{"id":6501,"date":"2017-05-07T15:01:18","date_gmt":"2017-05-07T19:01:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonprobasketball.com\/?p=6501"},"modified":"2017-05-07T15:01:18","modified_gmt":"2017-05-07T19:01:18","slug":"markelle-fultz-nba-draft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2017\/05\/07\/markelle-fultz-nba-draft\/","title":{"rendered":"Markelle Fultz NBA Draft Profile"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>Welcome back to LWOS NBA Draft Coverage, the column that brings you player profiles for the next crop of professional basketball players that are likely to be selected in the upcoming draft.\u00a0Be sure to bookmark the site,\u00a0<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/LastWordHoops\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em>follow us on <strong>Twitter<\/strong><\/em><\/a><em>, and spread the word for the site that will bring you analytical profiles and scouting reports.\u00a0Check out our <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonprobasketball.com\/category\/nba\/nba-draft\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em>complete coverage<\/em><\/a><em> of the\u00a02017 NBA Draft. \u00a0Last Word On Sports is your new headquarters for all things 2017 NBA Draft!<\/em><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Markelle Fultz \u2013 6\u20194\u201d Point Guard \/ Shooting Guard, University of Washington, 18 Years Old<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/markelle-fultz-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Markelle Fultz<\/strong><\/a>, a\u00a0combination guard out of the University of Washington, is the No. 1 ranked college basketball player in the country. Many expect Fultz to be the top lottery pick in the NBA draft come June 22. Fultz, who turns 19 later this month, averaged\u00a023.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game with the Huskies this season while shooting 47.6% from the floor and 41.3% from behind the arc.<\/p>\n<p>The high-flying freshman was named first team All-Pac-12 and third team All-American <em>despite<\/em> missing six of the final eight games of the season with a knee injury, <em>despite<\/em>\u00a0the Huskies\u00a0dismal season (finishing 9-22 overall and 2-16 in the Pac-12), and <em>despite<\/em> not appearing in the NCAA Playoffs.<\/p>\n<p>Fultz announced his intent to enter the NBA Draft on March 10, 2017.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">HUSKY FOR LIFE \ud83d\udc9c <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/GoDawgs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#GoDawgs<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/x7eVb9rqiq\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/x7eVb9rqiq<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Markelle Fultz (@MarkelleF) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MarkelleF\/status\/840268628872257536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">March 10, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Strengths<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Fultz is a\u00a0skilled scorer with range while being exceptionally\u00a0good shooting off the dribble. With ankle-breaking hesitation moves\u00a0as well as a\u00a0smooth step-back, Fultz exhibits high pick-and-roll proficiency.\u00a0He&#8217;s athletic and flexible with superb body control, making it hard for opponents to effectively\u00a0defend him in one-on-one situations.\u00a0Strong footwork and creativity make him dangerous coming from nearly any direction.<\/p>\n<p>Fultz also\u00a0demonstrates\u00a0unselfishness on the court and is exceptional at creating\u00a0plays for his teammates.\u00a0He\u00a0exhibits\u00a0excellent court vision,\u00a0screens well off-the-ball, and\u00a0has strong passing abilities. In his one year with the Huskies, Fultz had an impressive 35.1 assist percentage.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Weaknesses<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Fultz\u2019s weaknesses, to the extent they exist,\u00a0boil down to consistency and mental focus. Despite his solid statistics during the 2016-17 season, Fultz was often loose with the ball and\u00a0streaky. He also demonstrated poor judgment and shot selection at times.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Defensively, Fultz has a tendency to\u00a0appear lazy; failing to run the court in transition, close out shooters or contest shots. He\u00a0struggles to handle screens, often loses track of players\u00a0he is guarding and is frequently backdoored.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Whether these weaknesses will follow Fultz to the next level is unknown. They may just be the result of his youth or the fact that he was playing for a subpar college program.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>NBA Potential<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The creative and offensively lethal Fultz had a brilliant individual year with the Huskies. There is no reason to believe his abilities won&#8217;t translate to the NBA. Fultz has all the makings of an elite point guard. He stands 6&#8217;4 with a 6&#8217;10 wingspan, has big hands, and a strong frame. He&#8217;s a prolific scorer, a top-notch facilitator, and has the potential to be an excellent defender despite his not putting in the effort on the defensive end of the floor this past season. With the point guard having evolved into the premier position in the NBA, there is no doubt that the multidimensional Fultz will be a strong asset to whichever team acquires him.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>NBA Player Comparison<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Fultz\u2019s scoring and playmaking abilities have drawn him many highly acclaimed NBA comparisons, including MVP candidate<a href=\"http:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/w\/westbru01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong> Russell Westbrook<\/strong><\/a> of the <span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/teams\/OKC\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Oklahoma City Thunder<\/a>, <\/span>\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/r\/russeda01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>D\u2019Angelo Russell<\/strong> <\/a>of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/teams\/LAL\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Los Angeles Lakers <\/a>and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/l\/lillada01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Damian Lillard<\/strong><\/a> of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/teams\/POR\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Portland Trail Blazers<\/a>. <\/span><\/span><span style=\"line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Although Fultz shares common attributes with all\u00a0three of\u00a0those players, I find him to be most comparable to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/h\/hardeja01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>James Harden<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/teams\/HOU\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Houston Rockets<\/a>. Fultz and Harden\u00a0are<span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;\">\u00a0both equally dangerous<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;\">\u00a0on and off-the-ball and c<\/span>haracterized by herky-jerky movements\u00a0that make them difficult to contain.\u00a0They are also versatile, explosive, and advanced shot-makers from nearly anywhere on the floor.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Expect\u00a0Markelle Fultz to be either the first or second pick on draft night, and be sure to stay updated with our <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonprobasketball.com\/category\/nba\/nba-draft\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">complete coverage<\/a> of the 2017 NBA Draft!<\/p>\n<p><em>All statistics cited were obtained via: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">http:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Main Photo<\/p>\n<div class=\"getty embed image\" style=\"background-color: #fff; display: inline-block; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; color: #a7a7a7; font-size: 11px; width: 100%; max-width: 594px;\">\n<div style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.ca\/detail\/626872544\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n<div style=\"overflow: hidden; position: relative; height: 0; padding: 71.548822% 0 0 0; width: 100%;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"display: inline-block; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; margin: 0;\" src=\"\/\/embed.gettyimages.com\/embed\/626872544?et=bFzcPq56RR9a1PA6h2e1OQ&amp;tld=ca&amp;viewMoreLink=on&amp;sig=mQWQH7GFaGnWX7JNWXV0YgoK4Q1qe_lvz9Cu3RvGp5s=&amp;caption=true\" width=\"594\" height=\"425\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Welcome back to LWOS NBA Draft Coverage, the column that brings you player profiles for the next crop of professional basketball players that are likely to be selected in the upcoming draft.\u00a0Be sure to bookmark the site,\u00a0follow us on Twitter, and spread the word for the site that will bring you analytical profiles and scouting [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1670,"featured_media":3910,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[556,773,62],"tags":[591,65,668,96],"class_list":["post-6501","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nba-draft","category-college-basketball","category-nba","tag-2017-nba-draft","tag-basketball","tag-markelle-fultz","tag-nba"],"modified_by":"Barkev Sivazlian","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6501","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1670"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6501"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6501\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3910"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6501"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6501"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6501"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}