D’Vauntes Smith Rivera

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Seton Hall 82, Georgetown 67

Thursday, February 20, 2014 | Prudential Center (Newark, NJ)

D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera — SG, 6-3, 220
Sophomore, 21 years old
(apostrophe in “D’Vauntes” does not display in tab header due to formatting glitch)

Season (35 mpg): 17 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 2.8 APG
45% FG (11.5 attempts), 40% three-point, 87% FT

Game: 20 points, 3 assists, 1 rebound
8-14 FG, 3-3 three-point

Outlook: A 2012 top-100 recruit out of Oak Hill Academy, Smith-Rivera is a 6-3 shooting guard with extraordinary strength for the position. Even at 6-3, he can get anywhere on the court due to a tight handle and 220-pound frame. He’s a combo guard offensively, capable of playing anywhere on the perimeter. Smooth off the dribble, or executing (passing, cutting through) Georgetown’s patient deliberate half court sets. Smith-Rivera leverages his strength on the boards, averaging 4.5 RPG, and as mentioned he can hit open guys in their spots. This lends credence to a high basketball IQ.

All that being said, Smith-Rivera isn’t a great athlete (vertically or length-wise). More importantly, though, he’s nearing the point where he can’t overpower the opponents. It’s one thing if your strength augments your on-court skills. It’s entirely different if, at 6-3, the foundation of your game is out-muscling the opponent. Smith-Rivera’s lack of size and quickness makes it incredibly arduous for him to execute his best skill — scoring the basketball.

Still, he’s only a sophomore, and he excels in the most essential set in basketball: the pick and roll. Smith-Rivera is scoring an effective .96 points per P-n-R attempt, where he uses crafty ball skills and a pure jumper. He reads screens very well, and attacks at the opportune moment. Smith-Rivera is capable from 3 (40%), but his size and lack of vertical athleticism hinder his ability to finish at the basket.

Smith-Rivera lacks a defensive identity as well. At 6-3 and lacking the requisite quickness to stay with NBA guards, I would anticipate him struggling to defend at the next level.

Strengths
— Strong guard to create space and get into the lane (“linebacker build”)
— Polished jump shot (41%, 1.03 PPP) and from mid-range (42%)
— Can shoot with his feet set (42%), or off the dribble (42%)
— Uses strong frame to rebound through traffic

Defects/Areas of Improvement
— Limited athleticism, short arms, expends a lot of energy trying to create space
— 75% of attempts are jump shots; only 20% around the basket (average finisher)
— Relies on strength to impact game; will only take him so far, especially as the competition matches his physical ability (already happening)
— Undefined position on both sides of the court
— Doesn’t specialize in any aspect; can’t see him cracking an NBA rotation at this point…

Video

Video: Recent Scoring

Video: Misses (8-14 FG)

Video: Pick and Roll scoring

— 16% of offense, posting .96 points per pick and roll attempt. Can dribble off the pick, or go away from it. Crafty and strong with the ball.

Video: Finishing Struggles

— Only 20% of attempts. Lack of size and athleticism apparent here.

Video: Shooting off the Dribble

— Fluid off the dribble. 39-93 on such attempts this season (42%)