NBA Comparison: JJ Hickson

Strengths: 6’9 versatile power forward … Good athleticism and coordination. Very mobile, moves like a guard. Good strength, plays well through contact … Can finish plays above the rim. Effective jab step and quick first step. Can be a difficult matchup for the opposition. Plays bully ball against guards and wings, too quick for big men to stay in front … Can score and facilitate. Handles the ball and passes well. Good court vision. Plays well in transition as a leader and finisher. Good instincts and reacts on the move … Good slashing ability. Can get to the basket off the dribble. Uses eurosteps and changes directions well with the ball. Can occasionally play on the wing … Contributes in multiple statistical categories … Can grab a rebound and instantly start the offense. Distributes the ball well out of the post and can have the offense run through him from the inside out. Shows some potential as a point forward in the future. Doesn’t have a polished low post game but uses a spin move to create separation and get to the basket. Good footwork on the low block and high post … Improved touch and finishing within close. While it used to be one of his weaknesses, he shot 58.3% from the floor at the NBPA Top 100 and 58.5% over the Nike EYBL … Likes to bang and draws a lot of fouls. Shot over six free throws per game over the Nike EYBL in 2016 and 9.5 per game in 2017 … Good rebounder on both ends. Crashes glass after every shot. Finished top five in rebounds per game with 10.2 over the Nike EYBL. Also averaged 3.5 offensive rebounds per game … Good potential and versatility as a defender … Shows good anticipation and jumps passing lanes well. Finished fourth in steals at the NBPA Top 100 with 1.6 per game and averaged 1.2 per game over the Nike EYBL. Not a rim protector but averaged one block per game over the Nike EYBL in 2016 and 1.4 per game in 2017 … Has improved overall consistent play over the past year …

Weaknesses: Lacks great length with just a 6’11 wingspan … Although he shot 38.1% (8-21) from three over the Nike EYBL, he doesn’t shoot the ball well. His form is more mechanical rather than smooth … Puts too much of the ball on his fingertips rather than the finger pads of his hand … Needs a lot of work from all areas: three, midrange, and free throw. Only shot 56.1% from the free throw line over the Nike EYBL in 2016 and 55.9% in 2017 … Also, only 36.8% over the U17 World Championships in 2016 … Tries to finish everything with his right hand even when driving left … Forces himself to the basket at times and gets stuck in traffic, causing him to turn it over … Reads the game like a perimeter player but lacks the perimeter skillset at this stage of his development … Handles the ball well enough to push from one end to the other after a rebound or break his man in isolation but can improve handling in traffic … Can limit the turnovers. Finished with 1.6 assists to 2.2 turnovers per game over the Nike EYBL in 2016 and three assists to 3.1 turnovers per game in 2017 … Good basketball IQ and tools but still putting it all together …

Outlook: MVP of the NBPA Top 100 with 18.1 points and 7.7 rebounds per game, leading the camp in both categories … Played his sophomore year for Montverde Academy but transferred to Vermont Academy … Averaged 15.6 points and 7.8 rebounds per game over the Nike EYBL in 2016. Averaged 20.1 points and 10.2 rebounds per game over the Nike EYBL in 2017 …

Notes: Full name is Oluwasimisola, goes by "Simi"



Evan Tomes 10/26/17