The Good
Royce White, F, Iowa State
No one created a bigger stir this weekend than White. Scouts were disproportionately congregated in Louisville this weekend hoping for a UConn-Kentucky matchup. Instead, they got to see White dominate both UConn (15 points, 13 rebounds) and Kentucky (23 points, nine rebounds, four assists). In the end, the Cyclones came up short against the Wildcats, ending their NCAA journey. But the debate on White's draft status has just begun.
White is not a sleeper. He was highly regarded coming out of high school and scouts have followed him closely all season. On pure talent, he's a terrific NBA prospect. But there are concerns both on and off the court that give pause.
White has the physical skills to do everything on the court.
White showed off his LeBron James-esque (if you love him) or Boris Diaw-esque (if you're not sure) ability to play like a point guard despite being 6-foot-8 and 240 pounds. The Cyclones' offense ran through him, and for most of those two games he carried the team on his shoulders. White can handle the ball, shoot the 3 or post up his defender in the paint. He's a terrific rebounder and a warrior on the court.
However, it's questionable that White can play the same way at the NBA level. While he's a good athlete, he's not elite like LeBron. NBA coaches aren't going to just give him the ball and let him create for himself the way Fred Hoiberg did, especially when you factor in how often he turned over the ball. He's going to need a coach like Mike D'Antoni, who worked wonders with Diaw when he coached the Suns.
Off the court, White suffers from a well-documented anxiety disorder that's triggered, in part, by a fear of flying. White actually had his grandfather drive him from Ames, Iowa, to Louisville, Ky., to avoid an incident. How that affects him at the next level is anyone's guess ... but it is an issue that will be addressed even before the draft. NBA teams will want to interview him and administer tests, as well as have him visit. Most draft prospects are on planes every other day flying from city to city.
White did a lot to improve his stock this week and will get a serious look from NBA teams in the mid to late first round. But he's going to have to shine in the draft workout process. Given how far he's come already, it's hard not to root for him.