Arizona Basketball: Is Lauri Markkanen the younger version of Kristaps Porzingis?
Arizona basketball has a special young star in freshman forward Lauri Markkanen.
Arizona’s Lauri Markkanen is a seven-foot freshman from Jyvaskyla, Finland. This young talent only weighs 230 pounds, but his body type fits his play style.
Markkanen is a finesse player. He can operate on the perimeter, has soft hands around the rim and he is a gifted passer. He has the potential to develop into a Kristaps Porzingis-like force if Sean Miller can help him develop in Tucson.
Yes, Porzingis is a one of a kind player, but Markkanen possess a similar skill set. The Arizona big is much more raw than Porzingis was. His game clearly isn’t as polished, so he will need to sharpen some facets of his game in his freshman season.
Markkanen already has an efficient offensive game though. He’s shooting 54 percent from the floor and an astonishing 47 percent from long range. There aren’t too many players in college that can guard this youngster.
Markkanen also has the same defensive issues as Porzingis. Without much mass, opponents can bully Markkanen inside. His limited strength also affects his ability to rebound. I don’t think he needs to add too much weight, but he must learn how to use his length when it comes to crashing the glass.
This comparison may sound crazy but remember, Markkanen is only a freshman. With a full year of development, he could be a lottery pick in the upcoming 2017 NBA Draft. The modern NBA is searching for players like Porzingis, and Markkanen could be the second coming.
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