPG, 0.5 BPG
2023-2024 Shooting Splits: 54.6/34.2/76.7
Signature Performance: vs. Penn. 32 points, nine rebounds, four assists. 11-17 FG, 2-4 3FG, 8-9 FT.
Tough Test(s) (games against Quad-1 Competition):
-N/A
Reminds me a little bit of: Kenrich Williams, Kyle Anderson, Dillon Jones
Background
Caden Pierce comes from a family of high-level athletes. His parents both attended Northwestern, where his dad played football and his mother played volleyball. His oldest brother, Justin, played basketball for William and Mary and North Carolina before competing professionally overseas. His other brother, Alec, is a wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts. During a Zoom call with Caden, he noted, “My brothers are four and six years older than me, so I saw them going through middle school and high school and how they were working toward their goals. Throughout all of our careers, we didn't specialize until pretty late. We all played multiple sports in high school, which was important, not just to our family, but our development as a whole. It’s important to love competition in all aspects. I played basketball, baseball, golf, football. I tried not to put too much pressure on myself, but use what they had experience and learned I their journeys to shape my path.”
Pierce racked up accolades and titles throughout his prep career. He was a two-time All-State honoree and won a state championship for Glenbard West High School. On the grassroots circuit, he helped propel the Illinois Wolves to an Under Armour Nationals championship. This attracted the Princeton staff. When I spoke with Princeton Associate Head Coach Brett MacConnell and I asked what led them to Pierce, he immediately remarked, “well, first of all, winning,” before praising Pierce’s versatility on both ends of the floor. Pierce chose Princeton over the likes of UIC, Milwaukee, Boston University, Brown, Penn, St. Thomas, Navy, IUPUI, and Loyola Maryland.
He didn’t waste any time when he got to campus, quickly carving out a starting spot on a veteran-laden Tigers team that made a Sweet 16 run. As a sophomore, he went from complementary contributor to star, leading the team to 25 wins and earning the Ivy League Player of the Year Award in the process. “A different role opened up for me with Tosan [Evbuomwan] and Keeshawn [Kellamn] leaving. I have a coaching staff that believes in me and allowed me to make mistakes. It wasn't always smooth transitioning into a new role, but not one time did the coaching staff hinder my confidence,” Pierce said.
What’s Good
To understand what makes Pierce so valuable, we first must look at his work around the basket. He puts a significant amount of pressure on the rim and finishes efficiently when he gets there. Per Synergy, 59.9% of his halfcourt shots came at the basket, and he converted an outstanding 60.5% of them. The most NBA-translatable element of this is his ability to attack from a spot up. When he draws a hard closeout or he catches his defender unprepared, he’s able to blow by them with his quick first step, and he’s got serious bounce going downhill (19 dunks last season). His physical strength also prevents him from getting bumped off his line and he’s got some wiggle to him. These tools are accentuated by his off-ball movement, as he’s always relocating and cutting into holes in the defense. Pierce also cleans up on the offensive glass (7.4 DRB%) and can bully smaller players on the block. Pierce shot 61.1% on two-point field goals thanks to his ability to generate clean, efficient looks inside.
The icing on the cake is how Pierce leverages those skills to make plays for others. “If you think about our program and style, and the way we're built, shooting and shot making are always at a premium. If you get somebody that can put pressure on the rim, create that spacing, and draw attention, it's the perfect complement to the guys around him. Caden being able to create advantages for himself totally unlocks our offense for us,” Coach MacConnell said. Pierce actually played with the ball in his hands frequently prior to his time at Princeton, leading his title-winning Illinois Wolves squad in assists. “I grew up pretty small and I was a late bloomer. I was only 5'9" or 5’10” going into my freshman year of high school and kind of just shot threes. My dad was my coach growing up and he made sure he was instilling the right foundations into myself and my teammates. We didn't have a point guard or center, and he said, ‘if you want to bring the ball up, you've got to rebound.’ I got enough rebounds that I got enough experience playing the point. As I got taller, maybe I was a little out of position, but I had that ability to play the point, facilitate, and make the right reads,” Pierce remarked.
Pierce slung 3.2 APG to only 1.8 TOV this past season. His 20.2 AST% is the type of number that jumps off the page for a wing prospect. He knows how to function within the flow of the offense, how defenses are going to move, and when to hit an open teammate. But on top of that, he has sharp improvisational instincts when players make an opportunistic cut. There are great connective playmaking chops here, but Pierce has the on-the-fly feel and creativity to set up teammates in ways other wings aren’t able to.
He can make an impact on the defensive end, too. “One of the most impressive things, you think about his freshman campaign…it was his ability to understand scouting reports, coverages, things that usually take players a long time to understand. He was there from day one,” Coach MacConnell noted. Pierce’s instincts allow him to make plays on the ball in passing lanes. He makes winning plays, punishing sloppy handles with well-timed digs and diving for loose balls. His bounce helps him to nab blocks on the interior. He does a good job of using his frame and physicality to stifle quicker opponents at the point of attack.
Best of all, Pierce is an outlier on the defensive glass. Pierce posted an outlandish 27.1 DRB% this past season. He’s competitive, always working for position before soaring for a board. “It's something I take pride in. I think my two-foot jumping ability [plays a part]…credit to my mom and her volleyball ability, she gave me some hops. At the end of the day, rebounding is a mentality. If you want to get the rebound, you're more than capable of getting it. As you get older and more experienced, you track the ball in the air better. If you can see where it's going, you can beat a bigger guy to a spot, and it becomes a jumping contest,” Pierce explained. Coach MacConnell also harped on Pierce’s knack for grabbing the ball with two hands above the rim in traffic as one of his best characteristics. His prowess on the glass can allow a team to go smaller without sacrificing anything on the boards.
What Needs Improvement
While Pierce is a bursty vertical athlete, he needs to come along laterally. He can be a bit stiff and doesn’t slide particularly well by NBA standards. He struggles against directional changes and doesn’t have the juice to recover when he gets beat. Offensively, front offices will want to see him become a more potent shooter. Pierce made a respectable 34.2% of his threes last season, but he only took 5.0 attempts per 100 possessions. Given his size and speed, there will at least need to be a volume uptick for teams to buy into him as a dribble-pass-shoot threat. Without the shot, he’s more of an undersized four who isn’t particularly quick. But if he can take steps forward athletically while becoming an outside threat, then it’s easier to imagine him slotting into an NBA wing spot.
Conclusion
There are some flaws in Caden Pierce’s game when it comes to projecting him as an NBA player. He needs to move better laterally so he can stick with quicker players. His ground coverage has to improve. He’ll also need to become a more reliable, willing three-point shooter. While his strength and size allow him to dominate in a smaller conference, it can be tricky to scale that up.
But at the end of the day, Caden Pierce is a really good basketball player. He’s efficient (62.2 TS%), productive (7.7 BPM), and he plays the right way. He’s won at every level. He’s also getting better at a rapid clip. “From his freshman to sophomore year, the way his play improved…I just think there's another step for him to take. We talk about him being more of a creator and taking on more, he's still just scratching the surface. He's a young junior with a late birthday,” Coach MacConnell said.
Pierce also returns to a Princeton squad that has him in a great position to succeed. He’ll be able to maintain a large role while taking steps forward alongside Xaivian Lee. His game might look a little funky, but if I’ve learned one thing in scouting, it’s not to write off high usage, high efficiency, high feel players with size. That’s what Caden Pierce is. At worst, I’d expect to see him in the Portsmouth mix come 2026. But let’s not discount the possibility of something greater than that if he continues to develop. He’s already shown a propensity to do that, and Princeton’s program has a strong player development track record during the Mitch Henderson era.
Amarri Monroe, 6’7”, Quinnipiac, Junior
2023-2024 Season Stats: 12.9 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 0.9 APG, 1.8 TOV, 1.8 SPG, 1.0 BPG
2023-2024 Shooting Splits: 47.3/35.1/78.4
Signature Performance: vs. Lafayette. 21 points, 15 rebounds, two assists, four steals, one block. 9-14 FG, 2-4 3FG, 1-2 FT.
Tough Test(s) (games against Quad-1 Competition):
-vs. Florida. Eight points, four rebounds, one block, three turnovers. 3-8 FG, 0-4 3FG, 2-2 FT.
Reminds me a little bit of: Taurean Prince, James Ennis, Kessler Edwards
Background
Amarri Monroe is a Newburgh, New York native. He played at South Kent High School alongside several other future Division-I players. Monroe also competed for City Rocks on the EYBL circuit with highly touted recruit JJ Starling. Monroe had offers from UMass, UMBC, Iona, Siena, Fairfield, East Carolina, Buffalo, Marist, Quinnipiac, Drexel, and the school he would initially attend, Wofford.
His freshman year was unspectacular. He played 16.8 MPG for the Terriers, defended well, and controlled the defensive glass. Still, he struggled to score, putting up 3.6 PPG on 33.3/25.6/69.2 splits. Monroe hit the portal at season’s end, and he would land at Quinnipiac. There, things started to click. Monroe became a much more productive player and earned All-MAAC Second Team honors. He will be returning to Quinnipiac for his junior season.
What’s Good
Amarri Monroe is an outstanding defensive prospect. At 6’7” and 220 pounds, he looks and moves like a pro in every sense. He’s able to absolutely smother opponents when guarding the ball. He responds to speed changes and counter moves well, quickly shifting his feet to stay in front of the ball. When he closes out and opponents drive at him, his balance often ends up stifling their attempt at penetration. Not only is he tough to get around, but his size makes him tough to get through, as well. Monroe defended 21 isolation possessions last season and opponents only scored 11 total points in those circumstances, per Synergy. His prowess is further bolstered by his exceptional hand speed. He’s quick getting into his opponent’s handles and tracks the ball well at the rim.
That’s a great jumping off point for Monroe’s work off the ball as a defensive playmaker. He showcases a high motor on the defensive glass (20.9 DRB%). This past season, he posted 2.8 stocks per game with a 3.7 STL% and 3.7 BLK%, which is something you don’t see too often. His timing as a gambler is sublime. He can jump passing lanes to create transition opportunities or quickly dig for a strip. Monroe is really sharp when it comes to his shot-blocking. The classic wing shot blocking stuff is there—he can fly over from the weak side, meet someone above the rim, and reject them. But there’s more refinement and feel to it, too. Monroe will get in low for blocks when that’s the smarter play. He’s also great at sneaking up behind players on the block and in the mid-range before swatting their shots from behind. That marriage of tools and instincts is what makes Monroe stand out.
Monroe is in a solid place offensively, too. After struggling to score efficiently as a freshman, he took big steps forward as a sophomore. He knocked down 35.1% of his threes on 6.6 attempts per 100 possessions. Monroe is a functional straight-line driver. He’s got a good first step and he can finish above the rim. When a dunk isn’t there for him, he’s comfortable using either hand at the cup. He never sits on the ball too long and makes quick decisions. Monroe also uses his bounce and toughness to make plays on the offensive glass (7.3 ORB%).
What Needs Improvement
As it stands, Monroe is strictly a play finisher on offense. He doesn’t have much juice off the bounce, nor does he have an in-between scoring game at this point. He needs to look to pass more, as he tends to force looks at the rim instead of finding teammates when he gets downhill. As a result, he made only 51.6% of his halfcourt rim attempts while posting a poor 5.8 AST%. Given his level of competition, front offices are going to want to see a step forward from Monroe offensively. Without more connective tissue, he’s going to have to really be a knockdown shooter. His defense could use some refinement, too. Monroe can help too far toward the ball in hopes of making a play. As a result, he loses his man and gets back-doored more often than I’d like to see. There’s always a line to toe between gambling and playmaking, and he’ll need to be mindful of that going forward.
Conclusion
Amarri Monroe’s freshman campaign left a lot to be desired. But sometimes, all a player needs is a new context. At Quinnipiac, he’s been a completely different player. He still brings the defensive intensity and rebounding, but he’s settled in offensively, too. I also thought he made a great decision in returning to the Bobcats for his junior season. Strictly from a developmental standpoint, it seems like the right move. Rather than having to re-settle and readjust for a second straight season, Monroe will get to continue to workshop his craft with a solidified role.
Is he still raw offensively? Absolutely. He’s going to need to add connective elements to his game to latch on at the next level. But there’s a good, productive baseline in place. He’s already up to the task from a physicality and defensive standpoint, he just needs the offense to get close to catching up. If Monroe can even just progress as a shooter, he should draw interest when his time comes to go pro. That should at least be enough to get him a Summer League or Exhibit-10 look. But if he can become a more well-rounded offensive player in the next two years, watch out. Monroe has the potential to work himself into draft consideration.