His suffocating presence on defence resulted in a 32.5 per cent opponent’s field-goal percentage last season. There’s something eerie about watching Barnes’ imposing frame follow his marker around the floor, hovering over the ball and looking for the right moment to pounce. Not only can he switch onto virtually anybody, he does so seamlessly and effortlessly. He can afford to guard tight, knowing that he has the foot speed and strength to get his body between the opponent and the basket if he were to try and blow by. #NBADraft /HVSzCanUAS- Backcourt Violation May 18, 2021 Barnes understands that he can cause chaos to an offense by applying pressure early. Just notice how lengthy and disruptive Barnes can be on defense. Paired with impressive athletic ability, it’s clear why the former Seminole is on so many teams’ radars.įun little clip here by Scottie Barnes on the defensive side of the ball. Let’s take a look at what he brings to the table.Īt six-foot-nine and 227 pounds, with a seven-foot-two wingspan, Barnes has a NBA-ready frame.

While this stat line is pretty good for a freshman, Barnes’ impact on play goes beyond the numbers. He made 50.3 percent of his field goal attempts, but shot only 27.5 percent from three-point range.

In 24 games played in the 2020-2021 season, including only seven starts, Barnes averaged 10.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.5 steals per game as a freshman at Florida State. His unique blend of size, athleticism and versatility make him attractive to teams who can use a reliable defender and role player, but there are doubts about his ability to score at the NBA level. The native of West Palm Beach, Florida, has crept into top of the 2021 NBA Draft class, with many experts and draft analysts projecting him to be picked as high as fifth. An outlier that may not fit the profile of a flashy star coming out of a memorable college career, but a player that has earned the recognition of a top pick by playing the way that not many others would. Once in a while though, you’ll have an outlier. Scoring guards, talented shooters, and dominant big men generally occupy the top-10 picks of any NBA Draft. When you think of the top of the draft lottery, there are only a few types of players that initially come to mind.

Scottie barnes wingspan