PSO Scouting Report: SG Tyrese Maxey

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: SG

Hometown: Garland (Dallas), Texas

Team: Kentucky

Class: Freshman

DOB (Age): 11/4/00 (Age 20)

Height: 6’3″

Weight: 198 lbs.

Facts to Know

Scored the most PTS (26 vs. Michigan St.) by a Kentucky freshman in a debut in school history
Father played D-1 at Washington State despite being under 5’10”; Tyrese says his 6’3″ size “comes from Mom”
2018 Nike EYBL Defensive Player of the Year; From the same area as fellow defensive specialist Marcus Smart

Athleticism

Pros

Fast player overall, quick reaction speed, and very fast hands which are seen on defense
Great hip rotation on defense so he can get around the perimeter as fast as anyone and covers ground quickly
Good frame and wingspan (6’6 unofficial) should help him guard longer wings
Controls body very well, can play through contact while driving to the basket
Potential to add weight to his slender frame which could prove to be a major key to success

Cons

Does not have great burst in his first step, getting by defenders is often challenging
Not explosive, highlight dunks/blocks will be a rarity, using more finesse and quickness than power
Current size would be a mismatch against more powerful wings, has no ability to guard frontcourt players
Coordination needs work, plays out of control at times and moves too fast with the ball in hand

Grade: B

NBA Skills

Pros

Pure scorer, can change games single-handedly when he gets hot and scores in bunches
Great at attacking the basket, not afraid in traffic, but also has a variety of fades, scoops, and floaters in his bag
Flourishes in transition, both with and away from the ball due to the combination of his speed and creativity
Above-average defender who is used to guarding bigger wings, does well in pick and roll situations
Knows how to play within his role very well; good team defender and picks his spots on offense well

Cons

Average vision and decision making; will need to improve on this to make him more unpredictable in transition
Lacks variety when using screens to attack defenses, NBA defenses will figure him out if he does not expand
Handle is solid in the half court, but occasionally out of control due to his speed
Shot release is noticeably low and sometimes looks like he pushes the ball which could lead to an inconsistent jumper

Grade: B+

Production

Pros

14 PPG on a stacked Kentucky roster, all stats are lower due to amount of contributors
83% from the FT line and will probably make more trips as he becomes more physical
0.26 points allowed per one-on-one possession, very important skill at the next level
Solid rebound and assist numbers for an off-ball guard; should be able to expand on these

Cons

3P% is very low which speaks to both shot selection and mechanics, this is concerning since he is a scoring guard
42% from the field is lower than expected for someone with 11 FGA a game
Steal and block numbers are low, should be higher with his athleticism
16.3 PER is average at best; most of this is due to poor efficiency

Grade: B

Risk

Pros

Showed he can play well with other high-caliber players both at Kentucky and with team USA
Has such a good variety of shots that he will always have a place in the NBA as an off the bench scorer at the very least
Defensively solid with room for improvements; has the chance to be a D&3 guy on a contender later in his career
Plays with that level of confidence coaches want and has proven clutch scoring abilities
No history of major injuries and his style of play is not out of control to the point of injury risk

Cons

Inefficient percentages are a legitimate concern for a variety of reasons
Hot and cold play style; more consistency is desired among NBA teams
Nothing really stands out on his offensive game besides his scoring on various nights; not very effective when shot is off
Doesn’t have as high of a ceiling as other premier prospects due to his lack of explosiveness and shooting

Grade: B

Overall

Year after year, a new batch of Kentucky products leave Lexington with their sights on the NBA. This year, the best of the bunch is arguably Tyrese Maxey, the Dallas native who seemingly scores from anywhere on the court. There is a lot to like about Maxey, but his willingness to attack the basket and creativity while doing so is what has scouts so intrigued. At Kentucky, Maxey displayed his ability to take over games with his scoring, which he establishes by attacking the rim. His outside shot was streaky this season, but he demonstrated an ability to knock down long range contested jumpers at a steady clip.

As he heads to the next level, Maxey has a lot to be excited about. He will be 20 for his entire rookie season and be able to see how his offensive game translates to the next level. On the defensive side of things, Maxey is very quick on his feet and should have no problem being competitive with guards in the Association. There could be a mismatch issue as he weighs in a little on the lighter side. There are also concerns about his shot release point and shooting percentages overall, but the talent is hard to ignore. A late lottery team will look to scoop up Maxey and instantly insert him into the rotation on a playoff contender.

Pro Comp: Eric Gordon

Projected Round/Pick: Late lottery

Prime Destinations: PHX (#10), NOP (#13), BOS (#14)

OVERALL Grade: B