2020 NBA draft profile: Tyrese Maxey

Guard

Kentucky

OVERVIEW

Maxey was rated the 10th overall recruit in the 2019 class by Rivals and
247Sports and now projects as a borderline lottery pick.

The combo guard averaged 14 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game for
a Kentucky team that was ranked in the top 10 nationally before the NCAA
Tournament was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

He possesses a sturdy 6-foot-3, 198-pound frame with a 6-foot-6 wingspan.

ANALYSIS

Maxey is a creative scorer, especially while attacking the basket or shooting
a floater in the lane.

Though evaluators like Maxey's jumper mechanics, that did not translate to an
efficient season from the floor at Kentucky. He shot 29.2 percent on 3.6
3-point attempts per game, and 42.7 percent overall. His 83.3 free-throw
percentage, however, yields optimism about his shooting potential.

Maxey is quick, but not necessarily explosive. He also lacks natural
point-guard traits such as a tight handle or superior playmaking vision. He
averaged 2.2 turnovers per game as a high-usage guard this past season.

Maxey is a tenacious, physical defender on and off the ball. He is also a
solid rebounder from the guard spot.

Maxey also appears to have the ability to thrive in pressure-packed moments in
big environments. He dropped 26 points against Michigan State at Madison
Square Garden in his college debut. That he did not get to play on the NCAA
Tournament stage was a missed opportunity to raise his profile.

He projects as a combo guard rather than a lead ballhandler and could fit the
mold of a sixth man who can provide an immediate offensive burst.

Projection: First round pick

--Field Level Media