Cashius McNeilly, Toronto, PG, Class of 2020, Uncommitted, 16.0
Strengths
-A bit early in his physical development but projects to have excellent physical tools for a point guard prospect. Stands around 6' 3 with long arms, big hands and feet. May have another inch or two of growth. Very young in the face.
-Fluid athlete with impressive body control. Can shift gears smoothly. Good leaper in space. Has untapped athletic potential.
-Offers a nice blend of scoring and playmaking. Crafty ball handler. Very polished for his age. Comfortable playing out of ball screens.
-Greatly improved shooter. Soft touch from the perimeter. Gets excellent rotation. Can make set shots or elevation pull ups in mid-range spots with a hand in his face.
-Has floaters. Can finish with either hand.
-Good vision in the open floor and the half court. Score-first mentality but has a strong feel for the game. Quite advanced for his age.
-Good feet defensively. Can sit down and slide. Really effective when he turns it on. Length allows him to contest jump shooters. Plays the passing lanes. Should have the body to defend with physicality down the road.
-Plays with a level of confidence rare for his age. Very poised. Has almost no nervous movements or energy.
-High upside guard who already has a strong foundational skill set
Weaknesses
-Projectable frame but a little thin up top at this stage. Not all that fluid through his lower body.
-Good not great athlete. More smooth than explosive. Average burst. Relies more on deception, change of pace. Can improve his ability to finish vs length in the half court.
-Has a tendency to settle for contested jumpers in the half court
-Overall effort level can improve. A bit casual in his approach.
-Streaky shooter right now. Needs time and space from three. Shoots a set shot from deep. Doesn't get much lift.
-Still learning how to best blend scoring and facilitating
-Defensive intensity can improve. Would rather reach than contain at times.
Outlook
Although he had an up and down week and may not look physically overwhelming, McNeilly was arguably the best long-term prospect in Brooklyn. He has physical upside, a tremendous foundational skill set for his age, and a level of self-assuredness and poise that you rarely see from a 16-year-old. He still needs to develop physically and can continue to play with more vigor, but McNeilly has a chance to be a high-level NBA prospect if he progresses as expected. The Canadian guard is without a doubt worth following as he's one of the best young prospects in all of Canada right now.
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