2016 NBA Draft Scouting Report: Deyonta Davis
Deyonta Davis isn’t your typical lottery talent. Hailing from Muskegon, Michigan, Davis only had an RSCI score of 26 coming out of high school, fairly low for players who are considered to be elite NBA prospects. During his one year at Michigan State, he averaged just 7.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, hardly anything to get excited about. For a guy who seems to underwhelm statistically, why is he as high as number 15 on the Upside and Motor Big Board?
Dig deeper into Davis’ game and you’ll see why some feel that he could be a high pick in next week’s draft. His per game numbers may not pop out, but his 16.1 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 3.9 blocks per 40 minutes are astounding. Looking at the film, you see player who has skills that can translate right away while also having room to grow his game further.
STRENGTHS
There are two things that Davis does extremely well: rebounding and shot blocking. Both are helped in large part to his extensive frame. Davis stands at 6-11 with a 230 pound frame and a 7-3 wingspan. That type of physical profile helps him get position on any player on the glass and contest shots at the rim well.
Where Davis really stands out, both on tape and statistically, is on the offensive glass. He averages 4.4 offensive rebounds per 40, third in the draft behind Pascal Siakam and Chinanu Onuaku. Davis has nice touch around the rim and great awareness for where he is at in proximity to the hoop.
His overall feel for the game on offense is pleasantly surprising. He knows where to be on the floor, knows his role, and doesn’t look lost like some freshmen do when running plays. He does little things that make you feel like he will be able to fit in at the next level. One of those is how he will move into the open space and give the passer an angle to throw him the ball.
Defensively, he has the makings of a guy who can anchor your defense. He uses his big body to push guys off of spots and his long wingspan to humiliate guys who attack the rim.
Majority of the time, Davis gives great effort, especially offensive rebounding. He runs the floor hard in transition, often getting up the floor in just a few strides. The type of awareness and effort level he brings should bode well for his long term outlook.
WEAKNESSES
Davis experienced a lot of what I would call “freshman mistakes.” There was a general undisciplined nature to his game, more specifically defensively.
While Davis has the potential to be a great shot blocker, he bites for shot fakes way to much. His closeouts on the perimeter are consistently poor because he always leaves his feet on even the slightest of movement.
His lack of discipline on defense also shows up in his foul count. Davis is averaging 4.9 fouls per 40 minutes, showing that he would struggle to stay on the floor if he were to play significant minutes. This may have contributed to him only playing 18.6 minutes per game. You can’t stay on the floor if you’re getting into foul trouble all the time.
Davis also played most of his minutes along with Michigan State big man Matt Costello and was often given the task of guarding the opposing team’s four men. Davis may be strong, but he doesn’t have the foot speed to guard perimeter oriented four men. He struggles with things like trailing screens, showing and recovering to his man in time to contest, and staying in front in isolation at times. In this clip, he doesn’t have the quickness to recover back from the weak side to his man in time to contest.
The power forward position in the NBA requires perimeter skills offensively, meaning that defensively, you need guys who can guard in space and chase guys all over the floor. A great litmus test for Davis this season was against Maryland’s Robert Carter, another 2016 NBA Draft early entrant who is known for being a playmaker at the power forward spot. In their two meetings, Carter averaged 15.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and shot 11-21 from the floor, 4-8 from the three point line. Carter was able to get more open looks because Davis couldn’t keep up with his speed.
In contrast, Davis did well against a more ground bound power forward in Purdue’s Caleb Swanigan. In those two meetings, Davis held Swanigan to 9.5 points and 4.5 rebounds on 8-21 shooting and 0-5 from three. Against less mobile bigs, Davis’ physicality and length dominates. Against faster bigs, he struggles. This might limit his ceiling defensively if he doesn’t have the versatility to guard multiple positions.
GROWTH
On both ends of the floor, Davis wasn’t necessarily set up for success.
Michigan State didn’t run too many ball screens with Davis, which is ultimately where he will thrive due to his high IQ and extraordinary length. Davis was only in 11 total possessions as a roll man in the pick and roll, according to Synergy Sports. In a pick and roll heavy league, Davis has a lot of potential in that area.
You can just envision him in an NBA offense, with this play being the perfect example. Denzel Valentine gets into the lane, the helper comes, Davis waits in the soft spot until his defender commits, then comes up for the dunk
Davis’ post game is still developing, but he converted well on the opportunities he got. He shot 52.2 percent on his post ups this year, which is a very high mark. His jump hook is flat at times and he doesn’t have a left hand, but his strength and long arms help him to get position and make his shot unblockable.
Tom Izzo is known for being a very harsh coach, rarely playing freshmen and letting them work through their growing pains. This could’ve also contributed to Davis’ lack of playing time. Izzo might have been giving him the quick hook if he committed a foul or was late to a closeout.
OUTLOOK
Davis projects to be a center in the NBA. He doesn’t have a jump shot and doesn’t have quick enough feet to guard quicker four men. He will be a guy who will zone up pick and rolls and block shots from the weak side, dominating the glass on both ends and finishing drop step dunks, alley oops, and put backs. You can do well if Davis is your starting center, though you would probably rather have him as your backup. That is worth a pick somewhere in the 10-15 range. Denver is one of the few teams that has brought him in for a private workout, so I doubt he gets past them at 15.