Today, continuing our look at college basketball’s best NBA prospects, we are going to scout Marvin Bagley III.
Bagley is one of the most heralded prospects to ever grace the college ranks. In fact, many are labeling him as the best NBA prospect to ever play for Duke. Why is Marvin Bagley III so high on NBA teams’ draft boards? Let’s take a look.
Phoenix Suns
Background:
A local product, Marvin Bagley spent his first two years of high school on the Arizona high school basketball scene. He starred at Corona del Sol as a freshman before transferring to Hillcrest Prep for his sophomore year. As an upperclassmen, Bagley moved to California to play at Sierra Canyon.
Despite playing for three different schools in four years, Bagley spent every year of his high school career playing against some of the toughest competition in the nation. Clearly this experience prepared him well for life at Duke.
Strengths:
Marvin Bagley III is the quintessential modern big man. At 6’11”, he has the frame to guard larger players and the foot speed to hang with smaller wings. This defensive versatility, something that is very highly valued by NBA front offices, is one of his biggest strengths.
Bagley is also a tremendous rebounder. Averaging 11.7 rebounds per game this season, he leads the Atlantic Coast Conference. MBIII is always crashing the boards with effort and intensity, two things that will certainly translate to the next level.
Finally, his biggest strength may be is his polished offensive game. Bagley has a plethora of post moves including, but not limited to, a jab-and-go, spin, rip through, up-and-under, and fade away. Even against double teams,Bagley is still able to get quality looks at the basket.
Still, his offensive impact is not strictly limited to the low block. He can knock down a jumper as well. Bagley is shooting 33% from three and has shown flashes of a consistent, quality jump shot.
Weaknesses:
Bagley is such a talented, pro-ready player that it is almost impossible to find any major holes in his game. The one big issue scouts might have with his is his free throw percentage. Right now, he is shooting a poor 61% from the free throw line. If Bagley can improve this one item, NBA teams will have no major flaws to pin point.
Next: Phoenix Suns scouting: DeAndre Ayton
Why the Suns would want Marvin Bagley III?
Simply put, Marvin Bagley III is one of the best NBA prospects the league has ever seen. His size, combined with his athleticism and polished offensive game make him extremely unique. For the Phoenix Suns, Devin Booker and Marvin Bagley would combine to make one of the most lethal offensive duos in the league. They would dominate opposing defenses in transition and destroy them in the pick-and-roll. If the Suns somehow manage to land Bagley, the rest of the NBA will need to take notice.