Scouting Report: Montrezl Harrell, PF, Louisville
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Were the NBA played one vine at a time, Monrezl Harrell would be the No. 1 pick. He is the king of vines. No, seriously. The king.
The Louisville junior can really throw down, and he's spent the last three seasons living on the highlight reel. He's also spent those years sitting in more or less the same draft slot, as he's failed to hurt or help his standing in the eyes of NBA evaluators with each additional season. A strong NCAA tournament didn't move the needle much, even if he did flash skills not on his scouting report, and he remains an "is what he is" proposition outside of the lottery.
Relevant Background
| Position | DraftExpress Rank | ESPN Rank | Height w/ Shoes | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PF | 22 | 24 | 6' 7.5" | 253 |
| Wingspan | Standing Reach | Max Vertical (in.) | Hand Length (in.) | Body Fat % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7' 4.25" | 9' 1" | N/A | 9 | 11.9% |
| NCAA Stats | PPG | RPG | BPG | FG% | 3FG% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-15 | 15.7 | 9.2 | 1.2 | 56.6% | 24.3% |
| 2013-14 | 14.0 | 8.4 | 1.3 | 60.9% | 2/3 |
| 2012-13 | 5.7 | 3.6 | 0.7 | 57.7% | 0/0 |
Scouting Report
Strengths: "Is what he is" is hardly a bad thing when what he is happens to be a physical marvel. His ridiculous wingspan and reach relative to his height not only speak to his defensive tools but also mean he could conceivably play some center in the NBA. It also helps explain his great rebounding numbers and allay concerns that being undersized for the post in terms of height matters at all. He's functionally big, he's a great athlete, and there isn't a second where he's not going at 100 percent.
Weaknesses: For as much as Harrell seems a safe bet as a dirty-areas player in a reserve role, he has some offensive limitations that put a cap on his upside. He's not a great shooter - his 59.7-percent mark at the charity stripe doesn't point to improvement in that regard - he's still developing his court vision with the ball in his hands, and while he can score in the post, it could be tough for him to muscle his way to some of the baskets he scored in college at the next level.
Highlight Reel
What to Expect on Draft Day
Once thought to be a late-lottery pick, Harrell's slid a notch or two but remains firmly in the first-round picture. The pre-draft workout process isn't expected to do him a great deal or good since he's more motor and instinct than finesse and skill, but being a known commodity who does the little things should make him an attractive target when the draft turns to winning teams picking in the 20s. He could still get a look just outside the lottery but the 19-26 range seems to be his most likely range.