Upsides

• He is an excellent finisher around the rim, has great touch and can finish through contact

• Good driver, he is a solid ball handler and is fast, so he can blow by just about anyone that tries to guard him

• Looks comfortable with the ball in his hands

• Good at playing off the ball, he’s a good cutter and makes smart plays

• Super efficient scorer across the board

• Definitely has some passing ability in him, he’s played point guard in the past

• Good at scoring in transition

• On-ball defense is really good, he swallows players whole with his length and agility

• He has pretty good physical tools, good athlete, long arms, and relatively fast

Downsides

• His confidence as a 3-point shooter looks pretty low right now, he doesn’t take many 3s and sometimes he actively avoids taking them

• He has a ways to go when it comes to off-ball defense, can be a ball watcher and isn’t very active

• A lot of his skills are unrefined, he is raw and will need time to develop in the NBA

Projection

If Cody Williams hits his ceiling, he is going to be an extremely versatile player who can be the most impactful player on a team, even if he isn’t the best player on that team. I am confident that he will find a role in the NBA no matter what and will find ways to impact winning. He is still a little raw right now, so it may take some time for him to find his place. Despite this, I don’t think teams should hesitate to draft him with a top 10 pick. He is talented and has the upside to be an all star, maybe even an All NBA level player in the league.

Shades of: Jerami Grant, Pascal Siakam, Jalen Williams

I don’t know what to think about Cody Williams because I don’t think he can create. I know he’s a great finisher and transition ball handler and a decent passer and an ok ball handler. I’m very unsure about his role on offense. His shooting is weird, he’s 50% from 3 but only 12 attempts all season. He has no confidence for taking pull up threes. He doesn’t search to creat advantages, instead scoring mostly on attacking closeouts. I really don’t think he will be able to create in the nba due to that and his lack of confidence pulling up, even though he’s a pretty good shooter. He could be a decent wing who attacks closeouts and takes open threes and plays defense, and that’s a pretty good player but I don’t see the high volume creator upside or him becoming elite at any role. His defense is decent, he has long arms and he’s good on ball but off ball he’s very poor.

He won’t be elite on defense because he lacks elite athleticism and off ball awareness. He won’t be an elite shooter because he lacks confidence. He won’t be an elite slasher because he lacks strength and athleticism (this is the one I’m least confident about). He won’t be an elite passer/playmaker because he’s been sloppy with passes and seems r lack awareness and vision. I don’t feel confident in any facet on Cody’s game and for that, I can’t rank him very high.

Tier 1 - Ceiling:

All-Star, Top 5 Forward in NBA

Nationality

American

Draft Day Age

19.58

Wingspan

7'0

Avg ranking (top 6 NBA draft sites) 6.0

My Jan Ranking 3

Best Case - Shades of/

Pascal Siakam

Paul George

Lamar Odom

Stats:

29.3 MPG

14.3 PPG

64.2 TS% on 9.3 FGA

46.2 3PT% on 1.6 FGA

71.0 FT% on 3.9 FTA

7.4 TRB%

12.8 AST%

1.5 STL%

1.8 BLK%

17.6 TO%

22.8 USG%

115.4 ORTG

104.5 DRTG

4.1 BPM

(as of 2/15/2024)

it's not hard to see why cody williams is so liked as a prospect.

• he's young (19 on draft night),

• has good length (6'8 with a 7'3 wingspan),

• is an excellent finisher and aggressive when getting to the rim,

• has a lot of potential to be a good passer,

• looks comfortable handling the ball,

• looks comfortable without the ball too, always being active on the court trying to find ways to get open and get some points,

• has a decently quick burst,

• has defensive upside,

• and has a good fg% (56.2)!

-- / --

this isn't to say he doesn't have his flaws though.

offensively;

• even though he's shooting 46.7% from three, i don't trust his three-point shot. why? he's 71.2% from the ft line. not to say that's an awful ft%, but it raises some eyebrows as to how consistent his shot will be at the next level. while i'm not completely sold on his three-point shot, i am with his mid-range, floaters, or any shot inside the arc.

• ^ another reason as to why i don't really trust his three-point, albeit a little minor, is that he doesn't have a lot of self-creation while on the perimeter. most of the shots he took from three were catch-and-shoots. he didn't make one move to create space and get a shot up, the only time he would make a move was to drive to the rim. that's fine, it just doesn't make me think any more highly of his ability to shoot from far.

• for every assist he had, he also had a turnover (he basically has a 1:1 ratio on the dot). currently, cody is averaging 1.9 to's a game. from what i can tell, most of his turnovers come from him not being able to handle body pressure that well. this is part of a much bigger concern, his weight. he's only 190 pounds. i could easily see him getting big bodied by other forwards, and him struggling to do the same.

and defensively:

• ... he's just not that good defensively right now. he shows flashes of being able to play defense, but he still has a lot to improve on.

• currently, he's averaging 2.2 fouls per game. i think the main reason for this is that he jumps a lot. he tries to utilize his length to block the ball, which is good, but he often doesn't get anything out of it and just fouls his opponent. another reason though that he might be fouling a lot is because he gets blown by when guarding the perimeter. smaller guards just get past him way too easily. he falls behind, tries to block them from behind, and ends up pushing them and fouling them.

• ^ him getting beat by other guards is part of another issue he has, which is that he reacts a little slowly to movements. he looks significantly slower on defense than he does on offense. there were a couple of clips where his opponent made a move on him, and he took like 2 seconds to react to it. and when he finally did react to it, it was too late, and his opponent already had a shot up. i think he's been improving on this aspect though. more recently he looks more focused and quicker on defense, but it's still something worth noting.

• ^ he might also look slow on defense because a lot of his defensive clips look like he's not putting much effort into guarding his opponent.

• i saw him struggle to get off screens and go around them.

• he would also get tangled up with his teammates(?) when guarding someone. this wasn't just a one-time thing, i saw this happen multiple times. he just looked like he was lost.

• he's not very active on boards. i would like to see him use his length more on rebounds, both offensively and defensively, but this is one of his more minor issues.

-- / --

cody is a high floor, low ceiling guy. i think he'll be valuable at some point in the nba, but it might take some time. he’ll need to improve his defense, limit his turnovers, and gain some more weight. he’s only 19, he has plenty of time to improve 🤷🏽

Prospect rating: mid b.

Overview:

Cody Williams is a 6'8", 185-pound freshman wing from the Colorado Buffaloes who's rapidly establishing himself as a potential top-five pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. His smooth skillset, size, scoring prowess, and basketball IQ make him a versatile weapon on both ends of the court. He's the younger brother of Oklahoma City Thunder's Jalen Williams, further adding intrigue to his already impressive rise.

Strengths:

Versatile scorer: Williams boasts an offensive arsenal that can light up opponents. He can create his own shot off the dribble with a smooth handle and good footwork, finish through contact with impressive body control, and knock down open threes with a silky stroke. He also utilizes his size effectively to score inside out of the post.

Passing and court vision: While scoring is his strength, Williams is also a capable playmaker. He finds open teammates with smart passes, especially in transition, and demonstrates good court vision for his age.

Solid size and length: At 6'8" with a long wingspan, Williams has the ideal frame for a modern-day NBA wing. This size allows him to guard multiple positions, rebound effectively, and finish above the rim on offense.

High basketball IQ: Williams plays with a cerebral approach, making smart decisions with the ball and understanding the nuances of the game. He reads defenses well, anticipates plays, and makes the right pass often.

Weaknesses:

Strength and physicality: Although skilled and athletic, Williams needs to add more muscle to his frame to truly hold his own against NBA power forwards and handle the increased physicality of the league. This will improve his rebounding, ability to finish through contact, and overall defensive presence. Three-point consistency: While his shot form is smooth, Williams' three-point range and consistency need some work. He can hit open shots effectively, but expanding his range and becoming a more reliable threat from deep would further elevate his offensive value. Defensive consistency: While his physical tools bode well for future defensive success, Williams still needs to refine his technique and footwork to become a truly impactful defender. He can struggle against quick guards on the perimeter and needs to develop his anticipation and help-side defense skills. Overall:

Cody Williams is a high-ceiling prospect with the potential to become a franchise cornerstone in the NBA. His size, skillset, basketball IQ, and overall feel for the game make him a truly special talent. If he can add strength, improve his three-point consistency, and refine his defensive skills, he could blossom into a dominant two-way wing capable of leading a team to championship contention.

Additional Notes:

Williams is known for his dedication and work ethic, constantly striving to improve his game and take on the guidance of coaches. Some scouts compare him to a young Scottie Pippen due to his size, versatility, and defensive potential, while others see him as a more offensively-oriented player in the mold of Brandon Ingram. His ability to play multiple positions and contribute on both ends of the court makes him a valuable asset for any team seeking a high-impact wing. Overall, Cody Williams is a must-watch player in the lead-up to the 2024 NBA Draft. He has the talent and potential to make a significant impact on the league for years to come.

Cody has a lot of potential. He is so incredibly smooth. His mid range shot is beautiful. In 8 shots a game 6.5 of them were 2PA, which has to be a record among wing prospects.

The biggest thing I wanted from Cody Williams was to take over a game. His best game was against Oregon in January where he had 23 points and shot extremely well and did a lot of everything. I get it's hard on a team with KJ Simpson and Tristan da Silva, who are going to be drafted as well, but it would have been nice to see rather than 11 minutes played against Boise State in the first four.

Now he does have a lot of potential. He replicated more of his brother's teammate in SGA than his brother, scoring wise, and shot pretty dang well. I think if a team shows him any kind of confidence in his 3PT shooting, he will be an offensive problem.

Defensively I think he's solid, and being a lanky 6'8" is nice. He does have some lapses defensively where he gets ever so slightly out of position.

Ceiling: Smooth DeMar DeRozan Floor: 2013 offensive Jimmy Butler with Rookie DeRozan defense Comparison: DeMar DeRozan

Favorite Fits:

1. Memphis Grizzlies

2. Atlanta Hawks

3. Detroit Pistons