The most highly touted freshman class in years has lived up the the hype so far this season. Whether it be Andrew Wiggins throwing down some vicious ‘oops, Julius Randle dominating down in the post, or Jabari Parker shooting an unbelievable percent from the three-point line. In the first half of the early season Duke vs. Kansas match up, social media was praising Parker, and questioning why the ESPN 100 had ranked Wiggins over Parker.
First of all, I am Canadian so I do believe the rankings are correct. Not because of the fact that I am a bias person, but I truly believe Wiggins can have a better career than Parker and Randle. Reasoning? Randle and Parker are more polished scorers and overall basketball players than Wiggins. When you are a polished player, you may be better right out of the gate, but that does not mean that you have the most potential. In Wiggins you have a player with elite-level raw talent; a player that can jump right out of the building. When you are 6’8”, 200lbs, with a 40+ inch vertical, you have everything to gain. Especially on a basketball court.
Wiggins is not a pure shooter. He is an average to above average shooter at best. You can develop a jump shot and a set shot. The difference between the two being whether you are spotting up or in other words you’re in a catch and shoot situation or if you are shooting off the dribble. For example, Carmelo Anthony is a jump shooter, and someone like Shane Battier is more effective as a shooter when his feet are set. We can compare this upcoming class with the 2003 draft class (minus Darko Milicic). We have an athletic freak who fits the mold of an all-around unselfish player. Lebron James and Andrew Wiggins. I am not trying to compare Wiggins to Lebron, just his style and the type of skill he brings. We also have an above average athlete, that is more suited for doing damage from the outside with those being Carmelo and Parker. Again not comparing them, just the stylistic skill set.
These young men have the opportunity to become truly special. With Wiggins playing a wing position and scoring around 17 points per game, without being a great outside shooter in college basketball, is quite impressive if you ask me. I am more impressed with a slasher who can score with efficiency then a marksman from the outside. Yes, it if fun to watch a shooter go to town on someone and continue to scorch a defense. But in my opinion, it is more fun to watch a slasher go to work. For example, I’d rather watch Tony Parker become a one man fast break, rather than Steph Curry light it up from deep. Wiggins’ first step is unbelievably quick. Now just imagine him with a jumper that you have to guard. Scary isn’t it?
He does have a lot working for him. He is freakishly athletic, unselfish, and he has a fantastic work ethic. He has been knocked for not being assertive on the offensive end. I believe that this skill will come with the development in his jumper. I think when his jumper starts to fall with consistency he will become the most dangerous two-way perimeter in this year’s draft class and potentially one of the most dangerous two-way players in the NBA, given time.
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