Scouting Reports: Ayo Dosunmu, Matthew Mayer, Chris Smith, Trey Murphy III, Marcus Bagley
2021 NBA Draft Scouting Reports
Every week I’m rolling out in-depth scouting reports on the top prospects in the 2021 NBA Draft.
The full scouting reports are only accessible to paying subscribers. Each report goes in-depth on player strengths, weaknesses, statistical strengths and weaknesses, and rank key player attributes for each player.
This week I tackle Illinois’ Ayo Dosunmu, Baylor’s Matthew Mayer, UCLA’s Chris Smith, Virginia’s Trey Murphy III and Arizona State’s Marcus Bagley. Below is a free excerpt from each scouting report.
AYO DOSUNMU
G, ILLINOIS, JUNIOR
Age 21.4 | 6'5" | 185 |
Birthdate: Jan. 17, 2000
Primary Values: Motor, speed, scoring
Bottom line: Dosunmu is another polarizing prospect. Scouts that like him point to intangibles: his energy and his success on the court. They see a sixth-man type of energy player who does whatever it takes to win. Scouts that are more skeptical wonder what position he’ll play in the NBA. He’s got good size for a point guard but might not have the instincts or quickness to excel at the 1. His questionable jumper and below-average finishing skills make him a question mark at the 2. He could go anywhere from the early 20s to the late 30s.
Read the FULL SCOUTING REPORT on Ayo Dosunmu here
MATTHEW MAYER
F, BAYLOR, JUNIOR
Age 21.9 | 6'9" | 225 |
Birthdate: Sept. 23, 1999
Primary Values: Shooting, defensive versatility
Bottom line: NBA teams have to project a guy who never started a game at Baylor in three seasons. But what Mayer did in his limited minutes feels highly translatable to the NBA. His deep range on his jumper, ability to finish above the rim, fearlessness on both ends and high steal rate all point to a very interesting 3-and-D prospect who has been hiding in plain sight. He projects to be drafted anywhere from the early 20s to late 30s.
Read the FULL SCOUTING REPORT on Matthew Mayer here
CHRIS SMITH
W, UCLA, SENIOR
Age 21.4 | 6'9" | 220 | Wingspan: 7’1”
Birthdate: Dec. 24, 1999
Primary Values: Shooting, versatility
Bottom line: Smith has all the tools NBA teams are looking for in a 3-and-D wing. He has length, athleticism and a smooth jump shot and he can defend three positions on the floor. He’s still recovering from a torn ACL in late December and most likely won’t be ready to play until 2022. Combine that with a worry about how hard he plays and his lack of strength and he’s far from a sure thing. But on sheer upside, he’s one of the best prospects in the second half of the first round.
Read the FULL SCOUTING REPORT on Chris Smith here
TREY MURPHY III
WING, VIRGINIA, JUNIOR
Age 20.9 | 6'9" | 206 |
Birthdate: June 18, 2000
Primary Values: Shooting, size for position
Bottom line: Murphy can make the argument that he, not Corey Kispert, is the best shooter in this draft. His huge growth spurt the past few years intrigues the scouts who think that -- especially as he gets more comfortable with his body -- he can be a 3-and-D player in the mold of Mikal Bridges. On sheer upside, he should be ranked considerably higher. But his stock is trending toward the late first round or early second round because of concerns about whether he’ll be more than just an elite shooter and solid defender. But with great workouts, he could be a sleeper who climbs significantly higher by draft night.
Read the FULL SCOUTING REPORT on Trey Murphy III here
MARCUS BAGLEY
F, ARIZONA STATE, FRESHMAN
Age 19.8 | 6'8" | 215 |
Birthdate: October 23, 2001
Primary Values: Scoring, versatility
Bottom line: Bagley has some similarities to his older brother, Marvin Bagley III of the Sacramento Kings, particularly in his scoring abilities at his size. The younger Bagley is an athletic forward who can guard both 3s and 4s, scores in a variety of ways and projects as a potential 3-and-D prospect at the next level. The limited sample from his 12 games of college play and his lack of statistical strong suits create concern. He’s more of a project than anything else right now, but the combination of size, athleticism and scoring ability make him an intriguing late first-round or early second-round prospect.
Read the FULL SCOUTING REPORT on Marcus Bagley here
You can find the full collection of 2021 NBA Draft Scouting Reports here