Weekend Update with Coach Spins: Feb. 14, 2022
Happy Valentine's Day to all the prospects we loved this weekend, especially an intriguing group of wing athletes with first-round potential
A Super Bowl Sunday, so a short and sweet weekend update with a few prospects worth noting. We try to focus more on the positive takeaways than the worrisome developments, especially at this time of the year. It’s easier to celebrate positives and be intrigued by newly-showcased skills than to become melancholy and talk yourself out of somebody.
On that front, points aren’t all that matters. Some guys are starting to find their footing while others are slumping. Those who are defending at a high level really caught our eye this weekend — and the importance of defending and being versatile at the wing positions is paramount in the NBA. There are a few players jockeying for late first-round position who all had strong performances.
Harrison Ingram - W, Stanford
Oregon State isn’t the most fierce of foes. They play different defenses and challenge opponents with zone play, trying to make them read and adjust on the fly. High-IQ players tend to stand out against them, so seeing Harrison Ingram finish with 16 points and 9 assists against the Beavers is no surprise.
Only two turnovers for the freshman stand out as well; over his last four, Ingram is averaging 15 points, 7 rebounds, 4.3 assists and is shooting 44% from 3-point range. Keep an eye on him with this hot streak; he could be one of the few freshmen to breakout and solidify himself as a first-round selection. Stanford may not be an NCAA Tournament team, so the next two weeks (and perhaps the NIT) are crucial for Ingram.
Tari Eason - ATH, LSU
One of the wing athletes competing with Ingram for those late-first looks might be sophomore Tari Eason at LSU. Ingram’s unorthodox game, built around post-ups and creation, are tough translations to the NBA. If the shooting is consistent, he’ll be coveted. Eason has a much more defensive-minded and athletically-talented game, and even some solid passing chops. Eason is missing the shooting, though — at least on a consistent, high-volume basis. How these two stack up against each other will be incredibly fascinating.
Of course, Eason then comes out against Mississippi State on Saturday and goes 3-6 from deep. This version of Eason, combined with the defense and slashing, and he’s probably a first round guy without much pushback.
Eason is 6-11 from deep over his last four games. He’s up to 35% from 3 on the season. An elite defensive prospect, the offense and off-ball play is starting to click. We still have concerns/ worries about his left hand usage, but Eason is cementing himself as one of the more intriguing, toolsy athletes in the draft.
Justin Lewis - F, Marquette
If we’re going to talk about toolsy but incomplete wing/ forward prospects, Justin Lewis from Marquette belongs on the docket. The Marquette sophomore has blossomed under Shaka Smart: 17.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.5 blocks while shooting 36% from deep. A strong and physical 6’7”, Lewis can play bigger and log minutes at the 4 while being agile enough to guard a bit smaller. He’s got super long arms and quick-twitch lateral athleticism.
Despite a bad loss on the road to Butler, Lewis did everything to keep the Golden Eagles in it. The Baltimore native scored 27 points on 4-7 shooting from deep, including two triples in the final 30 seconds to keep Marquette within striking distance.
Lewis may not be on many first-round radars, but the way he’s playing in the Big East should at least get him his fair share of fans come draft night. Lewis has very few holes to his game and is a tremendous, strong athlete. Not to invite the Marquette comparisons but there’s a little Jae Crowder toughness to him. Potential gem hiding in plain sight.
Dereon Seabron - ATH, NC State
The emergence of Terquavion Smith as a scoring threat with the Wolfpack has lessened the appeal of a guy like Seabron, an unreal athlete who thrives in transition and slashing to the floor. NC State has done an unbelievable job at creating space in the lane for him in the half-court out of Spain PNRs, unique Philly looks and downhill actions so he can slash.
The defense he’ll face in the NBA will be better than Pitt’s at stopping those drives and helping at the rim, but Seabron possesses something everyone focuses on and desires: elite finishing and athleticism based off the quickness to get to the rim from a great first step.
Those were on display, as well as strength as a finisher, against the Panthers.
Seabron still has major shortcomings as a shooter, so we worry about him as a half-court off-ball threat in major ways. As a slasher and finisher, especially with the ball in his hands, he can make things happen and is an NBA-caliber athlete.
Oscar Tshiebwe - P, Kentucky
How many more times can Tshiebwe post monster stat lines before we take him seriously as a top-40 prospect?
Averaging 16 and 15 on the year, Tshiebwe posted his sixth 15 and 15 stat line of the year on Saturday against Florida. The Gators have a solid interior prospect in Colin Castleton and Oscar manhandled him: 27 points and 19 rebounds. He’s shooting 60% from the field on the season while starting to add mid-range jumpers to his arsenal.