Over the course of the next month until the NBA Draft on June 23, RTC will be rolling out comprehensive profiles of the 35 collegians we feel have the best chance to hear their names called by David Stern in the first round that night. There won’t be any particular order to the list, but you can scroll back through all the finished profiles by clicking here.
Player Name: Marshon Brooks
School: Providence
Height/Weight: 6’5/190 lbs.
NBA Position: Shooting Guard
Projected Draft Range: Late first/Early second round
Overview: A lightly recruited swingman from Georgia that played sparingly as a freshman at Providence, Brooks gradually improved his game over the course of a college career that ended in all-Big East honors following a record-breaking senior season. Mired on mostly irrelevant teams in the loaded Big East, Brooks became a familiar name around the college ranks after scoring 52 points on Notre Dame in February that shattered a conference record. Brooks dropped 10+ field goals in nine games during that remarkable final season on campus, finishing at a hair under 25 PPG to go along with 7 RPG and a respectable 48% FG even while the main focus for all opposing defenses. Despite a slender frame, Brooks’ rebounding prowess also resulted in seven double-doubles last season. His ascension from playing 8.8 MPG as a freshman to concluding his career as the leading scorer in a loaded conference spells out just how much dedication, hard work and commitment Brooks poured into constantly improving his overall repertoire. Aiding the cause was playing the fullcourt breakneck pace favored by former Friars head coach Keno Davis, allowing Brooks the freedom to improvise in the open floor, push tempo and create shot opportunities for himself. Brooks also showed the ability to excel in the halfcourt, using long strides and a tight handle to slice and dice his way to the rim and live at the free throw line where he shot over 77%. Other than BYU’s Jimmer Fredette and possibly UConn’s Kemba Walker, Brooks was the most unstoppable 1-on-1 scorer in the collegiate game last season.
Will Translate to the NBA: In the pick-and-roll, isolation-heavy professional game, there’s always room for a player with the scoring acumen of Brooks. Although the freedom he was granted under Davis won’t continue to the next level, Brooks has a multitude of experience basically operating on his own in a halfcourt game while his teammates observed, so the former leading scorer in the Big East won’t be intimidated when asked to make shots. Despite a wiry frame, Brooks has exceptional height and a phenomenal 7’2 wingspan for a guard, leaving erratic effort as the only lingering reason why he can’t be an asset as a defensive presence on the perimeter.
Needs Work: Brooks’ raw college numbers are outstanding, and even his efficiency totals are promising considering he was asked to carry such a heavy load, but irreversible habits may have bloomed during his senior season at Providence. Brooks dealt with a young, mildly talented secondary cast that couldn’t be relied on to win Big East games, often resulting in porous shot selection and a negative assist/turnover ratio. The challenge for Brooks at the next level will be finding his niche within an NBA system. Improving his shooting range will also help greatly as his ability to blow by defenders will be challenged at the next level.
Comparison Players: We could absolutely see Brooks developing into a scoring ace off the bench for a contender in the mold of Jamal Crawford, especially if his outside jumper continues to improve. Brooks is the type of scorer that can explode for 15 points in a quarter similar to Crawford, but can very easily become selfish and take questionable shots if he becomes overly trigger happy. Crawford’s ability to create his own shot and provide instant offense reminds us of what Brooks is capable of at the next level.
Best Case Scenario: Brooks sheds his bad habits from Providence, acknowledges and embraces his role, doesn’t become purely a ball-stopper and ends up a major steal at the end of the first round for a contender. A 22-year old late bloomer with four years of college ball under his belt, Brooks may be the final piece of the puzzle for a contender to complete their bench and could be asked to contribute almost immediately. The best case scenario is Brooks establishing himself in the league off the pine, moving up the ladder as a second or third option into his prime and becoming a feared, consistent 15-17 PPG type scorer.
2014 Projection: Talented scorers that couple production with efficiency playing in the best conference in the nation are a rarity and Brooks fits the mold of a player that can fill a valuable role in the league. His build and length gives the impression Brooks could become a valuable defender under the proper coach and system. If he can improve his outside shot a few percentage points and make opposing two-guards respect his range, his ultra-quick first step and penetration ability will open up easy scoring chances. Look for Brooks to be a sixth or seventh man off the bench that can provide instant offense.
Best NBA Fit: Because of the run-and-gun mentality at Providence, most assume that Brooks would be best served playing for the Knicks or Warriors. While moving on to more of an aggressive style offense later in his career after seasoning and development may be a smart move, Brooks would improve his chances of remaining in the league longer if he’s drafted by a contender with a coach that values defense and marks clear boundaries for his players. The Boston Celtics at #25 or the Chicago Bulls at #30 immediately spring to mind, as do the Miami Heat at #31 or the Los Angeles Lakers at #41.
Scout’s Take (Chris Denker from Netscouts Basketball): “a weird one… had a crazy stat jump this year – there’s something behind that… he’s freakishly long, with a 7’5 or so wingspan… I see him as a Kevin Martin type at the next level.”