2014 NBA Draft Scouting Report: Shabazz Napier

2013 NBA Draft Scouting Reports - Choose Player 2014 NBA Draft Scouting Reports - Home Kyle Anderson, SF, UCLA Isaiah Austin, C, Baylor Cameron Bairstow, PF, New Mexico Willie Cauley-Stein, C, Kentucky Semaj Christon, PG, Xavier Jordan Clarkson, SG, Missouri Aaron Craft, PG, Ohio State Joel Embiid, C, Kansas Tyler Ennis, PG, Syracuse C.J. Fair, SF, Syracuse Aaron Gordon, PF, Arizona Jerami Grant, SF, Syracuse Gary Harris, SG, Michigan State Rodney Hood, SF, Duke Nick Johnson, SG, Arizona DeAndre Kane, PG, Iowa State Sean Kilpatrick, SG, Cincinnati James Michael McAdoo, PF, North Carolina K.J. McDaniels, SF, Clemson Doug McDermott, SF, Creighton Jordan McRae, SG, Tennessee Shabazz Napier, PG, Connecticut Jabari Parker, SF, Duke Adreian Payne, PF, Michigan State Dwight Powell, PF, Stanford Julius Randle, PF, Kentucky JaKarr Sampson, SF, St. John's Marcus Smart, PG, Oklahoma State Russ Smith, PG, Louisville Nik Stauskas, SG, Michigan Jarnell Stokes, PF, Tennessee Xavier Thames, PG, San Diego State Noah Vonleh, PF, Indiana T.J. Warren, SF, N.C. State Andrew Wiggins, SF, Kansas Kendall Williams, PG, New Mexico James Young, SG, Kentucky Patric Young, PF, Florida

Written by Paul Banks of the Washington Times, and David Kay of the The Sports Bank.
Send Paul an e-mail here: paulb05 AT hotmail DOT com.
All other e-mail, including advertising and link proposals, send to: [email protected]



2014 NBA Draft Scouting Report: Shabazz Napier


Position: Point Guard

Size: 6-1, 180

School: Connecticut, Senior


Strengths:

Three-point shooting

NBA range from deep

Catch-and-shoot ability

Step-back jumper

Free throw shooting

Creating his own shot

Play-making ability

Quickness off the bounce

Change of direction dribble

Capable distributor

Active on-the-ball defender

Rebounds well for his size/position

Doesn’t shy away from the big moment

Weaknesses:

Lacks ideal NBA athleticism

Finishing at the rim against shot blockers

Turnover prone

Court vision; too often misses open man or mismatches

Summary: Napier has been a vital part of Connecticut’s success during his four years of college. He has been the league guard since his sophomore year and has a ton of experience, which is why he projects to be a backup point guard in the NBA. His lack of athleticism hurts his stock, but he can score at a high level and should be a high second-round pick with the possibility of sneaking into the late first round.

Player Comparison: J.J. Barea. Barea has made a living in the NBA as a play-making offensive spark plug coming off the bench. Napier’s ceiling is the exact same thing. Both guys don’t fit the current mold of an athletic, big NBA point guard, but are nonetheless effective.

2013 NBA Draft Scouting Reports - Choose Player 2014 NBA Draft Scouting Reports - Home Kyle Anderson, SF, UCLA Isaiah Austin, C, Baylor Cameron Bairstow, PF, New Mexico Willie Cauley-Stein, C, Kentucky Semaj Christon, PG, Xavier Jordan Clarkson, SG, Missouri Aaron Craft, PG, Ohio State Joel Embiid, C, Kansas Tyler Ennis, PG, Syracuse C.J. Fair, SF, Syracuse Aaron Gordon, PF, Arizona Jerami Grant, SF, Syracuse Gary Harris, SG, Michigan State Rodney Hood, SF, Duke Nick Johnson, SG, Arizona DeAndre Kane, PG, Iowa State Sean Kilpatrick, SG, Cincinnati James Michael McAdoo, PF, North Carolina K.J. McDaniels, SF, Clemson Doug McDermott, SF, Creighton Jordan McRae, SG, Tennessee Shabazz Napier, PG, Connecticut Jabari Parker, SF, Duke Adreian Payne, PF, Michigan State Dwight Powell, PF, Stanford Julius Randle, PF, Kentucky JaKarr Sampson, SF, St. John's Marcus Smart, PG, Oklahoma State Russ Smith, PG, Louisville Nik Stauskas, SG, Michigan Jarnell Stokes, PF, Tennessee Xavier Thames, PG, San Diego State Noah Vonleh, PF, Indiana T.J. Warren, SF, N.C. State Andrew Wiggins, SF, Kansas Kendall Williams, PG, New Mexico James Young, SG, Kentucky Patric Young, PF, Florida

RELATED LINKS:


2014 NBA Mock Draft


2015 NBA Mock Draft


2014 NBA Draft Prospect Rankings


2014 NBA Draft Scouting Reports








Written by Paul Banks of the Washington Times, and David Kay of the The Sports Bank.
Send Paul an e-mail here: paulb05 AT hotmail DOT com.
All other e-mail, including advertising and link proposals, send to: [email protected]



Mike Elworth's 2023 NBA Mock Draft

Mike Elworth's 2024 NBA Mock Draft





NFL Picks - Nov. 13


2025 NFL Mock Draft - Nov. 13


NFL Power Rankings - Nov. 12


Fantasy Football Rankings - Sept. 4