STRENGTHS
Elite 3-point shooting threat with ability to hit off curls, pindowns, and particularly backward momentum. Squares his feet to hoop and gets ball out in a hurry. Compact release with repeatable finish and little input. One of the draft’s best mechanical shooters especially when considering shot diversity.
Plus lateral quickness at 6-foot-6 with ability to wall off the lane to prevent his man from getting past him. Frequently guarded 1s and 2s and was able to stay in front of quicker players.
Surprisingly advanced handle for a pure shooter type with crossovers, stepbacks, and a spin move he uses frequently to get to his spots. Was tasked with creating offense frequently as 20% of his offensive possessions came as P&R ball handler or in isolation, per Synergy.
One-handed passing ability with both his right and his left to pair with plus vision and comfort passing over the top out of the pick and roll. 4.13 assists per 40 minutes pace-adjusted. Creative passer with vision.
Solid instincts as a cutter off the ball on offense. Can finish above the rim off two feet in space. Should be a dynamic off-ball player with the threat of his shot and his feel for weak points in the defense.
Not quite elite in terms of off-ball reactions on defense but does a good job of getting into position ahead of time and rotating down in help. Low steal rate but that can largely be chalked up to Maryland’s conservative scheme.
Decisive player who makes decisions quickly and usually makes the right play. Good at finding the open teammate rather than forcing a shot. Knows how to draw in defenders before dumping to open dunker.
Very comfortable playing in the pick and roll as he can play off hang dribbles to shake his defenders and knows how to keep a defender on his back. Brings some solid secondary creation potential.
Picture-perfect form adds optimism that he could be a gravitational shooter down the line in addition to an off-movement threat and a secondary creator. Some reasons to be skeptical about his shot but mechanics are very sound.
High-efficiency finisher around the bucket. Doesn’t force bad shots and has solid craft. Shot 69% on non-dunk shots at the rim. Still, lack of elite explosiveness and strength caps upside as a finisher.
WEAKNESSES
Prone to getting sped up at times, can struggle to slow down and let the game come to him. Tendency to play anxiously. Leads to turnovers when he forces passes or gets antsy in traffic.
Lukewarm free throw shooting numbers temper optimism about his 3-point shot. 74.8 percent from the free throw line over 2 years at Maryland. However, it is worth noting he has attempted almost 3 times as many 3-pointers as free throws and is a career 39.4 percent 3-point shooter on 350 attempts.
Sometimes gets a bit lazy on defense, can go under screens against high-level shooters or lose track of his man off the ball. Has low margin for error due to average physical tools.
Short arms relative to height (6-foot-7.75 wingspan) make his contests less impactful on the perimeter. Forced to play up on guys, which he has feet to do, but leaves him more prone to getting burned.
Doesn’t have a great first step for creating offense. Dependent on dribble moves to break down defenses rather than initial burst. Will likely be more useful playing off ball screens and attacking closeouts than creating from a standstill.
Low free throw rate and mediocre rebounding numbers highlight concerns about his physicality. Seems like he has been working to add strength this offseason which should help, but needs to be more physical.
Out-of-control dribbler at times against pressure. 9 games with 4+ turnovers this past season. Shows flashes of creation but also needs to tighten handle in order to continue to carry handling responsibilities.
BOTTOM LINE
Huerter is the rare off-ball shooting and cutting threat who also has the necessary playmaking chops to play on the ball. Add in the fact that he has flashed the ability to defend across the perimeter with his quick feet and solid size for a 2-guard, and Huerter looks like a really appealing prospect. There are questions about how well his shot will translate despite its prettiness on tape as well as about his occasional timid approach to the game, but in terms of skills, few 19-year-olds have Huerter’s talent. His potentially gravitational shooting alone will earn him first-round looks, but the value he adds as an off-dribble creator and quick-footed defender really makes him stand out among a crowded group of wings in the 2018 draft.— Jackson Hoy, 6.7.18
Kevin HuerterFollowKevin Huerter
KevinHuerterKevin Huerter7 Jun
How nice would it be to make that type of play look that easy
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Retweet on TwitterKevin Huerter RetweetedShen_BaseballShen Baseball5 Jun
Huge congratulations to Shen baseball alumni Bryan Warzek on getting drafted by the LA Dodgers today! @BWarzek #PlainsmanForLife https://t.co/Qyp8oEO3pY
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ARTICLES
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