Cason Wallace: 6'4" 185 lbs 11.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 4.3 apg, 2.0 spg, 44.6% fg%, 34.6% 3%, 75.7% ft%.

Cason Wallace is a coach's dream. Cason is regarded as a defender first and foremost but also possesses an expanding offensive arsenal that is not heavily reliant on any aspect of his game. He may be the most complete prospect in this class that comes from the NCAA ranks, with the fewest true weaknesses. Wallace is the best guard defender in this class and has a claim to be the top shooter among guards that expect to hear their name in the lottery. Wallace combines point of attack defense and fundamentally sound 3 level scoring into being regarded as a top 10 pick.

Strengths:

• Impacts winning basketball on both ends of the floor.

• Top tier point of attack defender that can defend a few positions.

• Never in a rush and plays strong using his body well to battle on D and create space and shield on O.

• Good shooter who appears likely to continue improving his shot in time. (Guarded catch and shoots 67th percentile (good)).

• Great at getting to a spot and converting mid-range jumpers.

• Very good rebounder for a guard.

• Has a case to be best defender in this class other than Victor.

• Can play inside and out. Occasionally posts up guards.

Weaknesses:

• Not a super athletic guy who has burst that stands out.

• How well can he be the primary facilitator in an offense where more is asked of him?

• Does the shot project to the NBA 3 point line?

• Doesn't create loads of space in ISO. Uses braun more than wiggle.

Swing Skill: Cason Wallace seems like a safe draft pick so what brings him over the top? I believe Wallace has to improve his floor general and facilitation game to be more of a plus than a net neutral in order to reach his ceiling as an NBA player. Cason Wallace played point guard at Kentucky at times and they got better but he wasn't too comfortable. Wallace ran 133 pick and rolls as the ball handler and produced well in those attempts. If he becomes a decisive point guard with the improved spacing in the NBA while still hitting mid range shots and playing great point of attack defense, there is certainly a high ceiling for Wallace.

Tier: Long-Term Starter

Player Comparisons: Eric Bledsoe, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jrue Holiday

Cason Wallace is a combo guard with amazing skills. He’s a good scorer and can get his own shot from outside as well as penetrate the lane. He’s also an elite defender who uses his great speed to lock down opposing ball handlers. Wallace is always a threat to steal the ball away. He's not very good at his left-hand dribble but is great with his right. This will be something that he needs to work on to develop in the NBA.

• 2.03 assist-to-turnover ratio 7th among all Freshman.

• Height w/o shoes: 6'2.5"

• Wingspan: 6'8.5"

• Max vertical: 36.0"

• Kentucky went 22-12 in 2022-23, and lost in the 2nd round of the NCAA Tournament (#6 seed).

Bio: Kentucky, November 7, 2003 (19), 6’2.5”, 195 lb, Point Guard

Stats:

Strengths:

• On and off ball defense

• Bothering opponents

• Pnr Playmaking

• Shooting

Weaknesses:

• Can’t always get good separation

• Lacks elite burst

Rundown:

Cason has a strong case as the single most talented defensive player in college last year. He pestered opponents all season with his resilient on ball defense, and ability to poke the ball away. Cason is more of an old school point guard in some ways, but has strong shooting capabilities. He doesn’t always create a lot of separation on his shots, but he doesn’t need to. Look for a guy that can run an NBA offense on day one.

Shades of: Marcus Smart

19.6 year-old 6'4 PG/SG. Perimeter Lockdown. Absolute menace with the tools, fundamentals, and hustle to be the best defensive guard in the league for years. He has a knack for steals both on-ball and off-ball and can use his length and peskiness to guard bigger opponents well. Projects well as a C&S 3-point shooter with his quick release, but has struggled creating his own shot. His high basketball-IQ helps him find open space often, and as his game develops he could become a more deadly shooter off the dribble. He is comfortable with runners, floaters, and scoring around the rim, and has shown promise he could develop into a 3-level-scorer. Cason hasn't shown much to make me think that he can be an NBA team's primary scorer, but he may still be able to lead an offense with his low turnover, good decision making style of play.

Strengths:

++++Perimeter Defense

+++Steals

+++Basketball IQ

++Toughness

++3-point shooting

++Turnovers

+Blocks

+Versatility

+Passing

Weaknesses:

--Shot Creation

--Handle

-Burst

-Explosiveness

Shades Of:

Jrue Holiday, Marcus Smart, Eric Bledsoe, Alex Caruso

Ceiling: All-Star, DPOY, 2-Way Pass-First Sharpshooter

Floor: Bench, Perimeter Lockdown

Team Fit:

Cason's best-case development is as a lead guard, but he may be more effective at the beginning of his career as an off-ball guard that thrives in the catch-and-shoot. Essentially, any team with room for a guard has a spot for Cason.

Best fits within range: Washington, Utah, Orlando, Indiana

As inevitable as it is to compare Dick to guys like Huerter and Thompson, it might be even more to compare Cason Wallace and Jrue Holiday. The man bothers everyone in the defensive end of the floor using his length and lower body strength to defend anyone anytime.

His offense is mainly predicated in his catch and shoot skills and his willingness to playmake out of the pick and roll. He's not good off the dribble or creating separation with his handles, but he's more than fuctional and smart on that end to operate an offense as a PG in the future.

OFFENSE Good C&S shooter, repeatable and fluid form has been shooting really well to start the year, good form and has flashes off relocations, not much off movement HE IS SHOOTING 57% FROM THE LINE AS OF NOW NOT GREAT BUT FEW ATTEMPTS solid as a playmaker, was running the show without wheeler, different now that is back good ball mover, great at post entry passes very unselfish and can make basic reads, out of P&R too TO DETERMINE HIS CEILING, CAN HE BE A PRIMARY? From what I have seen NO , not very creative , sometimes a bit hesitant he is good enough athlete , has flashes finishing in the paint , has good % there has a very good floater he doesnt play with much spacing so maybe that's why he is tentative BUT only 2 games with more than 9 shots is little

DEFENSE one of the best defensive guards prospect of the last few years His physicality, low center of gravity & advanced technique with hand placement makes him functionally bigger great lateral movement good at sliding and strong enough to deal with bumps a lot like jimmy butler with how they play defense ~4 inches taller than listed HE IS 6.4 has quick and stong hands, great reaction times high level processor and awareness off ball sometimes gamble too much and sometimes slightly undisciplined going under screens

Cason Wallace- Kentucky (PG) Age:19.6yrs 6’4 185 (Jrue Holiday)

Elite level perimeter defender with his length and instincts to be able disrupt players on the perimeter and jump into passing lanes. Offensively his shooting needs to be more consistent from three and from the mid range but when he gets to the basket he goes up strong to finish. Solid driver with his combination of size and athleticism but too often gets stuck in bad positions with the ball. Good passer with entry passes, pick and role and finding cutters.

(32gs 32.2mpg)(11.7ppg, 3.7rb, 4.3ast, 2.0stl, 44.6fg%, 34.6 3pt% 4.0 3pa)