STRENGTHS:

• Very good playmaker for his size; 3.5 assists a night, 23% assist rate, also ranks in the 90th percentile in rim assists, operating a ton in the DHO game and when facing up

• Very good defensive prospect; 6'8", 7'2" wingspan, very mobile defender who can switch 1-5, has the strength to wall up bigger players, and a defensive playmaker. Shown in his steal and block rates (2.2% and 7.2%) and in the counting stats (2.1 blocks, 1.2 steals), showing his schematic versatility

• Physically embraces contact; shown through his DHOs and on screens, as well as drawing fouls, getting to the free throw line at a really good rate (12.8 attempts per 100 possessions, 94th percentile)

• High effort, high energy player; always closing out and sprinting down the court. Effort shows in his rebounding abilities, with good offensive rebounding rate (12.1%, 80th percentile) and counting stats (7.3 rebounds)

• Showed spurts of shot making; mainly on drives from the top of the key, not always going to outmuscling on post-ups and instead attacking with crossovers and downhill speed

WEAKNESSES:

• Shooting is only theoretical; with good shooting mechanics, shot 28% from 3 throughout his collegiate career, 71% from the free throw line. Repeating mechanics and consistency should make the number go up but indicators don't favor him all that great

• Lies in the tweener role; too undersized to be a full-time center and doesn't have the floor spacing ability at this time to make roster building around (potentially) two non-spacing bigs difficult

• Size limits him on the defensive rebounds; only a 14.7% defensive rebounding rate (4th percentile), often the taller players reaching over the top of him

• Efficiency around the rim could improve; only shot 63% at the rim, which is a low mark for a big, and that stems again from his size, sometimes pumpfaking when there is no need, resulting in hanging finishes that aren't too reliable

Summary: Zuby Ejiofor is one of the late risers in this draft class, and rightfully so. His energy and effort on both ends is infectious, and his energy is shown in his production, as a really good rebounder and a switchable defender who can keep up 1-5. He has his size limitations, and that will be shown when he has to guard and rebound over the bigger players in the NBA today. His best offense comes from his role as a playmaker. By playing through and embracing the physicality and being a willing screener, he creates space that allows for screen assists or opportunities for him to receive and be the decision maker, and he's shown how good his processing of the game is. That can potentially become his niche. If he isn't able to develop the jumper much, especially as a tweener big, having a few skills including his playmaking allows for him to be viable. Ejiofor does not have the most ideal size for a center, and he may not be a 4 yet, but the effort he gives and the way he moves around the court, as well as his production on both ends, is more than enough to take a late first round swing on him.

Player Comparison: Shades of Jaylin Williams and Draymond Green

Best Fits: Toronto Raptors, Denver Nuggets, San Antonio Spurs

This guy is a downright bruiser inside and he will also try and go be a lob threat he can move very well and don’t forget that pick and roll just get down and get the lob. He has great post moves and has a nice short floater if you need to use it. He is very able to shoot a three. Him being a threat with a roll on a lob and then also beating able to pop and he can shoot it. Don’t forget the defense that he has down there even though he may be a little undersized he was big easy defensive player of the year and for a reason. Maybe not the best exterior defender though.

Comparison Myles Turner

COMPARISONS:

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RATINGS: OVERALL:

REBUILD:

CONTENDER:

Prospect Rating: 5

Zuby has good size and length that allow him to disrupt offenses around the rim, but lacks the foot speed to defend perimeter players in the NBA. Due to his size I think he will also struggle to defend some bigs in the NBA, but has a good motor that could allow him to hold his own. His combination of motor and decent size make him a plus rebounder even at the NBA level. Offensively he’s good around the rim, able to finish plays at a high level. He does require others to create for him, but is a very good screen setter which allows him to find himself impacting the offense in other ways. He showed some potential of a jump shot but it will take a lot of work before it develops into a consistent threat.