NBA Comparison: Adreian Payne

Strengths: Despite a lack of ideal height, has the physical stature and build to hold his own inside … Has the ability to face up against other big men and is capable of pulling opposing bigs away from the rim when his shot is falling … Shot over 43% from outside the arc this past season for Villanova … Does a good job of getting his feet underneath him on his shot … Is capable of setting up his drives with jab steps and rip through moves, but doesn’t utilize that skill enough … Is light on his feet and often is able to get rebounds simply by being the first to get in the air for it … Is aggressive going for rebounds … Possesses good shot blocking instincts and a desire to protect the rim … Is able to fit in to a team concept, not somebody that will routinely force his offense to the detriment of offensive flow … Creates extra opportunities for his team offensively with aggressive offensive rebounding. Skilled at finishing off of offensive rebounds …

Weaknesses: One thing working against him is that he is relatively old (21 years) for a player that played only one year of college basketball … Lacks great footwork in the post. Can settle for the three point shot at times instead of making the defense work … Despite his strength, doesn’t wear down the defense, averaging less than 2 free throws per game … Was not asked to be a big time scorer in college, scoring in single digits 15 times … Is prone to making silly mistakes occasionally, especially on defense, which can lead to foul trouble for him … Can struggle against opponents that match or exceed his size and athleticism … Not somebody that a team can go to at this point for a basket in the half court in a big moment … Doesn’t always cut with a purpose offensively or make crisp moves off the ball … Possesses questionable free throw mechanics for a skilled shooter, which contributes to him shooting 70% from the stripe … His post up game lacks polish, leading him to force jumpers from the post instead of effectively utilizing post hooks or step through moves … Due to a lack of polish, he can become predictable in the half court … Had some medical reports that teams mentioned could affect his draft stock ..



Outlook: With the direction the league is currently going, there is definitely a spot for a guy like Spellman, who projects as a pick and pop threat offensively and a rim protector defensively … He will have to show a willingness to expand his game off of that though to reach his full potential, because right now he is limited in how he impacts the game … He has some skills overall, but needs to refine the other parts of his game if he’s to stick in a rotation.



Eric Yearian 5/14/18

Strengths: For being 260 pounds, Spellman is very active, nimble and versatile on his feet … On the offensive end, he is always moving from the baseline to the top of the key … Always setting screens, picking and popping/rolling, rebounding, putting the ball on the deck, posting up or shooting from the outside; Always doing something … Came to Villanova with a good scoring touch, but improved it to having great touch … Averaged 10.9 points per game with a very effective outside jump shot ranging from midrange to beyond the arc … Shot the three at 43 percent and made 65 total three-pointers last season … He can take a couple dribbles when pressured on the outside and get to the rim and finish well and strong, as well and using a number of patented moves in the post to get to the basket … Spellman creates mismatches on bigger defenders by his quickness, lateral movement, ranging outside the paint and tremendous ability to stretch the floor and open the lane for teammates … His rebounding was as aggressive as anyones in the Big East, averaging 8.0 rebounds per game and crashing the boards equally effectively on the offensive and defensive end … He played some of the best defense against top big men in the Big East and stood his own, while becoming Villanova’s premier rim protector with 1.5 blocks per game … When he got pressured on the outside, his vision was good enough to make big plays and keep the offense flowing with good passes …

Weaknesses: Occasionally, he got out of rhythm with the rest of his teammates on offense and defense … His lack of awareness and lapses caused him to pick up silly fouls or let up easy points or get his teammates in trouble … Spellman played in an offensive system that featured five solid outside shooters, which may have enhanced his numbers some … An argument could be made that Spellman was a product of the Villanova system, his teammates’ success made things easier for him and Spellman is unable to effectively create his own shot in college and won’t be able to at the next level … His length is good, but he could struggle at the next level against more explosive forwards and centers with length and skill …

Overall: Omari Spellman brings great versatility to the table for whoever brings on his talents … He is aggressive and physical down low, but is equally able to step out and stretch the floor and provide a solid NBA shot from the outside that he shoots at a high rate …

Notes: Measured 6’8, 272 lbs with a 7’1 wingspan at the 2014 Nike Elite 100 … Measured 6’9 (in shoes) 268 lbs, with a 7’1 wingspan at the 2014 LeBron James Skills Academy … Measured 6’9.5’’ in shoes, with a 7’1.5’’ wingspan and 269 lbs at the 2015 Nike Basketball AcademySpellman was named the Big East Freshman of the Year this past season… He had to sit out his first year due to academic ineligibilities and received the redshirt tag… In his time sitting out, he slimmed down his weight from 300 to 245 by cutting out unhealthy foods and switching to healthier diets… In his free time, Spellman enjoys writing poetry and he has compared playing basketball to poetry.

Matthew Harvey 4/15/18

February 7, 2013