PSO Scouting Report: F Obi Toppin

PSO’s original Scouting Reports strive to be uniquely valuable in evaluating a player’s future outlook by focusing on the four main subjects that summarize a player’s likelihood of succeeding at the next level including: Natural Athleticism, developed NBA-Caliber Skills, proven Production, and overall Risk that each individual player presents to a team drafting him. For a full breakdown of PSO’s Scouting Reports, click here.

Bio

Pos: PF

Hometown: Brooklyn, NY

Team: Dayton

Class: Sophomore

DOB (Age): 3/4/98 (Age 22)

Height: 6’9″

Weight: 220 lbs.

Facts to Know

His father Obadiah was a well known streetball player in Brooklyn and played professionally; Nicknamed “Dunkers Delight”
Will be 1st Dayton player selected in 1st round since Jim Paxson in 1979 (Portland Trailblazers)
0 star recruit with no offers. Toppin had to take a post grad year at Mt. Zion Prep in Baltimore
1st Dayton player to ever win the Naismith trophy and 1st A10 player since Jameer Nelson in 2004

Athleticism

Pros

Viral bounce which leads to in game “dunk contest” jams with authority
Very strong already with a good frame to potentially add more weight
Runs the floor very well in transition
Solid wingspan which should make him able to play 1-5 in the modern NBA; position-less
Great timing leading to a lot of put back dunks off either 1 or 2 feet
Sturdy in the post, very hard to move off the block when defending him

Cons

Slow hips which lead to mistakes on defensive slides and rotations
Lower body coordination is not great, often gets caught behind faster guys
Low stamina, cannot be constantly moving around which further demonstrates defensive woes
Seems to be a little stiff, rarely seen in a full defensive stance

Grade: B+

NBA Skills

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbFyQBtLkVc&feature=youtu.be

Pros

Potential to be great in a pick and roll/pop two-man game
Has the skill set of a modern NBA big-man that can space the floor
Consistent shooting fundamentals and mechanics and can shoot off the dribble
Very unselfish player with a high IQ and good passing ability
Great rim runner in transition with exceptional instincts around and above the rim
Doesn’t just finish at the rim, he throws it down with emphasis and through contract
Has a developed post game and good touch on floaters

Cons

Biggest question is can he develop into a good defender; can he stay with smaller players, or hold it down against bigs?
Doesn’t have the handles to be a legit playmaking bucket-getter

Grade: A-

Production

Pros

NCAA National Player of the Year due to elite production
20 PPG shows his dominance on the offensive end
Great shooting percentage (63.3%) for someone with a diverse shooting package (#6 in the NCAA)
Good assist numbers for a big man and has the potential to get higher with more talent around him
39% 3P with a projected NBA 3P% of 34%, which is good for a PF w/ room for growth
High usage rate (28.1) and PER (32.5) meaning he’s very effective & efficient when he is on the floor
Rarely in foul trouble (1.6 per game) and does not turn the ball over (2.2 per game) at a high rate
Led entire NCAA in dunks (107)

Cons

Only makes 1.0 3PM per game

Grade: A

Risk

Pros

Consistently exceeds expectations; went from no combine invite to Naismith award winner in a year
Proven leader that was highly regarded by teammates, coach, and overall Dayton, OH community
Plays to his strengths at all times, making him very efficient
Has lots of potential on the offensive end to be much more than just a rim runner/dunker
If he improves defensively (which he has the frame to do), he is the ideal small ball center
Perfect for the modern NBA with his ability to space the floor, thrive in pick n roll, & defend all 5 positions
Makes winning plays who’s a good passing big man and plays with confidence

Cons

Already 22 years old, 3-4 years older than the prospects he is being taken ahead of
Played against non-power 5 competition with one of the best teams in the country
Lacks necessary footwork to defend on the perimeter, needs to improve in this area
Most of his shot attempts were created by others, likely can’t be a #1 option in a NBA offense

Grade: A-

Overall

The cancellation of the NCAA tournament in March was devastating for players and fans alike. Perhaps no team was hurt more by this than the Dayton Flyers, who were ready to prove that their 29-2 season was no fluke. The main reason for their success was sophomore forward Obi Toppin. Toppin burst on to the scene with an electrifying season, and finished it off with a sweep of the National POTY honors (Naismith, AP POTY, and Wooden awards). The Brooklyn native declared for the draft after the season and will attempt to continue his overachieving run at the next level.

Toppin does a lot of things well on the court, but his dunking ability is truly a box office attraction. His leaping ability paired with his strength is a unique combination which provides for powerful, earth-shaking finishes. Toppin also showed his leadership skills and always seemed to make the right play during the Flyer’s terrific season. There are questions about how he will adjust to the speed of the NBA game, but he has proven doubters wrong at every level so far in his career.

Pro Comp: Aaron Gordon

Projected Round/Pick: 1/3

Prime Destinations: GSW (#2), CHA (#3), CLE (#5),

OVERALL Grade: A-