Among the youngest players in this 2023 vintage, since he was born in July 2004 and will therefore only be 19 this summer, Cam Whitmore is Villanova’s first one-and-done since Tim Thomas in 1997.
Author of a satisfactory “freshman” season with the Wildcats, which started, not without turbulence, Year I of the post-Jay Wright era under the leadership of Kyle Neptune, the native winger from Maryland is indeed quite made ready to make the transition to the NBA from the start of the school year, despite his young age.
Physically and athletically already, with a profile calibrated for the Great League, but technically also, with a “skillset” still incomplete obviously, but certainly promising.
In a relatively open 2023 Draft outside the Top 2, the young winger, voted best “freshman” in the Big East conference, thus has arguments to make to be considered the third biggest talent of the term vintage. It’s a diamond in the rough whose development will take place over the long term, and will therefore greatly depend on the environment in which it lands on the evening of the Draft, but it is full of potential.
Profile
Job : Winger
Size : 2m01
Weight : 105kg
Crew : Villanova Wildcats
Stats 2022/23: 12.5 points (47.8% shooting), 5.3 rebounds
Strong points
– Physical and athletic qualities. Apart from perhaps Victor Wembanyama and his “superhuman” physical profile, as Kristaps Porzingis said, no other player projected into the “lottery” this year stands out more for his physical and athletic qualities than Cam Whitmore. Tall without being a giant for a player of his position (2m01), Cam Whitmore is above all a mountain of muscles, in addition to being mounted on springs. Powerful with very broad shoulders, it is a heavyweight that takes off very high, and impresses with its “hangtime”. In the NCAA this season, his physical and athletic qualities have allowed him to be a very comfortable finisher in the circle. In the NBA, when he started out, it will probably be the same, while his intermediate game (mid-range, shot creation) and his outside shot will surely experience a slightly slower transition.
– Good defensive potential. If he struggles at times in reading the game in defense, because of the inexperience linked to his young age, Cam Whitmore still presents a certain defensive potential with his physical profile. On the upper body, he can absorb the physical impact of the “drives” without exploding on contact, while on the lower body his supports are rather reactive, even if he is laterally quite slow, since he is very heavy. In short, the physical tools are there and the physical profile suggests a positive defensive impact at the higher level. But for that, he will have to progress in the reading of the game.
Weak points
– Playmaking. This is currently a big black spot in Cam Whitmore’s game. Naturally attracted to the circle, he is actually not capable, at present, of becoming a facilitator, on the half-court in particular. His very weak passing average this season is quite worrying (0.8), although being surrounded by the best playmakers and forwards in the NBA should help him progress in the role of creator. Especially since the boy is of good will, and has a collective spirit.
– What variations in attack? As things stand, Cam Whitmore presents a very simple “shot-cart”: he finishes with ease in the circle or shoots behind the arc, with relative efficiency (34.3% on 4.2 shots/game this season). But between the two… it’s a bit of nothingness. At mid-distance in particular, where his presence was very limited this season, if not non-existent. An observation which is explained above all by technical limits: his dribbling is currently not very sharp, and therefore does not allow him to calmly opt for “pull-up” shots. The good news is that it works. Especially since his mechanics behind the arc are rather convincing, and suggest that he will eventually be able to reproduce these shots in the intermediate zone.
Comparison
A profile at Miles Bridgesfor athletic qualities and physical power.
Prognosis
In the Top 5. He could be a surprise candidate for the Blazers’ 3rd pick, but looks more promised, and more realistically, as the 4th or 5th pick, in Houston or Detroit.
