GET TO KNOW 2017 NBA DRAFT PROSPECTS- Kyle Kuzma

Age: 21
Position: PF
College: Utah, Junior

Measurables
Height w/o Shoes: 6’8”
Height w/ Shoes: 6’9 ½”
Weight: 223
Wingspan: 7’0 ¼”
Standing Reach: 8’11 ½”
Max Vertical: 34”
(Via Draft Express)

College Statistics (2016/2017)
MPG: 31.2
PPG: 16.3
RPG: 9.0
ASTPG: 2.4
BLKPG: 0.5
FT%: 66.9%
2-PT FG%: 55.7%
3-PT FG%: 32.1%

2017 Big Board Ranking
Kevin O’Connor: 45
Chad Ford: 49
Draft Express: 42
Sports Illustrated: 40
CBS Sports: 61

Best-Case Scenario: Lamar Odom, Jeff Green, The Morris Twins

3 Things to Know
1. Great potential offensive versatility
2. Will need to become more consistent shooter
3. Needs to improve physicality and decision-making

Strengths
- Runs the floor well in transition
- Spaces floor well and makes himself available off the ball
- Quick to the ball and can rebound in a crowd
- Agility and feet allow him to play good defense on switches
- Shifty ball handler for his size
- Quick release allows clean looks versus contest
- Potential pick and pop threat
- Attacks closeouts at the rim or with a floater
- Quick first step in face ups
- Can finish with both hands
- Good court vision leading the break

Weaknesses
- Needs to get stronger
- Improve physicality and holding ground in the post
- Tends to hug his man. Needs to rotate better in help
- Needs to improve technique and intensity on defense (Get lower)
- Needs to improve decision making
- Sometimes forces shots early in the shot clock
- Needs to become a more consistent shooter
- Improve shooting off of the dribble
- Ability to finish in the post is a question mark

Summary
Kyle Kuzma’s variety of skills makes him an interesting prospect in this year’s draft. The 4-star recruit out of Flint, Michigan decided to forego his senior season at Utah after 3 years of steady improvement. Kuzma has multiple ways to score in his offensive arsenal from the ability to finish in a crowd at the rim, to using his soft touch on floaters, or knocking down jumpers and 3 pointers. He also showed his above average ball-handling and court vision, which allows him to lead breaks up the floor. While Kuzma has good offensive upside, he’ll need to become a more consistent shooter in the NBA. He has the potential to become a shooting threat with a nice stroke and a quick release, but he did only shoot 32.1% from beyond the arc this season and wasn’t very effective off the dribble either. On defense, he could benefit from improving his stance and defensive technique by getting lower on the ball as well as rotating better in help. Improving his decision making will also help him limit silly turnovers. Kuzma has the potential to be a nice threat off of the bench, so look for him to be selected sometime in the 2nd round.