With the No. 14 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the Boston Celtics have selected Vanderbilt wing Aaron Nesmith.
Nesmith was on a sizzling pace before a stress fracture in his right foot ended his 2019-20 campaign early. The sophomore averaged 23 points on 51.2% shooting - including a scorching 52.2% on 8.2 triples per game - across 14 appearances this past season.
The South Carolina native was the NCAA's fifth-highest scorer at the time of his injury and registered at least 14 points in each of the contests he played. Nesmith's excellent shooting should allow him to contribute at the next level immediately. However, he doesn't want to be a one-trick pony.
"It's not a secret. My best attribute going into the NBA is my shooting and being able to spread that floor," Nesmith told reporters, including theScore, during his recent NBA draft media availability. "I'm trying to expand my game, trying to make myself a more complete basketball player. Making the right reads at the right time. Making the right plays for my teammates.
"Just trying to make my game more multi-dimensional and become a better basketball player as a whole on both sides of the floor."
Bio
Position: G/F
School: Vanderbilt
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 215 lbs
Wingspan: 6-foot-10
Max vertical: N/A
Strengths
- Elite off-ball scorer; he ranked third nationally with 5.6 points per game off screens last season
- Comfortable shooting off the dribble
- Has the size to play multiple positions
- Attacks closeouts well
- His length, frame bode well for his defensive development
Weaknesses
- Lack of agility allows opposing players to blow by off the bounce
- Needs to improve his ball-handling skills
- Not much of a playmaking threat
- Struggles to finish at the rim
