Keels is a great player for the modern NBA. He uses his stocky frame to get in the way on defense. He has good strength and grabs plenty of steals. On defense he could certainly get more blocks, but he has a good frame and should see improvement in that department. His stock has fallen a bit, but he is still very consistent. He isn’t the best 3 point shooter, yet he has shown enough flashes to bet on him getting better. In the NBA he projects as your prototypical 3 & D wing.

Comparison: Luguentz Dort

Projected Draft Range: 20-38

Height 6’5

Weight 210 lbs

Wingspan Estimated 6’7

DOB 8/27/03 (Draft Age: 19)

Pre-Draft Team Duke Blue Devils

Offense

• Likes to attack the rim and a sound finisher.

• Very strong compact body, will body guys.

• Decent C&S guy but his perimeter shooting needs to find more consistency to expand his full arsenal.

• Good athlete around the rim.

• Strong motor.

• Should be a decent mid range shooter, but the consistency hasn't been there this year.

• Plays under control while still having a high level of energy. Bits of playmaking ability.

Defense

• Big defensive motor.

• Strong guy who is going to hound teams the entire time he's on the floor.

• The athleticism to create turnovers and stay in front of his man.

Swing Factors Role

• LOW:

• HIGH:

Ranking Scale:

Athleticism: 3/8

3pt shot: 6/10

Finishing: 3/10

Handle: 6/10

Playmaking: 5/8

Defensive Versatility: 6/10

Defensive Positioning: 3/8

Rebounding: 4/6

NBA Fit: 7/10

Total Score: 42/80

Player analysis

Trevor Keels was on edge when it came to entering the draft and for good reason. He is an off ball shooter who has a burly frame for a wing and uses his size to play effective defense, but the reason why he isn’t a first round lock is because he has a stiff game and he doesn’t have any fluidness to his game. Keels doesn’t play defense off the ball well and can’t do much on offense because he is a shooter who is very efficient while not being able to handle the ball. Trevor could have gone back to school to join a whole new stacked Duke team and improve his three point split, but he decided to enter the draft most likely because he was afraid that he would not carve out the same caliber role as he did last year in college which might have backfired his stock. Whether or not that was a good decision, I'm not sure, I do think that he does have flaws in his game that hold him back. Keels is a little undersized in terms of length for a wing, he stands at 6’3 which even with the bulky frame will give him troubles when releasing on jump shots and shooting over defenders. On defense he is good on the ball but like I said earlier that can’t really mean much when he doesn’t pay attention off of it and he will most likely not be a primary defender in the league. I can see a world where none of his game ends up transferring to the league as likely if not more than him improving on his weaknesses, that is why scouts are a little reluctant to take him earlier in the draft despite displaying similar skills to other players mocked above him.

Projection

Draft range: [ 26 - 39 ]

Comp: [ Lu Dort lite ]

Strengths: Athleticism and Playmaking IQ Weaknesses: Jack of all trades master of none

High Side Comp: Desmond Bane/Lu Dort Low Side Comp: Harrison Twins

Ideal Fit: Secondary Playmaker off Bench

Draft Range: 22-47

Result: 42- NYK

Athleticism: 8/10 Size: 3/5 Defense: 5/10 Strength: 5/5 Quickness: 6/10 Creation: 2/5 Jumpshot: 5/10 Finishing: 3/5 NBA Ready: 3/5 Ball Handling: 5/10 Passing: 6/10 Intangibles: 4/5 Potential: 7/10 TOTAL: 62 = Mid First

Pros

• physical downhill driver

• finishes through contact around the rim

• good pick and roll passer

• can spot up for 3 from the corners

• makes the simple plays when passing

Cons

• susceptible to getting blown by by smaller guards

• inconsistent 3 point shooter

• lacks touch from the mid range

• needs to improve left hand when driving

Another member of the highly touted Duke freshman class is Trevor Keels. The 6'5, 220 lb shooting guard is a physical force. He is pound for pound as strong as you're going to find and couples it with a ton of athleticism. He has gotten a lot of comparisons to Lu Dort because of how he is built and his defensive capabilities. I would say that is a very good comparison except that Keels has a significantly more polished offensive game already and a much higher ceiling given his talents. The only thing keeping him from being a lottery pick is his inconsistencies on the offensive end. He is very streaky with his jumpshot which is always going to be a big knock on a guard. I think he has a great shot of developing into a Jrue Holiday type two-way talent if he is drafted into the right culture. I don't want to see him taking 15 shots a night early in his career so hopefully he goes to a good team where he is asked to do all the right things in moderation offensively and is unleased on the defensive end to wreck havoc.

NBA Player Comps: Lu Dort+, Desmond Bane, Torrey Craig+++

Strengths:

• A real fire hydrant who has a lot of upside as a perimeter defender

• A super strong guy who's super heavy, 224 pounds

• Super young (2003)

• Shows he may have some upside as a playmaker

Flaws:

• Jumpshot mechanics are a bit unorthodox, splays his feet when he shoots

• Has absolutely no left hand, can he even dribble with his left?

• Cannot and will not finish with his left hand

• A 6'4 small forward, very undersize for his position and isn't ready to become a guard

• Incredibly inefficient, from the field shot 41.9% from the field, 31% from 3, 67% from the line

• Can be a bit of an offensive liability

• Does not look like a good shooter with little upside

• Not a great rebounding guard

Keels is built like a straight up line-backer. He can play anywhere from the 1-3 and would be a good asset for any team. He's a solid shooter playmaker and perimeter defender.

Strengths: Doesn't turnover, stays out of foul trouble, play making, build, age.

Weaknesses: efficiency isn't the best