Strengths video:
https://youtu.be/QVr6qln44cQHighlights:
https://youtu.be/LwMuMY73Tgo6’10, 7’5 wing span.
Jay Bilas: Williams is a top 5 athlete in this draft
woj: could be a big 1st round steal at 27 for celtics
Was projected to be taken by the clippers at 12 like a month ago
https://www.thestepien.com/robert-williams/Strengths: Possesses really nice combination of size and athleticism ... His huge (near 7'6) wingspan allows him to block shots and play bigger than his 6'9 height ... 240 pound frame prevents him from being bullied around the rim ... Moves very well for his size, both with and without the ball ... Does a good job of anticipating where missed shots will go and is very good and getting position inside ... Rebounds the ball high in the air, doesn’t just let the ball come to him ... High rebounding rate on both ends of the court (12% offensive rebound rate, 23.7 defensive rebound rate for his career) ... Rebounds with two hands and grabs boards both inside and outside of his area ... High level shot blocker, uses anticipation, length and vertical to deny shots near the rim ... Has worked to develop an offensive repertoire both facing up and on the low block ... Can use his explosive leaping ability to finish strong around the rim and has the strength to power through contact ... Wants to play a physical brand of basketball which allows him to not only get to the free throw line, but also cause foul trouble for opponents ... Not a black hole in the post, is willing to pass it back out and repost ... Should be able to add muscle to his frame still ... Doesn’t find himself in foul trouble often ... Progressed from lower ranked prospect to a possible lottery
https://youtu.be/FxB5xGa7ZW4Weaknesses: Has a tendency to leave you wanting more. Disappears for stretches of games, particularly offensively ... Competitive level has been questioned by some ... Doesn’t always seem in control on the court, opponents can speed him up and make him uncomfortable ... Has been working to extend his range, but still lacks any consistency with his jump shot ... Very poor free throw shooter who needs work on his shot mechanics ... Sometimes relies too much on his athleticism ... Still a raw prospect who, despite making a big leap in development his freshman year, didn’t progress nearly as much as a sophomore ... Can become complacent when the offense is flowing through teammates ... Inconsistent performer, especially as a scorer ... Can struggle to make major offensive impact when he doesn’t have the physical advantage over his competition ... Has a habit of posting in space instead of fighting his opponent for position ... Some of his deficiencies have been covered up by playing in Texas A&M’s frontcourt (along with Tyler Davis) where teams can’t double Williams ... Sometimes can find himself out of position defensively, this can likely be remedied with more experience, however ... Was suspended to start sophomore season, raising some red flags ...
Outlook: Williams projects as an athletic, energy guy inside that uses his athleticism to overwhelm less physically gifted players. He still has a lot of development to become a high caliber player at the next level, but if he can expand his game beyond exploiting his physical advantages, he could become a difference maker for a team.
Espn Pre-Draft Analysis
Strengths
- Prototype physically. Explosive athlete who covers ground unbelievably and is incredibly fast off his feet. Tremendous lob target.
- Great defensive potential. Blocks shots on the interior and perimeter; switches onto smaller players. No. 1 rebounder and No. 3 shot-blocker among likely draft picks on a per-minute basis.
- Better passer than you might think. Has some upside as a shooter.
Improvement areas
- Doesn't have a consistent means of scoring. Plays very sped-up and settles for jumpers more than you'd hope. Feel for the game is a major work in progress.
- Doesn't always make the type of impact defensively he should. Relies too much on his talent and tools. Bites on fakes. Doesn't box out. Rarely keeps his blocks in bounds.
- Boom-or-bust prospect. No question about his talent, but there are concerns about his motor and overall approach to the game.
Projected role: Rim-protecting, vertical-spacing center