NBA Draft Insider

College: North Carolina

Birthday: 01/17/1990

NBA Position: C

Class: Senior

Ht: 7-0

Wt: 250

Hometown: Washington, IN

High School: Washington High

Ceiling: Marcin Gortat

Basement: 

NBA Comparison: Omer Asik

Strengths:

• Smooth, Mobile Big
• Basketball IQ
• Skilled Post Player
• Good Shooter
• Good Hands

Weaknesses:

• Strength
• Athleticism

Analysis:

05/06/2012

Tyler Zeller finished up his four years and hired agent Jeff Schwartz as he enters his NBA career.

During his four years at North Carolina Zeller improved his game each year. He is not an elite level offensive or defensive player, but does just about everything at a high level.

On offense Zeller is a very skilled player with either hand. He has shown the ability to finish with both his left and right hands in traffic as we as a few feet from the basket. Zeller can also step out to about 15 feet with consistency to shoot the mid-range jumper. He is not a three point shooter, but has a fluid stroke to where he could develop that part of his game.

Zeller is going to make his mark on the defensive end and in the paint. He is a very smart player that plays angles and positions well. He has the aptitude to be a very good man-to-man defender. In the paint he has very good footwork on the defensive end and enough strength to keep his man in-front of him.

On the glass Zeller is complete as a rebounder. He gets on the offensive glass as well as the defensive. Zeller averaged 3.8 offensive RPG all while playing in a fast paced, NBA style game with another elite rebounder in John Henson playing right next to him.

What makes Zeller an NBA prospect is his ability to run the floor. He is a very good rebounder on each end of the floor, a tough defender, and he gets up-and-down the floor like a guard. That trait will translate to the NBA right away allowing Zeller to make an impact as a veteran, experienced prospect. Zeller is the highest rated senior in the class and an example of how four years in college can make a prospect seasoned and ready for the NBA.

As of today Zeller is the No. 3 center, No. 9 on the Big Board, and going No. 11 Overall in the Mock Draft.

02/15/2012

Zeller is a mobile center that is another legit 7-0. On offense Zeller has improved a lot over the course of four years. He is nearly a double-double every night thanks to his ability to get offensive rebounds. Zeller is very active on both ends of the floor doing everything good. He is not elite at one thing specifically, but can do a little bit of everything.

Over the course of four years Zeller has become a valuable basketball player on both ends of the floor. Specifically from last year to this year Zeller has become a more efficient player this year. In two less minutes a game he is averaging two more points and rebounds this season.

The older Zeller is probably a finished product at this point. Strength and polish in the paint still have room to improve, but that is about it. Zeller is a talented mobile big that really gets up and down the court. His toughness will be tested in paint at the next level.

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