Hello!
Some infos about George Papagiannis. He is 18 (soon to be 19) but keeps growing. It wouldnt surprise me if he becomes 7-3 feet tall before too long. He didnt play much in his previous team. Offensively almost everything around the rim were dunks and hookshots. During the last months, he worked extremely hard to add in his arsenal a midrange shot and 3's. His 3-point accuracy was what impressed mostly the representatives of 20 NBA teams who attended his recent pre-draft workout in Temple University. Yesterday he stated in Greek media that recently he hit 49 of 55 3s in practice. But of course it remains to show this also in games.
Some videos hitting 3s in a row in practicse from his instagram account.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BG4QcqmBvH2/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BG19EP9hvPM/?taken-by=g_p_06…
In order to have a better approach on his strengths and weaknesses, you can read the detailed scouting notes for Papa from Joshua Ridden (Draftexpress)
Georgios Papagiannis
Team: Panathinaikos
Age: 18
Stage in career: Greek League with some minimal Euroleague experience
Executive Summary
18 year old 7'2" center with potential to fill a big man role: Dunker, pick and roll player and rim protector but has to grow tougher and stronger
Detailed Scouting Notes
- 7'2" center
- 18 year old playing in the Greek league - soon to be 19 (July 97)
- In the Greek league he plays for one of the two best teams but doesnt get a ton of minutes.
- 10 minutes per game - rotation player but doesn't get a ton of minutes
- Good athlete - definitely not a stiff
- Can run to the rim in transition ahead of defense
- Good first step for a 7 footer to turn on jets past opposing big man
- Wingspan not measured - looks to have long arms
- Skinny, not very strong right now - room to add strength
- Mobile for his size, quick off the ground
- Doesn't get as high as similar players (DAJ, Rudy) but vertical is sufficient to get above most players
- Good roller off ball screens - tags his opponent hard to free ball handler and runs to front of rim
- Can finish lobs for dunks or catch and go up for a layin
- Solid hands around basket - going to make a lot of catches with length and soft hands
- Catches off target passes
- Quick to the rim - defender can't recover in time, help defense isn't big enough to challenge
- Not a dominant post up player - still learning
- Doesn't have the strength to bury his opponent under the rim - has to rely on reach to get shots off
- Everything is a hook shot - better with his right although he will try with his left
- Tries to back his defender down with a few dribbles before going to his hook shot
- Doesn't have any counters but didn't really need them yet - will have to develop footwork
- Willing passer out of the post - isn't going to force anything when doubled
- Won't get flustered by double team - can see floor and pass over defense
- Can get his shot majority of time in Greek league - has to be confident on ball against NBA defenders
- Accurate passer - zips ball to his teammates on the wing for 3's
- Not going to turn the ball over, willing passer
- Shoots alot of the time he touches because he's in position to dunk but can pass out of the post
- Doesn't have a wide array of offensive skills but he has what you want for a 7 footer
- Can get points in the post, ball screen and finish, dunk around the rim
- 65-70% career FT shooter - can he add a midrange shot or 3? - May need to find a way to score other than just at the rim
- Will offensive rebound - 3.5 per 40 - will run to front of rim, agile to chase down loose balls
- Defensive potential - can protect the paint
- 2.8 blocks per 40 - good timing, instincts
- Gets off the ground quickly, can block guys from the front or behind
- Not lost out on the perimeter - moves his feet well
- Active hands, mobile feet - comfortable stepping out and switching pick and rolls
- Guys can get by him eventually but he makes it tough and will stay with guard to challenge shot
- Needs to add strength to guard post - can get bullied
- Can be a dominant defensive rebounder - goes to front of rim, can't be outjumped
- Good energy level -limited minutes but always looks to be engaged
- Can he keep up activity level in larger minutes?
- Never been a high minutes rotation player - even in Greece youth teams
- Never cracked 30 minutes per game - usually a 20 minutes per game player
- Has to improve conditioning to bring high energy in bigger minutes
- Needs to become tougher and stronger - still young and developing
Pro Outlook
- Worth a late first/early second round pick
- Would select anywhere from 25-40
- Will likely need some time to add strength, fill out frame and improve conditioning before becoming a NBA player but still young
- Can turn into that anchor from the center spot teams want - control the paint on both ends
- Will be athletic enough against his NBA counterparts
- Can pay off 2-3 years down the line and become a starting center if he can become better conditioned
- Will be a valuable backup big either way if he can only play limited minutes
- Good two way player - doesn't have the highest ceiling as a superstar but fills roles on both ends
Isaiah Cousins is a nice pick in the late 2nd round
