Reggie Perry tested the NBA draft waters last year and received some interest, but chose to return to school in hopes of becoming a lottery pick. While that dream may not be realized, he definitely earned an NBA roster spot. He was outstanding this season in Starkville and really helped his stock. If you have followed the LWOS NCAA All-State Tournament, you know how dominant Perry can be.
Reggie Perry 2020 NBA Draft Profile
College Career
Perry is a sophomore from Georgia that is one of the higher touted recruits for Mississippi State. He is an absolute monster on the floor and really makes life difficult for opponents. Perry averaged 13.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists for his career. However, this season alone, Perry averaged 17.4 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 2.3 assists, averaging eight minutes more per game.
Perry was named to the All-SEC team this season and the All-Freshman team last season. He was named a preseason Wooden Award finalist this season as well. While he did not remain on this list all season, it still shows how respected his game is. Perry still had an excellent season, regardless.
Strength
Perry is so good because of his motor. He does not stop attacking. Whether it’s getting rebounds, finishing at the rim, or wreaking havoc in the lane, Perry is always near the ball. Big guys that have a great motor are always impactful. Offensive rebounds in today’s NBA lead to almost automatic threes.
Along with the high motor, Perry is an excellent rebounder. As stated, Perry registered ten rebounds per game this season. To break that down farther, he rebounded the ball 20 percent of the time, including 13 percent of the time on the offensive end. It would be difficult to find someone with a high motor that was a poor rebounder unless they were very small.
Perry has shown a good ability to finish around the rim and through traffic. He is strong enough to finish through contact. Even if he misses, there is a pretty good chance that Perry will be able to get his own miss and finish the second time around.
Weaknesses
One of the main weaknesses of Perry is his shooting. While he did attempt some threes, to the tune of about 1.5 per game, he shot around 30 percent and does not appear to be a great shooter. He also does not shoot free throws well, so the formula to make shots for him is not great. Perry does not necessarily need to shoot well, but he should work on extending his game outside the paint, just to add an additional touch.
Another concern for Perry is shot-blocking. He averages less than one block per game for his career. Perry is going to find himself around the rim defensively so he needs to at least improve his shot-blocking. Shot blocking is an art of timing and it can be difficult to learn.
NBA Player Comparison
Montrezl Harrell. Both players are known for their energy and effort. Perry should try to emulate Harrell in everything he does. Get every rebound, finish through contact, and run the floor. It will not matter if he starts or not, he just needs to make an impact with his motor.
NBA Draft Projection
Late first round.
Main Photo
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