Phoenix Suns Draft Primer: Coby White

The Positives

White’s skillset is defined with one word: speed.

The North Carolina native is a whirlwind in space, using his lightning-quick instincts and aggressiveness to relentlessly push the ball in transition creating open looks and easy buckets.

It is nearly impossible to contain his talent in the open court, leaving defenders in the dust and using his size and shiftiness to finish at the rim.

He can accelerate and decelerate on a dime, using stop-and-go hesitation dribbles to keep defenders off-balance, create contact and get to the free throw line – something that should translate well at the next level.

Scoring ability has never been a question for White, and he can do it in a variety of ways.

Averaging 16 points per game as a freshman at a blue blood school, Coby knows when to take the game over with on-ball playmaking and when to find his spots on the perimeter for catch-and-shoot opportunities.

His crafty movement and quick shot release make him a prime candidate for dish out 3’s and he has the ability to completely take over games, eclipsing the 30 point mark on three occasions in his only season at North Carolina.

Perhaps the most jaw-dropping part of White’s game is his ability to gain separation off the dribble. He has a NBA-ready stepback already in his arsenal, inviting contact with his defender before dancing back beyond the arc for a James Harden-esque bucket.

This should immediately become an advantage against the longer defenders waiting for him at the professional level.