Scouting Report: Cody Williams
Ø Position: SF/ PF
Ø Class: Freshman
Ø Height: 6’8
Ø Weight: 190 lbs
Ø Birthplace: Gilbert, AZ
Ø High School: Perry High Scool
Top Starter-Key Reserve-Rotation Player-Roster Player
Year Stats: 12.8 pts/3.2 reb/1.7 ast/56.7 fg%
Strengths: Off-Ball Cutting/Vision/Defense/Finishing/Shooting
Cody has very good cutting instincts as he identifies holes on the defense and knows how to read & react against defenders to find open lanes and manipulate the defense for easy layups. Cody is always moving around finding space to create for himself off-ball. Williams has good vision for finding cutters, one of the best things he does on the court, he is a solid positional passer. His defense is his biggest upside, with his size and length Williams is primed for a chance at the NBA level. He tends to move very well side to side, and he is not afraid of receiving and using contact against offensive players. Williams is a solid finisher around the rim, but it normally comes from how effective he is at getting open with cuts and using screens to his advantage, he is a very smart player and having a brother in the NBA has most likely helped him develop a more professional style of game. Cody is a low volume shooter but has shown tremendous percentages along the boards. He shoots the three very well and likes mid ranges but needs to learn how to create space for himself.
Weaknesses: Motor/Slow/PnR Defense/Project
Williams has all the tools to become a very good wing, but he doesn’t always play 100%, he sometimes slacks off and is careless with the ball, plays like he is not hungry. He has a great vision for cutter but when he is the one handling the ball, he has trouble passing off the dribble, drives and kicks or drive and finding cutters is a huge weakness because a lot of his TO’s come from this. He tends to be a bit slow footed for a wing and with this comes his slack of separation with the dribble. Cody lacks elite first step and quickness with the dribble, something that can really play against him. His PnR player needs some improvement. He is a great defender but when it’s time to PnR defend he tends to chase the offensive player running the PnR instead of locking in quickly after the screen. He knows how lengthy & smart he is and that is why he chases. He is still a freshman, so he is still very raw as a prospect.
Opinion:
One of the most enticing wings in this year’s draft and someone who is worth a lottery pick but he is very much a project. Williams has shown lots of good things, but those stools need to be sharpened so that he can be successful in the NBA. He would benefit from another year in college, but teams will look to grab him early and develop him quicker. He has a lot of similarities with his brother, he just lacks his same offensive game.
