Projected lottery pick Whitmore slides to Rockets at No. 20

The Houston Rockets stopped Cam Whitmore's slide, taking the hyper-athletic Villanova freshman with the 20th overall pick.

Whitmore was a projected lottery pick but tumbled down the board due to poor workouts and interviews with teams, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Houston took Overtime Elite guard Amen Thompson with the No. 4 overall pick earlier in the evening.

Few players in this year's draft possess as many physical gifts as Whitmore. A top recruit who spent his year playing for a disappointing Villanova squad, the forward flashed moments of brilliance that made scouts salivate but also demonstrated some areas of necessary improvement.

Whitmore's profile is a clear-cut example of the type of player teams take chances on early in the draft. It's rare to see such a strong, athletic wing at his age - even if his feel and floor game need refinement. While Whitmore's archetype has the tendency to fail from time to time, the possibility of drafting the next Kawhi Leonard or Jaylen Brown is too enticing to pass up outside the very top of the board.

Bio

Position: Forward
School: Villanova
College Experience: Freshman
Height: 6-foot-7
Weight: 235 lbs
Wingspan: 6-foot-9
Max Vertical: 40.5 inches

2022-23 stats with Villanova

Strengths

• Powerful, explosive athlete with tremendous strength and bounce.
• Consistent catch-and-shoot jumper with good form.
• Uses frame to bully defenders near the basket and on the glass.
• The youngest projected lottery pick; won't turn 19 until after the draft.

Weaknesses

• Not a great playmaker for himself or others.
• Didn't always demonstrate tremendous basketball feel on both ends.
• Sometimes fails to put optimal defensive effort into every possession.
• Can improve his jump shot off the dribble and off of motion.

NBA comparable: Jaylen Brown. Whitmore's status as a big wing with a capable jumper and lack of natural playmaking skills mirrors the All-NBA second-teamer in many ways, as an evidently flawed player who's still extremely gifted.