Hardwood Houdini Draft Profiles
De’Aaron Fox: Kentucky, PG
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 187 pounds
Age: 19
Strengths
Speed/Athleticism:
De’Aaron Fox can be a one-man fast break. He seems like an absolute blur in transition. His speed and athleticism are both comparable to former Kentucky Star John Wall. Jay Bilas often refers to Fox as having the speed of Usain Bolt, except while dribbling a basketball. Both of these attributes make him extremely dangerous when getting to the basket. He already has 126 free throw attempts on the season, which is second on his team, only behind Bam Adebayo. His speed is by far his best quality as a point guard, and will translate well to the NBA level. His first step is so quick, that it makes it extremely difficult for opponents to guard him.
Play-making ability/Handles:
Fox can get to the rim on his own, but he has shown flashes of tremendous play-making ability when it comes to distributing to his teammates. He is number one in the SEC in assists per game at 5.5. He sees the floor extremely well and is always looking to make a play for his teammates. He is a pass-first point guard, even though he can score the ball himself. His ball-handling is also extremely impressive, as this helps him create space to operate.
Defensive potential:
His quickness becomes very useful when he is guarding other speedy guards. He moves very well laterally, and also has very quick hands. He averages 1.6 steals per game. He is very reactive when it comes to guarding other point guards, showing a unique ability to stay with them.
More from Hardwood Houdini
Weaknesses
Frame:
Although he has solid size at 6’4” he has a relatively small frame. His legs are extremely skinny, and this will hurt him when guarding bigger, more physical point guards in the NBA. This small frame is where Fox and Wall are extremely different, as Wall is built strong all the way around. Fox will need to add muscle.
Shooting:
Fox has trouble being a consistent scorer and shooter from the perimeter. He is shooting under 50% from the field (48.2%), and only 18.2% from 3-point range on the season. He has only made 8 of his 44 3-point attempts. His shooting is streaky, and needs to improve so that he can add that dimension to his game. He already has great driving ability, but shooting will help his game go a long way.
Overview
Fox is the quickest prospect in recent memory. His speed while dribbling the basketball is unmatched, and he is absolutely lethal in transition. He is a pass-first point guard, and has great play-making ability. He needs to develop more consistency with his shot, especially from behind the arc. He will be a terrific point guard at the next level, and will really be able to run the show. I see Fox being selected in the 5-10 range in the first round of the draft.
