Ht/Wt: 6' 5" / 176 lbs
Position: PG
Team: Ohio State
Class: Freshman

2015 Draft Profile - D'Angelo Russell

Strengths
Russell's draft stock has continuously skyrocketed since the beginning of the college basketball season -- for good reason. He has the total package on offense from a skill standpoint. He has an astonishing basketball IQ for a 19-year-old, as he rarely gets himself into tough spots. His tremendous court vision and passing ability leads to countless high percentage scoring opportunities. Whenever Russell's team needs a bucket, they turn to him because he's never afraid of the moment and can score from anywhere on the court, especially from the perimeter.

His size gives him versatility on both ends of the floor, allowing him to play point or slide over to the two. Russell also utilizes his frame to crash the boards, resulting in excellent rebounding numbers. His length on top of his size gives him considerable defensive upside. Basketball looks easy to him due to how smooth his game is and the overall skill set he possesses.

Weaknesses
While he has potential on the defensive end, he currently struggles at times with that aspect of the game. He isn't a consistent on-ball or off-ball defender and even takes some plays off on that end of the floor. Sometimes it's attributed to effort, but other times it's caused by poor lateral quickness.

By NBA standards, Russell is average athletically. Some wonder how he'll handle athletic point guards like Russell Westbrook and John Wall on a nightly basis. His lack of explosiveness could make finishing at the basket extremely difficult for him at the next level. Russell also can be a bit lackadaisical at times with his ball handling, leading to some easily avoidable turnovers.

NBA Player Comparison
Russell displays multiple similarities to James Harden because of their smooth, left-handed playing style, but the latter is much more effective at drawing fouls by attacking and getting to the free throw line. Instead, Russell is more comparable to Brandon Roy, who wasn't a superb athlete but was still highly effective, mainly off the dribble. Roy of course was on his way to a long, fantastic career until knee problems prematurely ended it.

Statistics
PPG: 19.4 RPG: 5.9 APG: 5.5 SPG: 1.7 BPG: 0.1 FG%: 47.2 FT%: 78.8 3PT%: 43.8

D'Angelo Russell Videos

D'Angelo Russell Scouting Profile

D'Angelo Russell - Ohio State Highlights 2015


D'Angelo Russell - 2014 McDonald's All American Game - Interview


D'Angelo Russell - 2015 NBA Draft Scouting Video - Strengths


D'Angelo Russell - 2015 NBA Draft Scouting Video - Weaknesses





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