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This Alec Peters NBA Draft profile dives into the strengths and weaknesses of Valparaiso’s senior forward.
Alec Peters – 6’9″ Power Forward, Valparaiso University, 22 Years Old
In a draft filled with big names such as Markelle Fultz, Lonzo Ball, Josh Jackson, and others, Alec Peters is a name you most likely won’t recognize. Once considered a potential first-round draft pick, Peters’ draft stock has slipped in the past few months. Most of that is due to Peters suffering a stress fracture in his right foot in March, notably the same injury that Kevin Durant suffered in 2014. But don’t let that stop you from noticing his impressive senior year. While his field goal percentage and three-point percentage dropped to career lows, Peters averaged a career-high 23 points and 10 rebounds per game for Valparaiso. Not only was he named Player of the Year for the Horizon Conference, Peters became Valparaiso’s all-time leader scorer, foreshadowing the havoc that he can wreak in the NBA.
Strengths
If you haven’t guessed by now, Peters is a deadly knockdown shooter. Over his four-year career for the Crusaders, Peters shot just under 49 percent from the field and 41 percent from beyond the arc. Even with his worst shooting season coming in his senior year, the power forward was still incredibly efficient throughout college. Peters is also a very strong free throw shooter, shooting nearly 89 percent and reaching the line about seven times per game in his final year. Peters can do more than just shoot, too; he attacks the glass as hard as anyone in this draft class. Make no mistake – Peters is big and strong, and it shows defensively. While not the most agile player, he can defend fairly well in the post, depending on the matchup. There aren’t a lot of flaws to pick out in Peters’ game. He has a strong basketball IQ and can make plays with and without the ball. He’s an average passer for a guy his size and can do damage in the post and on the break.
Weaknesses
Once again, Peters is not the most agile and athletic player. At 6’9″, he’ll spend most of his time guarding the three or four in the NBA. Against the wrong matchup, Peters can be exposed. Peters can defend post players quite well, but in today’s NBA, very few exist. Match him up with a Tristan Thompson-like player and he will be run off the floor. Peters’ success in the NBA will come down to which team he ends up on and how he is used. If he is used in the wrong way, his career will be over before it even started. Having said that, the stress fracture he suffered earlier this year is also scary for NBA teams. Big men with a history of foot injuries, especially before even entering the NBA, are a red flag. Peters’ success in the NBA will be determined by how he rebounds from the injury and if he can stay healthy.
NBA Potential
Peters will not be an All-Star caliber player, but he can have a huge payoff for a team willing to snag him. With a sweet shooting stroke, Peters doesn’t need a lot of room to knock down a triple. That’s perfect for the direction the league is headed in. Give Peters more space and not only will he be able to knock down a shot or two, but he can also take it to the rack. If healthy and in the right system, Peters can be a viable bench player capable of playing big minutes here and there. But again, the lineups that Peters faces will decide his fate. Under the right coaching staff, Peters can be a three-point sniper creating a whole lot of space on offense. But that’s only worth so much if Peters can’t be hidden on defense. At worst, Peters will be a solid overseas player, but at best, he can be a quality bench player in the NBA.
NBA Player Comparison
Under the right system, Peters has the potential of Ryan Anderson. He’s not afraid to shoot at all or put it on the floor. His confidence is key to whether or not he can play at the next level. Like Anderson, he can end up playing good minutes on a good team coming off the bench. He also can be exposed defensively, just like Anderson was against the San Antonio Spurs during the second round of this year’s NBA playoffs. But all of this is meaningless if Peters does not make a full recovery from his stress fracture. Only time will tell for the Valparaiso star.
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