Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
Name: Brandon Knight
Position: PG/SG
Age: 19
Hgt: 6'3"
Wgt: 177
College/Country: Kentucky
Class: Freshman
10-11 Stats: 35.9min 17.3pts (.423 .377 .795) 4.0reb 4.2ast 0.7stl 0.2blk 3.2TO
Projected Draft Position: #3-#4
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kingsfans Scouting Report #1:
A very highly regarded high school point guard prospect who decided to declare for the draft after an up and down freshman season at Kentucky. He made his reputation in high school primarily as a scorer, but he was able to integrate his game well into the Kentucky offense by the end of the season. He likes to set up his offense from the outside in, using his accurate jump shot to open up his dribble drive to the basket. When he does drive he can handle well with both hands and he’s equally likely to pull up for a midrange jumper (game-winner against Ohio State) or lay it in off glass (game-winner against Princeton). He’s got good physical tools for a point guard and a couple times per game you’ll see him pick the ball up near the top of the key, take two long strides through the defense, and lay it in.
As skilled as he is shooting the ball, and he has range out to and possibly beyond the NBA 3 already, he’s often guilty of relying too much on his outside shot. He took 231 long range shots this year which averages out to 6 attempts per game. He made a respectable 38% of those shots but he can shoot you out of a game if he’s not careful, like he did in both of Kentucky’s games against UCONN this season where he went 0 for 8 and then 3 for 11 from 3 point range (both losses). His skill as a shooter is perhaps best illustrated by pointing out that he looks equally comfortable (and was equally successful) shooting the ball off of screens, in spot up situations with his feet set, and pulling up off the dribble.
As a playmaker, his awareness is only average and he can sometimes get a little myopic about searching for his own shot. This makes him a poor fit as a primary playmaker, but his diverse offensive skills should make him a dangerous threat in pick and roll situations, which is how Calipari used him this year. Despite his superior size, he averaged only 4 rebounds per game compared to Walker’s 5.3. I think his rebounding will improve though as he gets stronger. His awareness is good and he'll make an effort to box out his man which is rarer than it should be for college guards. I liked the way he moved his feet on defense and he usually did a solid job staying in front of his man, but he can get overaggressive reaching in for steals with those long arms and put himself out of position.
Following in the footsteps of Derrick Rose, Tyreke Evans, and John Wall-- Brandon Knight will become the fourth straight Calipari-coached freshman point guard to be drafted in the high lottery. All of them have brought a little something different to the table and all of them have been able to adjust to the college game. Compared to his predecessors, Knight doesn’t have the standout athleticism and playmaking skills of Rose or Wall nor does he have the power game and isolation dribble moves of Evans but he’s by far the most accomplished shooter of the group and it shouldn’t be ignored that he improved throughout the course of the season and became one of Kentucky’s key players in the tournament.
Position: PG/SG
Age: 19
Hgt: 6'3"
Wgt: 177
College/Country: Kentucky
Class: Freshman
10-11 Stats: 35.9min 17.3pts (.423 .377 .795) 4.0reb 4.2ast 0.7stl 0.2blk 3.2TO
Projected Draft Position: #3-#4
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kingsfans Scouting Report #1:
A very highly regarded high school point guard prospect who decided to declare for the draft after an up and down freshman season at Kentucky. He made his reputation in high school primarily as a scorer, but he was able to integrate his game well into the Kentucky offense by the end of the season. He likes to set up his offense from the outside in, using his accurate jump shot to open up his dribble drive to the basket. When he does drive he can handle well with both hands and he’s equally likely to pull up for a midrange jumper (game-winner against Ohio State) or lay it in off glass (game-winner against Princeton). He’s got good physical tools for a point guard and a couple times per game you’ll see him pick the ball up near the top of the key, take two long strides through the defense, and lay it in.
As skilled as he is shooting the ball, and he has range out to and possibly beyond the NBA 3 already, he’s often guilty of relying too much on his outside shot. He took 231 long range shots this year which averages out to 6 attempts per game. He made a respectable 38% of those shots but he can shoot you out of a game if he’s not careful, like he did in both of Kentucky’s games against UCONN this season where he went 0 for 8 and then 3 for 11 from 3 point range (both losses). His skill as a shooter is perhaps best illustrated by pointing out that he looks equally comfortable (and was equally successful) shooting the ball off of screens, in spot up situations with his feet set, and pulling up off the dribble.
As a playmaker, his awareness is only average and he can sometimes get a little myopic about searching for his own shot. This makes him a poor fit as a primary playmaker, but his diverse offensive skills should make him a dangerous threat in pick and roll situations, which is how Calipari used him this year. Despite his superior size, he averaged only 4 rebounds per game compared to Walker’s 5.3. I think his rebounding will improve though as he gets stronger. His awareness is good and he'll make an effort to box out his man which is rarer than it should be for college guards. I liked the way he moved his feet on defense and he usually did a solid job staying in front of his man, but he can get overaggressive reaching in for steals with those long arms and put himself out of position.
Following in the footsteps of Derrick Rose, Tyreke Evans, and John Wall-- Brandon Knight will become the fourth straight Calipari-coached freshman point guard to be drafted in the high lottery. All of them have brought a little something different to the table and all of them have been able to adjust to the college game. Compared to his predecessors, Knight doesn’t have the standout athleticism and playmaking skills of Rose or Wall nor does he have the power game and isolation dribble moves of Evans but he’s by far the most accomplished shooter of the group and it shouldn’t be ignored that he improved throughout the course of the season and became one of Kentucky’s key players in the tournament.
-- Courtesy of KF Scout hrdboild
Kingsfans Scouting Report #2:
Kingsfans Scouting Report #2:
Brandon Knight: 6'3", 177 pounds, PG. I know some list him as a PG/SG. But I truely believe he'll develop into a very good PG in the NBA. It may take him a while, but PG is probably the hardest position in the NBA to play. I thought he made considerable progress from his first game of the year to his last game. He started the season as more of a SG, in how he was playing the game. But as the season went on, Calipari slowly moved him into more of PG role. Running more pick and rolls. Driving and dishing, etc. Knight is a very intelligent player, carrying a 4.0 grade average. He's a quick learner, and you could see his basketball IQ improving as the season went on.
As much as he may have improved, he still has a long way to go. Too often he forced passes where there was nothing to be had. Too often he drove into traffic with no where to go. He does handle the ball well, and he's a good passer. Most of his errant passes had more to do with bad decisions than his passing ability. He's an unselfish player as well. He seldom passed up an open teammate in favor of scoring himself. Physically, other than adding strength to his slender frame, he has all the tools necessary to be a very good player at the next level. He's quick, and fast, which aren't necessarily the same thing, with a very good first step off the dribble. He's excellent at pushing the ball up the floor. He has long arms, which should help him on the defensive side of the ball. In short, he's a very good athlete with excellent size for a PG.
Defensively, like the offensive side of the ball, he's still a work in progress. There were moments of excellence and then there were moments that had you scratching your head. Personally I'm not concerned. In highschool he wasn't asked to play much defense, so it was a total learnng experiece for him. And all in all, I thought he did a pretty good job, expecially for a freshman. Lets not lose sight of the fact, that while comparing him to guys like Fredette and Walker, that Fredette is a senior and Walker is a junior. So they have a couple of years experience on him. Also bear in mind, that while unlike Fredette, and to some extent Walker, he wasn't the entire offense, but he was the number one go to guy on the team. So Calipari put a lot of responsibility on his shoulders.
He shot the ball well from beyond the 3 pt line all year long. But did have his share of bad shooting games. Especially after other teams began to scout him and plan their defense accordingly. But he always bounced back, and he was never afraid to take the winning shot. Of which he made many, as the year progressed. He proved to be a clutch player when needed. He ended up shooting just under 38% from the three. That sounds better when you compare it to Walkers 32.6%.
Before coming to Kentucky, he was the 4th ranked highschool player in the top 100 in the nation, and the number 1 ranked player at the PG position. He won the Gatorade national boys basketball player of the year award in 2009 and 2010. And he was only the 3rd junior to ever win that award, following in the footsteps of LeBron James, and Greg Oden. He played in the McDonalds All American game, and hit the winning 3 pt shot. He also played in the Nike all star game and the Jordan hoop summit game.
He could end up being a better player than Irving. Not saying he will, but its possible. At the moment, Irving may be a little more instinctive, but that gap will close as time goes on. I think Knight is a better outside shooter, and is a better all around athlete. But we'll see. It should be fun to watch Knight progress. Even more fun if he's in a Kings uniform.
-- Courtesy of KF Scout bajaden
As much as he may have improved, he still has a long way to go. Too often he forced passes where there was nothing to be had. Too often he drove into traffic with no where to go. He does handle the ball well, and he's a good passer. Most of his errant passes had more to do with bad decisions than his passing ability. He's an unselfish player as well. He seldom passed up an open teammate in favor of scoring himself. Physically, other than adding strength to his slender frame, he has all the tools necessary to be a very good player at the next level. He's quick, and fast, which aren't necessarily the same thing, with a very good first step off the dribble. He's excellent at pushing the ball up the floor. He has long arms, which should help him on the defensive side of the ball. In short, he's a very good athlete with excellent size for a PG.
Defensively, like the offensive side of the ball, he's still a work in progress. There were moments of excellence and then there were moments that had you scratching your head. Personally I'm not concerned. In highschool he wasn't asked to play much defense, so it was a total learnng experiece for him. And all in all, I thought he did a pretty good job, expecially for a freshman. Lets not lose sight of the fact, that while comparing him to guys like Fredette and Walker, that Fredette is a senior and Walker is a junior. So they have a couple of years experience on him. Also bear in mind, that while unlike Fredette, and to some extent Walker, he wasn't the entire offense, but he was the number one go to guy on the team. So Calipari put a lot of responsibility on his shoulders.
He shot the ball well from beyond the 3 pt line all year long. But did have his share of bad shooting games. Especially after other teams began to scout him and plan their defense accordingly. But he always bounced back, and he was never afraid to take the winning shot. Of which he made many, as the year progressed. He proved to be a clutch player when needed. He ended up shooting just under 38% from the three. That sounds better when you compare it to Walkers 32.6%.
Before coming to Kentucky, he was the 4th ranked highschool player in the top 100 in the nation, and the number 1 ranked player at the PG position. He won the Gatorade national boys basketball player of the year award in 2009 and 2010. And he was only the 3rd junior to ever win that award, following in the footsteps of LeBron James, and Greg Oden. He played in the McDonalds All American game, and hit the winning 3 pt shot. He also played in the Nike all star game and the Jordan hoop summit game.
He could end up being a better player than Irving. Not saying he will, but its possible. At the moment, Irving may be a little more instinctive, but that gap will close as time goes on. I think Knight is a better outside shooter, and is a better all around athlete. But we'll see. It should be fun to watch Knight progress. Even more fun if he's in a Kings uniform.
-- Courtesy of KF Scout bajaden
Last edited by a moderator:
