NBA Draft Insider

College: Washington

Birthday: 04/14/1993

NBA Position: PG

Class: Freshman

Ht: 6-5

Wt: 204

Hometown: Seattle, WA

High School: Garfield High School

Ceiling: Dwayne Wade

Basement: Randy Foye

NBA Comparison: Rodney Stuckey

Strengths:

• Athletic
• Quick
• Elite Top End Speed
• Long
• Creative, Willing Passer
• Creates Turnovers
• Rebounds Position

Weaknesses:

• Decision-Making
• Free-Throw Shooting
• Inconsistent Shooter
• Tweener; PG or SG

Analysis:

05/13/2012

Washington freshman guard Anthony “Tony” Wroten has declared for the NBA Draft signing with agent Greg Lawrence.

Wroten is an elite athlete with well above average size for the point guard position. As a 6-5 play-maker he is an archetype that is in short supply. He is an elite passer and play-maker in the open court with the ball in his hands. In high school Wroten was an elite track star, quality football player, and one of the best basketball players in the country.

During Wroten’s freshman year he had his ups-and-downs. He was the PAC-12 Freshman of the Year, was the third leading scorer (16.7), second in steals (1.9), and attempted the second most free-throws in the conference as a freshman. Wroten was also the Nation’s second leading scorer as a freshman above potential lottery picks Anthony Davis, Bradley Beal, Andre Drummond, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, and Austin Rivers.

Throughout the season Wroten was a defensive liability to say it lightly. He totaled a lot of steals by taking risks, but in general was a poor defender all year. Wroten has the tools to be an elite defender and rebounder for his position.

Outside of his defensive deficiencies, that have the potential of becoming an elite skill, Wroten is not a good shooter. On the season Wroten shot the ball 16.1% from three (9-56) and 44.3% overall from the field. His two-point field goal shooting was at 48.3% showing when attacking the rim he can be an efficient scorer. More concerning was his stroke from the line where he got to more often than most, he shot 58.3% from the line.

Coach-ability has been something that has not been associated with Wroten. Aside from his defensive and shooting deficiencies, he is going to need a coach that can teach and get to him. That will be an important part of his development at the next level. With Wroten’s up-and-down, all or nothing, and even trick-or-treat nature he has a lot to go to become a consistent NBA point guard. The point guard position is easily the hardest to learn coming from college to the NBA. Wroten’s elite athleticism will smooth out the transition, but decision making and leadership have tough learning curves.

Today Wroten is the No. 3 point guard, is going No. 19 Overall in the Mock Draft, and the No. 20 prospect on the Big Board.

02/15/2012

Wroten is a big, long point guard prospect in his first year at Washington. In this first season he has displayed most of the good that he brings to the table. As a point guard he has terrific vision and can make some incredible passes. He is a natural point guard, but has taken on more of a scorer’s role this season. With all his physical tools Wroten has the ability to be an elite rebounder and defender for his position.

The reason Wroten has taken more of a scorer’s role this year is because he has been erratic at best as a play-maker. A lot of times he is looking to make the flashy pass instead of the simple pass. He has had a high turnover rate this year leading to the question of whether he is better served as a point guard or a shooting guard?

The physical tools are there for Wroten and when I watch him play he looks to have a modest ceiling. In the end he could be anywhere from Tyreke Evans to Dwayne Wade, but his erratic play and bad decision-making could land him closer to a being another combo guard lost on an NBA bench.

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