Strengths: Pure scorer, has remarkable touch around the basket, his shots
seem to climb up over the rim and go in, and he can use the glass inside
much better than your typical college freshman. Can handle the ball and
can shoot comfortably out to 18 feet. Has good hands and is a very good
kid on and off the court, very coachable, good head on his
shoulders(should have stayed in school though).
Weaknesses: Couldn't guard his own shadow at Cal this year, not really
6'10", more like 6'8". Can he play SF in the NBA? Has to extend his range
and show he can move his feet. Gets his shot blocked a lot, didn't play
against a lot of bigmen in highschool and got to used to just scoring
easily, will have to adjust to all the shotblockers in the NBA. Has to get
stronger and tougher, Andy Poppink of Stanford manhandled him the first
time they met.
Comments: Maybe it's because I like Cal but I still believe there's a real
chance Shareef will opt out of the draft, he hasn't signed with an agent
and apparently Tremaine Fowlkes decision to transfer was in part tied to
his belief that Shareef wasn't really gone. This could scare scouts off,
as could his Muslim faith although personally I attribute his level
headedness to his beliefs. Shareef's a great kid and I really hope he goes
back to Cal for one more year,he could be the 2nd pick in the draft next
year. Comparisons to James Worthy are unfair because he doesn't finish
like James did, but he's smooth as they come.
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Strengths: Per coach comments and progress over the season, he seems
like a quick learner. Russ mentioned the first meeting with Poppink--
Abdur-Rahim scorched him the second time around. Good rebounder in
college, wants the ball off the boards. Gets to the free throw line a
lot.
Weaknesses: Defense is shotblock or nothing. Clearly he didn't have to
worry about letting opponents get position in HS because he could
just block the shot. General immaturity--while he is more focussed
than most freshman, he still shows his age on the court. Same age
as Kevin Garnett. I don't know if he's still growing, as Garnett
is, but there is a similar risk of Abdur-Rahim getting banged up,
so he shouldn't be asked to play heavy minutes next year.
Comments: A scoring machine in college and he will probably be able
to do that in the pros as well after a few years. The Worthy
comparison isn't terrible. Smoother shooter than Worthy leaving
college, but fewer resources in the post. He'll certainly struggle
early and need to get stronger. Potentially a great player but a long
way to go.
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