NBA Draft 2013: Anthony Bennett Player Profile

Mar 5, 2013; Las Vegas, NV, USA; UNLV Runnin

UNLV standout Anthony Bennett is expected to be among the top five draft picks this year, and many predict the freshman power forward to be the Charlotte Bobcats’ first pick on June 27^th. Bennett is currently recovering from surgery on his left shoulder after an injury late in the season, but as a 52.6% field goal shooter, this is unlikely to have a large impact on his draft stock. Here are some of his stats:

Team: UNLV, Freshman

Bday: 03/14/1993Current: PFNBA: PF

Possible: PFPick: 4 in 2013 Mock DraftRank: 3 in Top 100

Predraft Measurements

Height w/o Shoes

Height w/shoes

Weight

Wingspan

Standing Reach

Body Fat

No Step Vert

Max Vert

Bench Press

Lane Agility

3/4 Court Sprint

Class Rank

6′ 7″

239

7′ 1″

Strengths: Bennett’s upper body strength and offensive maturity make him a promising draft pick. At 6’7”, Bennett has great athleticism and quickness for his height. His impressive wingspan of 7’1” and leaping ability prove to his advantage both offensively and defensively.

One of Bennett’s best aspects is his ability to finish a play explosively from far distances on the court. His offensive skills are definitely his strong suit, averaging 26.2 points per game when he played the full forty minutes. Bennett also averages 75% from the free throw line and is nearly as accurate in the paint at about 74%. He tends to favor the right side of the court, and as one of the most versatile freshman in the NCAA, he tips, dunks, or reverse lay-ins often from that side.

Bennett is also a smart, clean player: He rarely turns the ball over but can draw a foul if contact is made. Furthermore, the freshman has incredible ball handling skills for his size. His compact upper body strength makes him perfect for contact.

Weaknesses: Though UNLV’s freshman star plays with great maturity for his age and size, he definitely has room for improvement on the defensive side of the ball, often missing matchups and forgetting fundamentals. Unfortunately, his current shoulder recovery and previous high school injuries could show that he is prone to being injured. Bennett also needs to work on his conditioning and intensity on the court, both of which could significantly step up his game.

Basic Per Game Statistics

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4mD1PFE04c&feature=player_embedded

NBA Potential: At this point, what hurts Bennett’s draft stock the most is his shoulder injury recovery time. While he remains a sure pick, not participating in team workouts and the NBA combine has the potential to bring the Canadian’s pick number down. Still, Bennett provides an amazing amount of athleticism, strength, and versatility, all of which will ensure his pick in the first round. The lack of power forwards in this year’s pool also helps his chances, as he is probably the best in his class.