Immanuel Quickley committed to Kentucky recently, so what exactly are John Calipari and the Wildcats getting?
Last Friday, 5-star point guard Immanuel Quickley announced his commitment to Kentucky. Quickley chose the Wildcats over Miami and Kansas. This was widely expected, as John Calipari made the point guard a top priority last year, and it has been all Kentucky since.
Let’s dive into what the Wildcats are getting with Immanuel Quickley.
For starters, Quickley comes in with good size for his position at 6-foot-3 and 175 pounds. He is ranked in the top 15 of ESPN’s Top 100, and is a consensus top-3 point guard in the class of 2018. Quickley is a high IQ point guard who has great vision and a natural feel to the game. A floor general through and through.
Offensively, the point guard has developed positively in recent months. His shooting off the dribble has improved and is now a legit factor to his game. He can stop on a dime and pull-up for a mid-range jumper as smoothly as anyone in the class. His 3-point shooting is still a work on progress, as it is not quite consistent enough to be considered a legitimate threat. He doesn’t drive to the rim a whole lot, and he hasn’t shown a consistent ability to do so. Part of this is likely because he is not quite strong enough, and lacks the dynamic explosion to finish through contact.
Scoring is not Quickley’s bread and butter, though. He is a terrific passer and displays outstanding vision. Quickley’s strong handle allows him to keep his head up and look for the best pass. While he can play off the ball, he is best with the ball in his hands when he can make plays for his teammates. He has shown Lonzo Ball-like ability to push the ball up the floor with elite long passes in transition. Off of screens is when the playmaker truly shines, as he has shown that he can cause serious damage with his passing and scoring off of ball screens. His high basketball IQ and excellent decision making makes him a top tier point guard prospect.
One of the main points against Quickley that I can make is in regard to his athleticism. He does not have the elite explosion or burst that will ‘wow anyone. This brings up concerns about his ability to separate from athletic defenders, and it could limit his overall ceiling. This is not to say that he is a bad athlete by any means, though. He is fluid, fast in the open court, and has a quick first step.
Defensively, Quickley shows the ability to be disruptive both on and off the ball. He has long arms which allow him to get into passing lanes and get his hands in for steals. Off the ball, his IQ shows in his keen ability to read screens and switches, and he is consistently in the right positions.
When engaged and showing effort, Quickley has the ability to be the best player on the court. Unfortunately, there are times when effort lacks and the floor general does not always look engaged. Most of Quickley’s turnovers come from lazy play rather than actual mistakes. There are times when he launches the ball up the court and walks up while his team is resetting the offense, leaving them to play 5-on-4. You would like to see more consistent intensity, as flat out effort makes for a large part of what college basketball is. Especially when you take into account Kentucky’s style of play.
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Immanuel Quickley is a smart, creative 5-star point guard, and has high upside on both sides of the ball. He may not ‘wow’ you with his play, but he absolutely will impress. Kentucky fans should expect to see a defensive leader as well as a top tier playmaker. While Quickley does have flaws, it is easy to see his skill being maximized when paired with the other 5-stars that Calipari is sure to bring in.