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Yahoo
13-06-2025
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2025 NBA Draft scouting report: Rocco Zikarsky, C, Brisbane Bullets
For a two-round mock draft and a big board with full scouting reports, check out my NBA Draft Guide. Rocco Zikarsky, C, Brisbane Bullets Height: 7-3 • Weight: 257 • Age: 18 Summary: Zikarsky is a big Australian center who plays a traditional role as an interior finisher and rim protector. He doesn't offer much else at this stage of his career, though, and hasn't shown many signs that he will. Advertisement Comparisons: Jakob Poeltl Strengths At-rim finishing: Lob threat on dives to the basket, and he constantly looks for putback opportunities when crashing the boards. Rim protection: Zikarsky is a solid rim protector with a long 7-foot-5 wingspan he uses to alter and block shots around the basket. He's a hard-nosed interior defender who would be at his best playing traditional drop coverage. Rebounding: Strong presence on the boards. He'll get his body on a guy and grab the ball at the high point. Concerns Offense: He doesn't do much of anything other than scoring right at the rim, whether it's post-ups or jumpers. Advertisement Shooting: Lacks a reliable jumper and he's a sub-60% shooter from the line. Perimeter defense: Lateral movement is a concern. He may struggle to switch, hedge pick-and-rolls, and do much else besides play drop coverage. For a two-round mock draft and a big board with full scouting reports, check out my NBA Draft Guide.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
2025 NBA Draft scouting report: Vladislav Goldin, C, Michigan
For a two-round mock draft and a big board with full scouting reports, check out my NBA Draft Guide. Vladislav Goldin, C, Michigan Height: 7-0 • Weight: 253 • Class: Senior • Age: 24 Summary: Goldin is a large Russian center who excels at scoring at the rim with soft touch, and as a senior he began to shoot jumpers. Concerns about his defense and athleticism put him in the second round, but he has the overall skills to be a rotation big. Advertisement Comparisons: Mark Williams Strengths Shooting upside: Goldin began shooting 3s as a senior, and though he made only 11 of his 33 attempts, it's an encouraging sign for his long-term potential. In college, he made 52.8% of his 299 hook shots and runners, a sign of solid touch. As a junior, he made 66.3% of his free throws, then went up to 73.1% as a senior. With a nice, relaxed shot release there's plenty of reason to believe it will be a reliable shot for him. At-rim finishing: Efficient scorer around the rim with a variety of post moves and toughness and feel for scoring against contact at the rim off of a roll. Advertisement Motor: Goldin plays hard and with emotion. If he's able to improve his quickness he could end up a solid interior defender and rebounder. Concerns Perimeter defense: May struggle to guard stretch bigs, hedge in pick-and-rolls, or switch onto smaller players. Athleticism: Not the most agile in small spaces and the open floor, which could be exploited in fast-paced games. Passing: Goldin logged 95 assists to 236 turnovers in college, and didn't display much feel for making his teammates better with the pass. For a two-round mock draft and a big board with full scouting reports, check out my NBA Draft Guide.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
2025 NBA Draft scouting report: Yanic Konan Niederhauser, F/C, Penn State
For a two-round mock draft and a big board with full scouting reports, check out my NBA Draft Guide. Yanic Konan Niederhauser, F/C, Penn State Height: 7-0 • Weight: 243 • Class: Junior • Age: 22 Summary: Konan Niederhauser is an elite athlete who lives above the rim as a finisher and shot blocker, and he displays some intriguing upside as a 7-foot shot creator. But he needs to improve his fundamentals to make it all click. Advertisement Comparisons: DeAndre Jordan Strengths At-rim finishing: He's a constant lob threat thanks to his pogo-stick leaping ability, but he also runs the floor hard on the break to make himself available and displays really good touch even when he can't dunk it. Dribble-drive game: He has back-to-the-basket skill, but more interestingly he displays signs of an ability to drive from the perimeter, whether he's attacking closeouts or facing up in the post. He has smooth footwork and slick spin moves that he can use to get into the paint then yam it on defenders. It's sacrilegious to say it looks like young Giannis, but it looks like a young Giannis. The obvious difference is Giannis was already a two-time All-Star by the time he was Konan Niederhauser's age. Advertisement Shooting upside: He made just 21.6% of his 3s in college and just 64.8% of his free throws. But he has such soft touch near the rim it's hard not to wonder if there's a minor mechanical fix that could improve his otherwise smooth shooting release. Shot blocking: Excellent weakside rim protector who rotates over with activity and desire to swat shots into the stands. He also racks up deflections. If his fundamentals and awareness improve, he could become more of a reliable rim protector than a shot blocker. Concerns Frame: He's extremely lean, so the things he did well in college may not work as much in the NBA. And on defense he could get overpowered by heavyweight bigs. Advertisement Fundamentals: He doesn't box out as much as he should, misses rotations on defense, and in general has a raw overall game. He'll likely find himself in foul trouble if he receives heavy minutes early in his career. Passing: He logged only 22 assists to 48 turnovers in his final college season. He lacks passing vision and has far too loose of a handle, so he'd often get stripped on his drives. For a two-round mock draft and a big board with full scouting reports, check out my NBA Draft Guide.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
2025 NBA Draft scouting report: Javon Small, G, West Virginia
For a two-round mock draft and a big board with full scouting reports, check out my NBA Draft Guide. Javon Small, G, West Virginia Height: 6-1 • Weight: 190 • Class: Senior • Age: 22 Summary: Small is an undersized guard who plays bigger than his body thanks to his excellent athleticism and gritty nature. He's a knockdown shooter off the catch and a solid lead guard, though his lack of size puts a natural cap on his upside. Advertisement Comparisons: Terry Rozier Strengths Shooting: Small has elite touch from the line at 87.1% in four college seasons. As an upperclassman, he figured out his jumper, making 42.5% of his catch-and-shoot 3s. Playmaking: Demonstrates solid vision and decision-making in pick-and-roll situations, improving each year in college to become a steady hand running an offense. Athleticism: Small plays bigger than his body, often finding himself above the rim on the break or off cuts in the half court. He logged 14 dunks as a senior and finished 56.6% of his layups. Defense: Small is a pest on defense who frequently gets his hands in the passing lanes, including in clutch moments. But at his stature he could become a target. Concerns Shooting off the dribble: Small made 32.1% of his dribble jumpers as a senior, which is pretty consistent with his production throughout college. Because of his size, his shots are more easily contested. Size: Small is in the name. He'll get picked on defensively. For a two-round mock draft and a big board with full scouting reports, check out my NBA Draft Guide.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
2025 NBA Draft scouting report: Neoklis Avdalas, F, Panathinaikos
For a two-round mock draft and a big board with full scouting reports, check out my NBA Draft Guide. Neoklis Avdalas, F, Panathinaikos Height: 6-8 • Weight: 198 • Age: 19 Summary: Avdalas is a Greek forward with playmaking skill and versatility. His combination of size and court vision makes him an intriguing prospect, though questions about his shooting consistency and defensive agility remain. Advertisement Comparisons: Hedo Türkoğlu Strengths Playmaking: Exceptional court vision for his size. He's talented at initiating offense and finding open teammates, giving him point forward potential. At a minimum, he can be a connector in a half-court offense. Dribble-drive game: Super-skilled at scoring with craft when he gets to the basket using an array of crossovers, spins, and hesitations. His at-rim finishing talent also is applicable with his active cutting habits. Concerns Defense: He struggles to stay in front of his opponent even playing in Greece, so his lateral quickness and agility must improve to handle the speed of the NBA both on-ball and off-ball. Advertisement Shooting: Needs to improve 3-point shooting to become a more complete offensive threat. He made just 32.4% of his catch-and-shoot 3s this season and only 29.9% of his dribble jumpers. As a roughly 70% guy from the line, he may lack natural touch. But his mechanics definitely need work, as it looks like he's not transferring power from his legs to the release in his hands. For a two-round mock draft and a big board with full scouting reports, check out my NBA Draft Guide.
