Pros:

• absolutely insane scoring versatility and efficiency; best scoring versatility in the class

• extremely quick, tight handle with elite twitch

• very good passer; threads needles

• insanely good at controlling the pace; uses his body to create seperation

• pushes fast break

• defensive engagement/motor remains high despite high offensive load

• great shot contester

Cons:

• tends to pick up his dribble a little early instead of committing to the drive

• light frame; limits ability to take contact + defensive versatility

• can force passes leading to tovs

C: all-nba

F: role player

LaBaron Philon, 6'4, 185, PG, Alabama, So.

• Comp: Darius Garland / Mike Conley / Goran Dragic

• Ceiling: ALL-NBA

• Floor: Bench

• Last year's stats: PTS(10.6) REB(3.3) AST(3.8) BLK(0.3) STL(1.4) FG%(45.2) 3P%(31.5)

• PTS, AST, and efficiency have all gone up this year, he's taken a big leap

• Best floor general in the draft

• Creative, quick, and on point with every pass

• Good shooter that could turn into a great one

• Quick to read the defense

• Very quick

• Creative scorer inside of the arc, great floater game

• Scrappy defender, gets in passing lanes

• Slow shooting motion

• Expectation: ALL-STAR; Offensively talented and scrappy defensive lead guard, would be a great guard to put around stars

STAYING IN COLLEGE

• Best floor general in the draft

• Creative, quick, and on point with every pass

• Good shooter that could turn into a great one

• Quick to read the defense

• Very quick

• Creative scorer inside of the arc, great floater game

• Scrappy defender, gets in passing lanes

• Slow shooting motion

• Lack luster transition defense

• Comp: Darius Garland / Kris Dunn / Goran Dragic

• Ceiling: ALL-STAR

• Floor: Bench

• Expectation: Starter

• What to Expect: Offensively talented and scrappy defensive lead guard, would be a great guard to put around stars

• For more go check out my Instagram @thefingerreport

Labaron Philon — Scouting Report (AVC Film Breakdown) Position: Guard School: Alabama Height: 6'4"

Overview

When I evaluated Labaron Philon on film this year, the biggest takeaway was how much his game has progressed compared to last season. The jump in both efficiency and overall offensive polish is significant, and it shows up clearly when you break down the film.

What’s encouraging about Philon is that he’s starting to check off several boxes that matter for NBA translation. He’s developed into a legitimate three-level scorer, he’s comfortable operating in pick-and-roll situations, and he plays with the kind of patience and control that you want from a lead guard.

He’s not the most explosive athlete, but the skill level, pace, and decision-making give him a real pathway to carving out a role at the next level.

Right now, I view him as a late first-round caliber prospect with clear NBA utility.

Pick-and-Roll Playmaking

One of the things I like most about Philon’s game is how comfortable he looks operating in the pick-and-roll.

He plays with excellent patience and doesn’t rush his reads. Instead of attacking blindly, he takes his time navigating screens and allows the defense to reveal its coverage before making a decision.

He’s also very effective using a drag step to manipulate defenders and create space. That move allows him to slow the game down and control the pace of the possession, which is a trait you often see in experienced guards.

On top of that, he shows the ability to make difficult passes once the defense collapses. His playmaking isn’t flashy—it’s controlled and efficient.

Three-Level Scoring

Another area where Philon has clearly improved is his scoring efficiency.

He’s become a legitimate three-level scorer. At the rim, he’s finishing at an extremely high rate—around 67%—which is impressive for a guard without elite vertical athleticism.

In the mid-range area, he has developed a reliable floater, which is a valuable weapon when attacking drop coverage in pick-and-roll situations.

And from beyond the arc, his shooting has taken a big step forward. His three-point percentage has improved significantly, jumping from roughly 31% to around 39%, which dramatically improves his offensive profile.

When a guard can score at all three levels, it forces defenses to respect multiple threats.

Offensive IQ and Off-Ball Awareness

Another encouraging development is Philon’s improvement away from the ball.

He does a much better job now recognizing when defenses lose track of him and relocating into open space. When teammates draw attention, he consistently finds gaps in the defense to position himself for catch-and-shoot opportunities.

These are subtle but important improvements that show his basketball IQ is evolving.

Physical Strength

One of the more noticeable limitations with Philon right now is his physical build.

He has a fairly lean frame and will likely need to add strength to handle the physicality of NBA defenders. Stronger guards will try to bump him off his driving lanes or disrupt his rhythm when navigating screens.

Adding strength—particularly in his core and lower body—should help him maintain balance and absorb contact more effectively.

Athletic Ceiling

Philon is a skilled guard, but he isn’t an elite vertical athlete.

That lack of top-end explosiveness could become more noticeable against NBA rim protectors. While he finishes very efficiently in college, the question will be whether he can maintain that level of effectiveness when facing longer and more athletic defenders.

Because of that, his ability to rely on craft, footwork, and timing will remain extremely important.

Defensive Consistency

Defensively, Philon shows flashes of solid ability.

He has active hands, works hard navigating screens, and occasionally generates turnovers by disrupting passing lanes. However, there are also moments where he loses his assignment off the ball.

At times he gets overly focused on anticipating steals or reading the play rather than staying disciplined within the defensive scheme. Those lapses can lead to breakdowns that won’t be tolerated at the NBA level.

Improving defensive focus and positioning will be an important step in his development.

NBA Projection

When I project Philon to the NBA, I see a guard who could realistically step into a backup ball-handler and secondary creator role early in his career.

The pick-and-roll comfort, improved shooting, and ability to score at multiple levels give him a strong offensive foundation. He’s the type of guard who can run second units, space the floor, and make the right decisions when defenses rotate.

In some ways, his style reminds me of a smaller version of Anthony Black in terms of how patiently he operates and how he reads the floor.

If he continues to add strength and improves his defensive consistency, there’s a clear pathway for him to become a reliable rotation guard in the NBA.

A gamer who knows how to play and brings a lot of intensity. A rangy and wiry athlete with decent size but will have to add muscle. Excels at getting to the rim and has great touch and a creative layup package. Plays with great poise and looks to be in total control on the court. He's a very impressive passer, especially in the pick and roll. He has a lazy gait in the half-court that is tough to defend, and is very quick from baseline to baseline. His jumper has improved a lot and is now a true threat from 3. Against bigger defenders who can score inside he will likely struggle simply because of his thin build. He is flexible enough to wiggle through screens and be a disruptor on defense, especially when you factor in his length, but adding strength is absolutely necessary for that to happen.

NBA Comp: Tyrese Maxey, Dennis Schroder, Ryan Rollins

Strength: Defense, Playmaking, Finishing, Crafty, Competitive,

Weaknesses: Shooting Consisity, Physicality, Decision Making, Fundamentals,

Role/Slasher, Player Comp/Jalen Brunson, Ceiling/All NBA, Floor/6 man, Expectation/Quality Starter, Position/PG

this is just kam jones 2.0, except a younger version who hasn’t managed his energy and motor as well as jones has.

every pro of jones can be applied to philon (just maybe not to the same extent). philon has more upside though and could be a slightly better player in the future. they’re pretty similar prospects overall just with philon being more raw and less NBA ready currently (and not as good as a lead ball handler yet).

need to watch more film on philon, know he's fallen off a little bit but i've yet to see how much. ranking could change later.