NBA Comparison: Mason Plumlee

Strengths: Mobile and highly coordinated big man with an all-purpose skill set. Measured in at 6’11 (with shoes) at the NBA combine, and has added 20+ lbs. of muscle since arriving on campus a string bean … 6.2% body fat … Powell remains a free and easy mover despite upgrades to his frame … He hovers, no clunking … Fluid gait … Runs the floor productively with well above average end to end speed … He was Stanford’s most reliable playmaker/facilitator by a wide margin as a senior (3.1 assists). Excellent distributor, surveying the action and possesses a natural guard feel … Basketball IQ is a considerable checkmark in his favor … Face up 4-man – quickness and ball handling variety … Jump shot stroke looks pure in the mid-range and collegiate three-pointer was not foreign to his repertoire (46% as junior, 14 total makes) … 80% free throw shooter in 2012-2013 … Projection as pick-and-pop threat is entirely foreseeable … Lateral agility is an asset on the defensive end where he can hedge and return to position comfortably … Versatility to kill center minutes at 6’11 … No defining quality but package to be immediate piece of the puzzle … High character kid that interviewed well during the combine process … Has more potential than the average senior …

Weaknesses: His junior season was highlighted several times above and that’s indicative (for the wrong reasons) … The lack of consistent progress from Powell has been baffling … Given his size and skill level combo, the results don’t add up … A solid post player statistically but limited as he can only finish going over his left shoulder with his right hand, which makes him far too predictable … Much of the ups and downs in performance can be attributed to lack of core strength and less than ideal on-court aggression … Junior to Senior declines in three-point percentage (46% to 26%), FT percentage (80% to 69%) and rebounding (8.4 to 6.9) are more difficult to explain … On-court temperament leaves something to be desired … Chasson Randle is a nice guard, but he should not be outshooting Powell 12.5 to 10.8 … Smooth operator but not an explosive athlete – this is particularly true in traffic … 7’0”5 wingspan was shorter than expected … Averaged less than a shot block per game for his collegiate career … While narrow shoulders might always restrict his build, he’ll need to hit the weight room for core and lower body … Not much of a vocal leader …

Adam Ganeles 6/2/14