Dec 2, 2014; Austin, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns forward Myles Turner (center) shoots a free throw against the Texas-Arlington Mavericks during the second half at the Frank Erwin Special Events Center. Texas beat Texas-Arlington 63-53. Mandatory Credit: Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports
2. Myles Turner, Texas, 7’0″, Freshman
Physically speaking, Myles Turner is a big man’s dream, standing 7 feet tall with a ridiculous 7’4″ wingspan.
His height and long arms allow him to be a force on the defensive end, leading the Big 12 in blocks per game and defensive rating last season.
Offensively, he can stretch the floor thanks to his improving jumper, capable of knocking down both mid range and three point shots.
He also was surprisingly adept at the free throw line, shooting 83.9 percent from the charity stripe.
Where Turner draws the biggest concerns are his lack of athleticism and mobility.
He doesn’t elevate that high in the air and at times appears to have trouble running down the floor, all pressing issues when considering this new age of up-tempo basketball.
It’s important to note that while Turner has three point range, right now he’s still very inefficient, shooting 27.4 percent from behind the arc last season.
As it stands, Turner’s mechanics and speed are both things he’s going to have to improve on. He could be a productive player down the line, but will need time to refine his game.
Next: Kristaps Porzingis