Kyle NelsonTo say that
Kim English is having a breakout season is somewhat of an understatement. While he has been on DraftExpress' radar since he was in high school, he did very little during his sophomore and junior seasons to suggest that he would turn the corner and become a NBA legitimate prospect. The opposite has been true during his senior campaign, where English has developed into an efficient second option for a championship contender.
While English has good size for an NBA shooting guard at around 6'6 and a much-improved 195-pound frame, he only has average length (6-7 ½ wingspan) and could still stand to get stronger. He is not a very explosive athlete, but is a very fluid and coordinated player with nice quickness who plays with great aggressiveness and purpose.
Pursuant to our previous scouting reports, English remains a fairly one-dimensional player on the offensive end, with nearly 80% of his shots coming off jumpers. What differentiates his senior year from past seasons, however, is the rate in which his jumpers are falling, as he now ranks as one of the best shooters in all of college basketball.
While last season English converted a mediocre 36% of his attempts from both inside and outside of the arc, this year he is shooting 54% from 2-point range and an outstanding 46% for 3.
Not only is he one of the nation's best 3-point shooters, but he is also the
most efficient shooting guard in our database in effective field goal percentage.
On tape, English continues to show excellent mechanics including a quick, fluid release and solid elevation. He excels as a catch-and-shoot option, where he sees nearly half of his offensive possessions and where he currently converts an amazing 52% of his attempts. He has improved shooting off of screens, as well, doing a much better job of getting his body squared and feet set prior to leaving the floor.
English has also improved his shot-selection significantly this season, which helps explain his dramatically improved shooting percentages both inside and outside the arc. While last season about 33% of his jumpers came off the dribble, this year only 14% of his jumpers have come on pull-ups, which has helped make his team's entire offense flow more smoothly.
While English may be the best spot-up shooter in the country, he has never developed his game elsewhere to the extent that suggests he can be more than a shooting specialist at the next level. For one, his average physical profile and his below-average ball-handling skills limit his abilities as a slasher, and he has yet to demonstrate that he has developed, much beyond flashes of potential, in the way of an efficient mid-range arsenal. Despite taking far fewer pull-up jumpers this season, his accuracy on these types of shots has only increased marginally, from a horrid 15.5% to 24% this year.
English's lack of versatility may not be as much of a problem as it once appeared, however, as he displays excellent intangibles on the offensive end. Though his court vision is just average, he is a willing passer and an unselfish teammate. English is also a vocal leader on an off of the court, as well, communicating well with his teammates and leading by example through his toughness and work ethic. Furthermore and as has been documented at length throughout his career, English is an intelligent individual with an outstanding basketball IQ, which combined with his other intangibles are an ideal combination for a projected role player in the NBA.
Despite not being an incredibly prolific shot-creator, English has found more ways to contribute inside the arc this season, either by taking opposing power forwards off the dribble in a straight line, or moving intelligently within Missouri's dynamic half-court offense.
While English will be able to contribute immediately on the offensive end of the floor at the next level, his defensive potential is far less certain. As has been stated before, he has good fundamentals, staying in his stance with active hands and feet, but his length and lateral quickness are just average. While he does a solid job of keeping track of his man and staying involved even after he is beaten, there are still significant questions whether he can guard quicker guards at the next level, as he guards both post and perimeter players alike now for the undersized Missouri Tigers.
When it comes down to it, there are few players in the country who have improved their standing with NBA scouts than
Kim English. He still has work to do before securing a spot on a NBA roster, but should have plenty of opportunities to showcase his talents on the biggest stages of college basketball as Missouri looks to make a Final Four run in March.
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