D’Angelo Russell 360 Degree Scouting Report

Patrick Causey, on Twitter @PhillySportsJD

D'Angelo Russell wasn't supposed to be here. He was a good college recruit — indeed, he was a top 20 prospect according to most high school ranking systems. But he wasn't supposed to be a projected top 5 pick in this year's draft. He wasn't supposed to draw comparisons to Chris Paul. He wasn't supposed to be this good:

His combination of three point range, elite passing ability and unflappable confidence took the college world by storm. With the new age NBA's emphasis on floor spacing, ball movement and three point shooting, he has rocketed up (mock) draft boards and has become the trendy dark horse of some scouts and draft experts to emerge as the best player from this draft.

He has also become a fan favorite in the City of Brotherly Love. But unlike the last time Philadelphia developed a collective man crush on a prospect — that would be Oregon's quarterback Marcus Mariota — there is actually a realistic chance the 76ers can land Russell without having to mortgage their future in the process. 

But questions remain about his game. Is he as good as his gaudy numbers suggest? Or were they simply the byproduct of feasting on a weak schedule? And what impact will his perceived lack of elite NBA athleticism have on his ceiling as a prospect? 

Here is everything you need to know about D'Angelo Russell in my 360 degree scouting report.

Pre-college Career

Russell grew up idolizing players to whom he is often compared: Steph Curry and Manu Ginoboli. He worked hard at developing his long range game like Curry, and admired Ginobli's ability to make the crazy pass look routine. He could always score at will, but he developed a pass-first mentality as early as age 8 when he played along side his older brother on their rec team. 

Per Nicole Auerbach of USAToday.com, "He just loved getting his brother the ball, letting him finish in the middle," Russell's father, Antonio, says. "I saw he was a pass-first kind of kid." 

This emphasis on passing and fundamentals at an early age became imbedded in his basketball DNA. While most players with his considerable talents would focus on scoring, Russell focused on making that special pass. "I feel like it's a lost art," he said. 

Russell started high school at Central High in Louisville under coach Doug Bibby. Bibby was immediately reminded of one of his former star pupils, Rajon Rando. Their games were different — Rondo was more of a freak athlete while Russell beat players with his passing ability — but both had that special "IT" factor according to Bibby. 

Russell transferred to Florida powerhouse Montverde after his freshman year because his father wanted to expose him to better competition. Bibby didn't oppose the move because he knew it would help elevate Russell's game, just like it did for Rondo when he transferred to Oak Hill for his senior year. “I couldn't argue with it,” Bibby said. 

He was wildly successful in high school, becoming a five-star recruit that ranked as high as the 13th overall player in the country. But he was always viewed as a guy that would take some time to adjust to the college game. 

College

Despite this perception, the list of colleges recruiting Russell was a who's who of blue blood universities: North Carolina, Louisville, Ohio State, Florida, to name a few. 

Many thought he would go back home to play for Rick Pitino and Louisville. They were shocked when Russell chose Ohio State, saying they were the school that seemed to want him the most.

After landing Russell, Ohio State's coach Thad Matta would tell anyone who listened that he had a special point guard on his hands. According to Matta, Russell was the second-best guard he ever brought to Ohio State, behind only Memphis point guard, Michael Conley.  While some Sixers fans — expecting Russell to be a Harden-esque talent — might be disappointed with that comparison, remember that this was before Matta saw Russell play first hand. 

That summer, Russell practiced with notable Ohio State alums and NBA players and blew them away with his talent and composure. Matta was equally impressed with his basketball IQ and his ability to see things before they happened: "He sees things that a lot of other guys can't see. There were times he would suggest something, and I'd think, 'My gosh, how did he think of that?'"

His final stat line on the season was impressive: 19.3 ppg, 5.7 reb, 5.0 ast, on 45% fg % and 41% from 3. 

It becomes even more impressive when you consider how heavily the Buckeyes leaned on Russell, who accounted for 29.4% of their offensive possessions. His high usage rate did not impact his efficiency, however, as he had a 118.0 offensive rating, which puts him in rarified air.

Only two players had similar efficiency ratings with such a high usage rate during their freshmen seasons, and they also happen to finish first and second respectively in the NBA's MVP voting this year: Stephen Curry and James Harden.  Per kenpom.com  

How His Game Translates to the Pros:

Elite Passing

While we hear a lot about his three point range and playmaking ability, Russell's passing ability projects as his truly elite skill at the NBA level. It isn't just fancy one handed bounce passes that set Russell apart, although he has done that often during his lone season at Ohio State. 

While these passes entertain fans and media members alike, his vision excites scouts and executives the most. One NBA GM, who was enamored with his court awareness, called Russell  "the total package." 

Russell has an uncanny ability to see plays before they happen, which is a skill that many point guards do not possess. It undoubtedly is the result of his acute basketball mind — some players just get it — but he's improved that skill through hours of film study and an untiring work ethic. 

Joe DeCamera of 97.5 the Fanatic had Michael Bradley on during their NBA Draft Lottery special. Bradley relayed a conversation he had with an NBA executive who said Russell was the best pure passer to come out since Chris Paul.

Other scouts and executives had shared similar praise: "He sees how a play is going to develop before it does. There are not many NBA point guards that can do that. It's a Chris Paul-type skill. And he has got it."

Russell had 97 turnovers this year, but a percentage of those resulted from his teammates inability to corral a great pass they did not think was possible. There were literally times where Russell would fire a pass between two defenders and hit an unexpected teammate in the face. 

While the Sixers are too early in their process of team building to worry about "fit" — Russell's passing ability matches perfectly with the Sixers core of big men in Nerlens Noel and Joel Embiid, who would benefit from a point guard that can "pass them open" in the low post or on the break. Russell has that skill in spades.  

Three Point Shooting

With the wave of analytic driven team building taking over most NBA franchises, pace, spacing, small ball and corner threes have become all the rage. 

It started out west, with Don Nelson using Steve Nash to push the pace and Dirk Nowitzki as a stretch 4 to create spacing. Mike D'Antoni took it to a new level when he acquired Steve Nash at the Phoenix Suns, creating a run and gun offense that was criticized at first, but adopted by many over time.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich — initially known for his slow, plodding half court sets — recognized the trend and jumped to the forefront, implementing a complex, but beautiful, ball movement scheme predicated on floor spacing, pace, pick and rolls, and having multiple three point shooters on the court at all times. “It’s almost like if you don’t shoot 3s you can’t win,” Popovich said. “So many players are good at it, shots get off so quickly and are so numerous that it’s a huge part of what almost everybody does. It’s just tough to score and to win without making 3s.”

The Houston Rockets, with Daryl Morey, the NBA's equivalent of Billy Beane at the Oakland Athletics, quickly followed suit. Of course, Sam Hinkie came from Houston while Brett Brown was a long-time San Antonio assistant. So it should come as no surprise that the Sixers will place a significant emphasis on shooting versatility and range, especially with the aforementioned big men in the fold.

The Sixers have already pushed the pace on offense, but need shooters and penetrators to take this offense out of the doldrums of the NBA rankings. 

Floor spacing facilities penetration, which begets open looks, which begets higher percentage three point shooting. In order to make this happen, you need playmakers that can penetrate and dish for others. If you have a point guard that can penetrate and hit threes? Even better.

It is why Michael Carter-Williams — who shot an abysmal 25% from three — is no longer here. The Sixers need their guards and wings to be able to keep defenses honest so they cannot crowd the space that Embiid and Noel need to operate effectively. 

Enter Russell. Russell's skill set again matches seamlessly with what the Sixers are trying to accomplish. He shot 41.1% from deep this year, an impressive number given his high usage rate.

It's even more impressive when you consider that his mark bests the shooting percentage Harden and Curry put up during their freshman years. Harden shot 40.7%, while Curry, going up against lesser competition, shot 40.8%. 

While Russell's release is not quite as quick as Curry's — then again, whose is? — it is still quick enough to give him a distinct advantage over defenses, especially given his 6'5 frame. He will enjoy a height advantage over most NBA point guards as-is; adding a quick release to an already very accurate shot is just icing on the proverbial cake.

He needs to smooth out his form, however, as the tape shows a habit of failing to square his shoulders to the basket when he shot.  Often times, he would end up sideways with his front foot drifting shoulder width apart as his front shoulder turned towards the basket.

He could get away with this against lesser competition. But NBA defenders are too quick, long and athletic to beat with sloppy mechanics. He will be suffocated early and often if he does not straighten out his form.

Scoring Ability

Some see Russell as a combo guard. While that used to be a dreaded term 10 years ago, it can be seen as a positive if it comes with the ability to shoot 3s. Russell's scoring prowess should never be in doubt. As a freshman, he averaged over 19 points per game while serving as the Buckeyes primary scorer and facilitator. 

Russell can score from a variety of positions on the floor. Per DraftExpress, Russell hit 44% of his shots off the dribble, good for 1.04 points per possession, which ranked second among all college basketball players. 

That skill becomes especially problematic for defenses in pick-and-roll situations, which Brett Brown will employ with regularity with Embiid and Noel on the floor at the same time. Go under the screen, and Russell can step back and hit a three. If the big man doesn't hedge, Russell can get into the lane and hit a floating jumper. Close out his driving lane, and Russell has the vision and height to see open three point shooters spotting up in space.

Depending on the team that drafts him, Russell should not be required to shoulder the scoring load. But it will be an added bonus to whatever team that drafts him to know that he can go on a tear at moments notice. 

Athleticism/Size

Russell's perceived limitation as a prospect is his lack of elite NBA athleticism. Some see this as a ceiling on his NBA potential. They will point to his lack of production against top level college defenses. Per DraftExpress.com, below are Russell's stats against BCS teams with a .500 or better record: