No Stone Unturned 2025: The Wings, Part 3
No Stone Unturned 2025 continues with five under-the-radar wings that NBA Draft fans need to know!
Welcome back to No Stone Unturned 2025! In this series of articles, I dig into five players at different positional groups 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 early big boards and mock drafts, as well as those who received an NBA Combine or G League Elite Camp invitation. 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! You can read the No Stone Unturned 2025 big men column here, and you can find the first two wing groups here and here. Now, let’s dig in!
Elyjah Freeman, 6’8”, 185 Pounds, Auburn, Sophomore
2024-2025 Season Stats (at Lincoln Memorial): 18.9 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 2.3 APG, 2.5 TOV, 1.7 SPG, 0.7 BPG
2024-2025 Shooting Splits: 58.7/45.6/80.7
Signature Performance: vs. Coker, 1/11/2025. 35 points, 12 rebounds, one assist, two blocks, four steals. 14-17 FG, 7-11 FT.
Reminds me a little bit of: Andrew Wiggins, Derrick Jones Jr., Peyton Watson
Background
Elyjah Freeman is a late bloomer. He was 5’8” in eighth grade and didn’t hit 6’6” until he was a junior in high school. He had little recruiting fanfare coming out of high school due to his late emergence. Freeman started his college career at Lincoln Memorial, a D-II school in Tennessee with a fantastic basketball program. His stat-sheet stuffing play put him on important NBA radars by the mid-season point. After the season, Freeman hit the transfer portal and was a highly sought-after target for high-major schools. He committed to Auburn. Freeman also received an invite to the prestigious Damian Lillard-led Formula Zero camp this offseason.
What’s Good
Elyjah Freeman is an exceptional athlete. He is extremely fast end-to-end and a blur in the open floor. He’s also a big-time leaper who can get above the rim and seemingly floats through the air after elevating off one foot. As a result, he’s a livewire in transition. Per Synergy, he registered 147 transition scoring possessions last season and registered a tremendous 70.2 TS% on them. He also posted a preposterous 50 dunks this past season. While it’s best to use caution about tools-oriented prospects scaling up in competition, Freeman was such a cut above at the Division-II level that I’m optimistic about his translation not just to the high-major level, but eventually, the professional level.
What’s more, Freeman can weaponize his physical gifts in the halfcourt. The main trait that distinguishes Freeman from other mega-athletes is that he’s not just a straight-line mover. He’s bendy, shifty, and slithery, allowing him to weave his way through traffic. He has real rhythm with his handle, which makes his burst all the more powerful. Add in his slick footwork and Euro-step combos, and he’s able to self-create looks at the rim consistently. Freeman’s combination of size and ability to shake defenders is uncommon. It’s made all the more powerful by the fact that he can finish his looks inside, as according to Synergy, he converted 65.0% of his halfcourt rim attempts. He can use either hand at the rim, and he’s unafraid of contact. That also gets him to the line a lot (.581 FTr). Freeman can pick up the low-hanging fruit as a passer on a consistent basis, and he’s flashed the ability to fit the rock through tight windows on the go. He can do the dirty work as a cutter and offensive rebounder. Lastly, Freeman has strong shooting indicators. While his three-point volume was low (1.8 attempts per game), he made 45.6% of his triples and hit 80.7% of his free throws on nearly 200 attempts. Freeman’s offensive ceiling is sky-high by under-the-radar prospect standards.
Freeman makes his mark on the defensive end, too. He’s always eager to make plays on the ball. He gets into passing lanes at warp speed to generate steals (1.7 SPG). His motor runs hot in transition, as he’ll sprint down the floor to alter shots around the rim. His ground coverage is tremendous, and he can bring the heat on his closeouts. He grew by leaps and bounds as a point of attack defender throughout the last season. When he commits to dropping his hips and sliding, he’s tough to get around. He can use his flexibility to navigate screens effectively. When Freeman does get beaten, few can match his recovery tools. Freeman’s off-ball disruption, length, and athleticism could make him a valuable defender at the next level.
What Needs Improvement
My biggest concern with Freeman is his shot. Despite the positive indicators, I’m skeptical. It appears as if most of his weight is put onto one leg in his base, leading to balance and energy transfer issues. He’s also too passive from deep, and he’ll need to show that he’s willing to take wide-open jumpers more often when they present themselves. He’ll also need to tighten his handle (which can wide at times), become a bit less forceful as a passer, and add strength so that he can better hold his line downhill. Defensively, he’s a work in progress from a technique standpoint. He has a tendency to play too upright, narrow, and handsy. This forces him to turn and chase far more often than I’d like to see, given his tools. He’s also prone to crossing his feet and taking false steps, which allows his man to get downhill too easily.
Conclusion
Generally speaking, I think that prospects tend to have a narrower range of outcomes than is often prescribed to them. I tend to be leery of the “boom or bust” label. With that being said, when it comes to Elyjah Freeman, I’m comfortable saying “I’m not entirely sure what the outcome will be.” The negatives are pretty clear—he’s a pretty unwilling shooter, he’s a bit turnover prone, his on-ball defense is quite raw, and he’s really skinny.
Conversely, Freeman is a late-bloomer with outrageous run-and-jump athleticism. Factor in his fluidity and shiftiness in tight spaces, and it becomes clear that he has more upside than your typical “moves fast and jumps high” athlete. His ability to break down defenders off the dribble and string together slick footwork combinations downhill isn’t something you see too often at 6’8”. There’s toughness here, as evident by his free-throw rate. There’s touch, which is made clear by his free-throw percentage. There are flashes of on-the-go playmaking. Then, there’s his defense, where his anticipation and tools enabled him to be a potent disruptor. Plus, his on-ball tape was night and day from the beginning of the year to the end of the season.
Elyjah Freeman has a massive jump in front of him. Lincoln Memorial is no joke. They’re a high-end D-II program that competes against the cream of the crop at that level. The SEC is as good as it gets in college basketball, though, and that’s where Freeman is headed. He’ll need to be more decisive as a shooter, make fewer mistakes, and adapt to an entirely different world when it comes to physicality. That’s a lot to ask for, and for those reasons, a patient approach makes sense. Still, longer term, there’s an intriguing mix of outcomes that feel plausible to me. If his shot actualizes and the game slows down for him, he could be an extremely valuable NBA player. But even if he’s more of a disruptive, athletic game-wrecker who runs the floor and makes hustle plays on both ends, he still might be able to carve out a niche for himself in the association. You could sell me on anything from Andrew Wiggins to Derrick Jones Jr. to Allen Flanigan, and I’d think, “Yeah, sure, I could see it.”
I wish I could be more decisive here, but it’s tricky. Freeman isn’t your normal prospect. He took an unorthodox path, in part due to his late growth spurt and developmental trajectory. Still, he has the physical tools you’d more commonly associate with high-level prospects. Then, you factor in that he has a unique playstyle and will be taking a giant leap in level of competition at one of the best programs in the country. There are more moving pieces here than with any other prospect I’ve ever profiled for this series. Still, I am bullish on Freeman as an eventual NBA player. His size, athleticism, motor, production, and rate of improvement are all exactly what I’m looking for when it comes to a sleeper prospect.
Eric Dailey Jr., 6’8”, 230 Pounds, UCLA, Junior
2024-2025 Season Stats: 11.4 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 1.4 APG, 1.0 TOV, 1.3 SPG, 0.2 BPG
2024-2025 Shooting Splits: 50.7/37.8/72.1
Signature Performance: vs. Oregon, 12/8/2024. 19 points, five rebounds, one assist, two steals. 7-8 FG, 3-4 3FG, 2-3 FT.
Reminds me a little bit of: Marcus Morris, Taurean Prince, Kenrich Williams
Background
Eric Dailey Jr. seemed destined to play basketball at a high level. His father had a successful career at Western Carolina and TCU before playing professionally overseas. His mother played college ball for Texas before carving out a career as a coach at both the college and pro level. Dailey Jr. was a highly touted recruit. He was a standout at IMG Academy, where he also did a prep year after graduating. He’s also been involved with the USA Basketball national teams, playing in the U18 AmeriCup in 2022 and the FIBA U19 World Cup in 2023. He started his college career at Oklahoma State, where he showed some promise as a bruising playmaker and defender. Dailey transferred to UCLA for his sophomore year and took a step forward as a shooter. He’ll be returning to the Bruins for his junior campaign.
What’s Good
Eric Dailey Jr. brings a versatile skill set to the table that is further accentuated by his strength and savvy. He’s particularly impactful on the defensive end, where he’s able to comfortably stifle players of all shapes and sizes. At the point of attack, he does a great job of sitting down low and sliding with his man without getting too handsy. His feet rarely get crossed up. His ability to play opponents off his chest allows him to stay in front time and time again. He doesn’t just prevent dribble penetration; he also manages to force opponents into dribble pickups and unforced errors after they find themselves unable to create an advantage. On the interior, his ability to hold his ground on the block makes him difficult to mismatch hunt.
He’s got the good off-ball, too. Dailey is a consistent communicator, visibly talking and pointing throughout the course of the game. He thrives at generating steals, as shown by his stellar 3.3 STL% this past season. Dailey knows how to maximize his length off the ball. He has great instincts for when to dig on post players, and he gets a ton of strips when he helps at the nail. His engagement also enables him to make plays in passing lanes when opportunities present themselves. Dailey also has a good sense for how to operate as the low man, getting into position around the basket in a timely manner before walling up effectively. He’s also able to attack the glass with force at times, posting a 16.2 DRB% through his two college seasons.
Offensively, Dailey has an intriguing level of skill. He’s posted a strong assist-to-turnover mark during each of his two college seasons. He boasts sharp “simple recognition” against help and doubles. Dailey is also capable of throwing long, difficult-to-execute passes effectively. He’s comfortable and confident when he has to put it on the deck. There’s also a burgeoning three-level scoring game here. Per Synergy, his power and touch enabled him to make an impressive 63.3% of his halfcourt rim attempts this past season. He’s also effective in the mid-range, going 12-for-24 in that area of the floor. Lastly, Dailey has become more of a threat for three, knocking down 37.8% of his triples on 7.0 attempts per 100 possessions last season. Dailey poses a threat to score at all three levels while boasting NBA-ready physicality and a good level of feel, making him an intriguing prospect with two-way value.
What Needs Improvement
While I love Dailey’s strength and toughness, he does have some real athletic limitations. Offensively, he doesn’t get from three-point range to the rim quickly when forced to run off the line. He also lacks vertical explosiveness on both ends, registering zero half-court dunks and a minuscule 0.9 BLK% this past season. Those marks are extremely worrying with regard to his NBA translation as a finisher and rim helper. Offensively, Dailey can be a bit of a ball-stopper at times and will need to show that he can operate in the “.5” context demanded of NBA role players.
Conclusion
Dailey is an “if it doesn’t pan out, it will be obvious why” type of prospect. He’s going to be fighting an uphill battle from a run-jump perspective. He’s not particularly fast, and he doesn’t get off the floor well on either end of the floor. For context, Dailey had fewer dunks and a lower block rate than Corey Kispert did during his final season at Gonzaga. Add in the fact that he’s not the shooter that Kispert was, and it’s easy to understand why his appeal might be limited.
Still, I can’t quit the idea of Dailey as a future NBA contributor, and not just as a guy on the margins. His offensive evolution has been a blast to follow. He’s gone from being sort of a bully-ball interior player to more of a true wing. He’s scoring at every level of the floor efficiently, and he’s making good decisions. He’ll need to maximize his lift to continue to finish well in the NBA. He’ll need to continue to iron out his jumper to hit shots from the NBA’s deeper three-point line. He’ll also need to speed up his process as a decision-maker to an NBA pace. But if I’m going to bet on a guy improving, it’s going to be the guy I’ve already seen make a variety of improvements year-over-year, and that’s Eric Dailey Jr. Factor in his Swiss Army Knife appeal as a point of attack defender and his understanding of off-ball concepts, and there’s real two-way upside here. He’ll be in my Top 60 to start the year.
Sam Orme, 6’9”, 220 Pounds, Belmont, Redshirt Sophomore
2024-2025 Season Stats: 9.5 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 1.1 APG, 0.9 TOV, 0.8 SPG, 0.9 BPG
2024-2025 Shooting Splits: 50.3/37.5/79.4
Signature Performance: vs. Illinois State, 1/29/2025. 20 points, five rebounds, two assists, one block. 7-11 FG, 3-5 3FG, 2-3 FT.
Reminds me a little bit of: Jake LaRavia, Grant Williams, Tristan Da Silva
Background
Sam Orme played high school ball for Carmel High School in Carmel, Indiana. There, he had a prolific prep career and was selected to play in the Indiana-Kentucky All-Star Game. He competed for Indy Heat on the EYBL circuit, playing alongside D-I notables such as Jeremy Fears, Kaleb Glenn, Jacob Meyer, Dravyn Gibbs-Lawhorn, and Reece Potter. Orme received three-star billing from 247Sports. He accrued offers from Indiana State, Western Michigan, Elon, Butler, Loyola Chicago, Toledo, and Miami, but selected Belmont. He redshirted for the 2023-2024 season. Orme debuted as a freshman last year and put his versatility on full display. He earned MVC All-Freshman Team honors. Orme will be returning to Belmont for his sophomore campaign.
What’s Good
Sam Orme is tall, and he can really shoot it. At 6’9”, he drilled 37.5% of his threes while taking 9.5 attempts per 100 possessions. It’s tough to find that combination of size, efficiency, and volume, particularly from an underclassman. Dig into the tape, and there’s even more reason for excitement. For starters, the ball comes out of his hands pretty fast, and he has a good release point. But what makes Orme particularly interesting is that he’s not a pure “standstill” guy. He’s able to set screens before demonstrating clean shot prep footwork, relocate into his jumper, or run into his shot in transition. His results, mechanics, and potential dynamism as a shooter position him as a player to watch long-term.
What makes Orme different than most big shooters is that he actually brings other stuff to the table, too. He’s a good connective passer who posted a positive assist-to-turnover ratio. Again, though, Orme isn’t just a guy who does the bare minimum. He has the floor mapped at all times, allowing him to make sharp snap decisions on a routine basis. He’ll also throw the occasional slick bounce pass to a cutter or an advanced read that scrambles the defense. Orme leverages his pump fake well to get to his spots inside. When he straight line drives, he holds his line pretty well; he also plays through contact better than his .176 FTr would suggest. He also has some nice set-ups from a standstill, with jab steps and stutter rips to get his man off-balance. His 8.1 ORB% is a good mark for a shooter, too. Orme’s ability to functionally elevate off one foot enables him to finish above the rim (17 dunks on the year), but he also has touch on non-dunks. Per Synergy, he made 59.6% of his halfcourt rim attempts this past season. Orme’s ability to shoot is his calling card, but the fact that he can make decisions at a high level, compete on the glass, and finish inside makes him one of the more versatile big forwards out there.
Orme can bring the goods on defense, too. He has a fundamentally sound stance at the point of attack and does a great job of playing long while guarding the ball. He posted a great 5.1 BLK% as a freshman, and many of his blocks were the result of him walling off opponents before swatting their shots at the rim. Off-ball, he’s a savvy processor who knows where to be and is always in the right spots. He’s prepared to cover ground, is cognizant of his balance on closeouts, and his hand placement is always what it should be. He’s ready to help around the basket and he knows when to double the post. Orme also showed a knack for the glass (15.1 DRB%), putting in the effort to win position battles before securing the ball. His size, technique, and instincts bode well for him at the next level.
What Needs Improvement
I do worry about Orme’s speed. He’s solid laterally for the level he’s at, but when we’re talking NBA, that’s a different ball game. He’s not bursty when he needs to shift directions or cover ground. His anticipation goes a long way right now, but it remains a question as to how far that can take him when everyone on the floor is smarter and more athletic. Offensively, Orme doesn’t have a ton of on-ball juice right now. He’s a great play finisher and connector, but he’s going to have to grow as an advantage creator and continuer. He doesn’t have counter moves downhill and never wowed me with his dribble, nor has he shown much of a pull-up game at this point.
Conclusion
Sam Orme has plenty of time on his side, with three college seasons left before he has to go pro. In the meantime, he’ll be back for his third year in the Belmont system. It’s a school that has produced NBA talent, and it’s a program that has historically done a great job of developing players. Returning to the Bruins, where he should be in line for a bigger role, should pay dividends for Orme. In the meantime, there’s work to be done. He’ll want to prove that he can do more on the ball, and he’ll want to make sure he maximizes every ounce of what he has athletically.
The starting point here is really strong, though. It’s tough to find freshmen who are as tall, smart, and productive as Sam Orme. On offense, he can knock down threes, finish above the rim, and move the ball. On defense, he uses his size to stay in front of his man, and he knows where to be off-ball. One of the questions I always ask myself when evaluating a player is: “Will this player make life easier for his teammates, or will he acquire special accommodations?” I think it’s a particularly useful question when it comes to players on the margins and while looking for sleepers. If Orme can continue to develop, he has all the makings of a “makes life easier” player. He’s extremely plug-and-play. I don’t think it happens in 2026, but I like Orme as a long-term NBA bet.
Antonio Chol, 6’9”, 210 Pounds, New Mexico, Redshirt Junior
2024-2025 Season Stats (at Garden City Community College): 19.5 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 1.9 APG, 2.2 TOV, 1.1 SPG, 1.5 BPG
2024-2025 Shooting Splits: 47.3/39.7/83.0
Signature Performance: vs. North Platte Community College, 11/9/2024. 35 points, 15 rebounds, one assist, one steal, two blocks. 12-20 FG, 6-12 3FG, 5-5 FT.
Reminds me a little bit of: Aaron Nesmith, Ochai Agbaji, Julian Champagnie
Background
Antonio Chol finished his high school career at Minnesota Prep Academy. Between his play there and with the Garner Road Basketball Club Adidas circuit team, he’d earned three-star status from 247Sports. He enrolled in college a year early, choosing Rutgers over offers from Loyola Marymount and New Mexico. Chol appeared in four games in his first year before having to take a medical redshirt. During his redshirt freshman season, Chol barely saw the floor, playing 37 total minutes across seven games. He then entered the transfer portal, landing at Garden City Community College. There, Chol had a bounce-back season, earning Second-Team NJCAA All-American honors. Chol hit the portal once again, this time landing at New Mexico.
What’s Good
Antonio Chol is an outrageous shooter. The 6’9” forward drilled 39.7% of his threes on an amazing 7.5 attempts per game this past season. He always has his hands ready behind the arc, and he has a quick shooting motion. Plus, he’s a dynamic weapon from long range. While Chol sank 43.0% of his spot-up threes, there’s more to him than that. He also went 12-for-22 coming off screens and 9-for-25 as a pick-and-pop man. He’s got some budding pull-up chops here, too. While he only went 30.4% on pull-up threes, he took 56 of them, and volume is a great indicator.
Part of the reason I’m encouraged about Chol’s pull-up range extending out to three is that he’s already a great pull-up shooter in the mid-range. He has some side-to-side shiftiness before gathering his base, elevating high off the floor, and displaying a high release. Per Synergy, Chol went 46.3% on his 54 pull-up twos last season, and it’s easy to believe that he could extend that range out beyond the arc in the near future. Plus, Chol can be a downright devastating driver when forced off the line. He has serious bounce off one foot and threw down some nasty dunks in the halfcourt this past season. His long strides, speed, and lift make him a serious threat with a runway, whether it be in transition or when a team throws a flyby closeout at him. His 19 dunks on the year show that he has more athleticism than your standard shooter. Chol is an elite “big shooter” prospect who has answers inside.
Chol is a big-time disruptor on the defensive end, having averaged 1.5 BPG and 1.1 SPG this past season. His frame is built for the next level. At the point of attack, he overwhelms a variety of player types with his length and activity. He’s a devastating off-ball threat. He can act as a ball hawk in passing lanes, and he’s always ready to dig. He shines around the basket, where he’s always prepared to slide in and help as the low man. Most intriguing, Chol has unique instincts when it comes to his nose for the ball. His timing and athleticism enable him to help from unorthodox angles and swat shots in less conventional areas of the floor. Lastly, he’s a competitive rebounder who does a great job of finding bodies on the glass and wins battles for contested boards.
What Needs Improvement
My biggest hesitation with Chol is the non-shooting areas of his offensive game. He doesn’t see the floor particularly well, and he lacks spatial awareness in traffic, leading to him getting stripped far too often. Plus, his handle tends to come a bit wide and loose even when he’s not in tight spaces. As a result, he posted a negative assist-to-turnover mark last season. He also doesn’t use his size to his advantage, rarely asserting his physical dominance over smaller players. While I don’t blame Chol for looking to shoot, only 12.5% of his halfcourt shots came at the basket, and he made a measly 46.3% of them. He seems far more interested in doing the “pretty stuff” than playing through contact. Defensively, he can get overzealous as a gambler, and he gets back-cut at times because he’ll be too keyed in on the ball.
Conclusion
I can understand being skeptical of Antonio Chol. For whatever reason, things didn’t work out at Rutgers. Even when he went to the junior college level, he struggled immensely as a finisher. His offensive feel needs to come along. These concerns are legitimate. Still, “tall guy who can move, make shots, and play defense” is one of the easiest archetypes to get onto an NBA floor, even if it’s simply in an innings-eater capacity. Chol is an outstanding, dynamic shooter with parking lot range. He’s also an intense, disruptive defender with a great frame and legitimate athletic tools. I also think the New Mexico fit shouldn’t go ignored, as Head Coach Eric Olen does a phenomenal job of maximizing shooters and defensive playmakers. Chol found an awesome spot to show his stuff while he can work on filling the hole in his game. If he does that, there’s a chance for him to get to the NBA and provide value there.
Will Sydnor, 6’8”, 210 Pounds, Manhattan, Sophomore
2024-2025 Season Stats: 13.9 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 1.5 APG, 1.8 TOV, 0.7 SPG, 1.1 BPG
2024-2025 Shooting Splits: 45.1/34.8/63.2
Signature Performance: vs. Fairfield, 01/23/2025. 21 points, six rebounds, two assists, two steals, one block. 8-16 FG, 3-7 3FG, 2-2 FT.
Reminds me a little bit of: Kyle Kuzma, Rui Hachimura, Dalano Banton
Background
Will Sydnor played high school ball at The Patrick School in New Jersey, which has produced a multitude of NBA players. He also competed for the NY Jayhawks Adidas Circuit squad. His play earned him a bevy of Division-I offers, primarily coming from mid-major programs in the northeast. He elected to attend Manhattan and quickly carved out a big role for himself with the Jaspers. Sydnor led his team in scoring while showcasing a versatile skill set. He’ll be returning to Manhattan for his sophomore season.
What’s Good
Will Sydnor is a smooth operator for a 6’8” forward. First, though, let’s start with his shooting. Per Synergy, Sydnor hit 36.4% of his catch-and-shoot threes in the halfcourt this past season. That’s a good building block for a player his size, but it’s all the more impressive when you consider that over 75% of those attempts were guarded. He also took 9.4 threes per 100 possessions. He does a great job of making himself available behind the arc and can hit threes from deep behind the college line. That combination of efficiency on high volume and a tough shot diet is intriguing, particularly as we dive into the rest of his game.
Sydnor is a confident on-ball creator. He has a good first step, but in addition to continuing advantages, he’s also able to create them on his own. He can make his man dance with his handle and footwork. Sydnor is coordinated, allowing him to string multiple combinations together while using his frame to get to his spots. He’s also got a high release in the mid-range and can bail his team out late in the clock at times. He’s a good finisher, too, having made 67.1% of his halfcourt rim attempts and registering 20 total dunks this past season, per Synergy. He can set the table for others on occasion, demonstrating solid recognition for open shooters when help comes after he gets to the elbow, nail, or restricted area. Sydnor’s shooting, paired with his ball skills and creation flashes, makes him an enticing long-term proposition.
On defense, Sydnor’s fluidity and length shine through. He uses his size well at the point of attack and moves well enough to guard down the lineup. Plus, he demonstrates real toughness when he has to guard on the interior. He’s physical on the glass (19.8 DRB%), routinely boxing out his man before skying for the ball. He has good north-south burst to make the occasional plays in passing lanes, and he’s eager to help out around the rim (4.2 BLK%). Sydnor has the makings of a rock-solid, versatile defender both on and off the ball.
What Needs Improvement
In order to burst onto NBA radars, Sydnor will need to “turn the dial” in a few key areas. For starters, there are some issues with his offensive process. He can bring the offense to a halt at times, and he has a tendency to lean on his yet-to-be-fully-actualized shot-maker upside. As a sub-70% free-throw shooter, he’ll need to get better at the line. From an athleticism standpoint, he’s more “smooth” than “explosive.” Sydnor can slow his momentum on drives by gathering off two feet instead of soaring off one, giving rim protectors time to recover. Defensively, he can be a bit passive off the ball. At the point of attack, he can play hunched over at his waist rather than bending his knees.
Conclusion
Will Sydnor is best understood as a long-term proposition. There are plenty of nits to pick as it stands currently. He had a negative BPM, he wasn’t particularly efficient, and he had a negative assist-to-turnover ratio at a mid-major school. I get it. Still, I’m intrigued by what Sydnor could evolve into over the next few years. He’s got great size on him. I love what we’ve seen from his jump shot. His ability to put the ball on the deck is intriguing. There are flashes of playmaking. He can stay in front of a variety of opponents. The makings of a well-rounded 6’8” wing are here, and NBA teams like that type of player. I doubt it all falls into place for Sydnor immediately, but he’s one to keep an eye on for down the road.
I remember watching Elyjah Freeman live in HS when I lived in Delray Beach (he was in Wellington). Kid knows how to win…gonna be a fun watch this season regardless of draft outcome.
Well said. I’m very high on Sam orme, as he hits all 3 areas for a wing to succeed(shoot, play defense, move the ball)