PSO Scouting Report: PF/C Precious Achiuwa

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/C

Hometown: Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Team: Memphis

Class: Freshman

DOB (Age): 9/19/99 (Age 21)

Height: 6’9″

Weight: 223 lbs.

Facts to Know

Precious was born in Nigeria and did not begin playing basketball until he moved to the United States in 8th grade
1st player in AAC history to win Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year in the same season
Set a conference record with 22 rebounds in a 20-20 game against Tulane in February, 2020

Athleticism

Pros

Great frame for his height, has a long wingspan and standing reach
Strong leaper off two feet either standing or stopping of the run
Quick hips & good lateral quickness gives him the ability to guard outside the paint
Explosive vertical in traffic and good at timing both blocks and rebounds
Has the potential to add even more weight and strength on to his already large frame
All athletic traits are used to their full potential because of the high energy he brings

Cons

Because of his size, he doesn’t have the speed that would help him thrive in the fast break
Noticeably slower jumping off 1 foot; will need to improve individual leg strength
Occasionally takes a long time to load on jumps, coaching staffs will work on his pop

Grade: A-

NBA Skills

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TY893sMDG2o&feature=youtu.be

Pros

Aggressive around the basket, finishes plays with authority, and grabs rebounds well
Good at blocking shots and defending the paint in general, good body control so he does not foul too much
High-level rim-runner & rim-protector as a two-way impact player
Shot mechanics are smooth, giving scouts hope he can develop a solid jump shot; lower body needs work though

Cons

Does not possess the ball handling skills at the moment that separates good and great forwards
Did not attempt enough shots from behind the arc to determine how his shot will translate
Most finishes are through power and strength, would benefit him to incorporate some finesse into his game
Needs to improve passing; making necessary passes + not forcing bad ones
Not a great shot creator in the half-court, makes the most of his opportunities on the run (great rim-runner)

Grade: B-

Production

Pros

15.8 PPG is a solid number on a team with a lot of other scoring options/shot takers; plays role well
Excellent defensive rating (82.5); top 15 in the NCAA since 09-10 season
High usage rate (27.7); means he is very engaged and makes an impact on offense even when he doesn’t score
Rebound numbers on both sides of the glass are well above average for his position
Blocks and steals are both part of his game; he clearly has no problem doing the little things

Cons

FG% should be above 55% for someone who is dunking the ball so much
Only attempted 40 3-pointers all season; did not shoot a great percentage either
FT% needs to come above 70% or it will become a liability in the league
Low assist numbers, should increase as he gets more comfortable in the post
Turns the ball over too much (3.3 per 36 minutes) too much for a big man

Grade: B

Risk

Pros

Plays with high energy on both sides of the ball; makes other players want to play with him
Already has elite athleticism with the ability to get better with coaching
Most weaknesses have potential to improve (shot form, bounce off 1 foot, passing reads)
Has the body and playing style of a small ball 5 who can guard multiple positions; not a defensive liability vs. small ball
If a shot develops, his ceiling is very high while he has a high floor as a high-energy rim-runner/rim-protector
Stepped up when Wiseman decided not too play and had a very successful season with the added responsibility

Cons

Will he be able to change his lower body mechanics on shot is a huge question that will determine his ultimate potential
Concern over offensive specifics; does not have any go-to moves, relies on others a lot
Ultimately unlikely he becomes more than a 1-dimensional high-energy player around the rim
Despite just playing 1 year in college, he is already 21 which is old for an inexperienced (freshman) prospect

Grade: B+

Overall

Achiuwa has been garnering interest from NBA teams since he was in high school. He attended three of the top prep schools in the country before committing to Memphis and playing under Penny Hardaway. At Memphis, Achiuwa excelled with his aggressive style of play. Precious led a team full of young talent to a solid season after the #1 recruit, Wiseman, decided to leave them mid-season. Achiuwa set multiple conference records during his time at Memphis and looks to bring his high energy style to the next level.

Precious is an enticing prospect because of his elite athleticism and defensive-first mindset. He has the frame to defend any player in the NBA, similar to that of Jerami Grant who guarded LeBron and Anthony Davis at times in the Western Conference finals. His offensive game is still a work in progress, but if he puts in the work on his jump shot, he could turn into a late-lottery steal. Even if the jump shot never comes around, Achiuwa should be able to carve out a role nicely due to his presence on the glass and overall hustle.

Pro Comp: Clint Capela

Projected Round/Pick: Late lottery/Mid 1st Rd

Prime Destinations: WAS (#9), SAS (#11), SAC (#12)

OVERALL Grade: B+