Tony Wroten Jr.: Highlights, Analysis and Pro Projections

Tony Wroten Jr. is an ultra-talented combo guard headed for the NBA, but I believe he needed at least another year in school for his game to take shape. He helped lead the Washington Huskies to the NIT Final Four, but his game has some glaring holes.

Wroten Jr. had a very promising first year at Washington, earning Pac-12 Freshman of the Year honors. He averaged 16 points, five rebounds and 3.7 assists per game.

To say his athletic gifts were somewhat expected would be an understatement.

Wroten's father played in the NFL for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, his mother was one of the greatest track stars in University of Washington history, his aunt Joyce Walker was a star basketball player at Louisiana Tech, and only the third women to play for the Harlem Globetrotters, and he's cousins with Golden State Warriors guard Nate Robinson.

With that lineage, it seems Wroten was destined for athletic achievement.

Wroten Jr. made himself eligible for the draft on April 3.

With his 6'5", 200-pound frame and his playmaking ability, Wroten Jr. is an interesting prospect. He would have made his transition into the NBA much smoother if he went back to Washington for at least another year.

Still, he has some undeniable qualities.

Here is a scouting report on Wroten Jr., highlighting his strengths and weaknesses. 

(Height, weight and stats per statsheet.com)

Profile

Height: 6'5"

Weight: 205 pounds 

School: Washington

Date of Birth: April 13, 1993

Best NBA Position: Point Guard

College Stats: (Key Stats Underlined) 16 PPG, 30 MPG, 44.3 FG%, 16.1 3FG%, 58.3 FT%, 3.7  APG, 5 RPG, 0.4 BPG, 1.9 SPG

Skill Grades

Athleticism - B+

Size - A+

Intangibles - A

Rebounding - A

Ball Handling - B+

Defense - B

Shooting - D-

Passing - B+ 

Post Game - C+

Basketball IQ - B-

Upside - A+

Strengths

Wroten Jr. is a legit point guard prospect with elite size for the position. He is powerfully built, and could end up around 220 pounds of solid muscle. He has a professional's pedigree due to the tons of athletic success in his family. This kid has been destined for professional sports.

Because of his size, strength and willingness to go inside, he is a solid rebounder. He has great vision and great change-of-direction moves off-the-dribble.

He finishes strong at the basket, and plays through contact very well. Though he isn't an elite athlete, he has sneaky quickness in his first step, and he instinctively plays at different speeds.

The hesitations and stutter-step moves make him a tough cover off-the-dribble.

Take a look at the unique skills of Wroten Jr.:

Weaknesses

Wroten is a horrendous shooter at this point. The 16 percent three-point shooting is only bested in futility by the 58 percent free-throw shooting. This simply has to improve as it exposes the lesser weaknesses in his game.

The lack of extreme explosiveness would not be as visible if he could keep defenders honest with the jump shot. Right now, you can give Wroten Jr. tons of room and force him to make a shot from distance.

At times, he can play a little out of control. I also link this to the lack of shooting accuracy. With limited options off-the-dribble, he has to get to the basket to make a play. Thus, he forces the issue at times and this leads to turnovers, of which he averaged 3.8 per game this past season.

Wroten also has to show more effort on defense, right now he only plays the passing lanes.

Wroten Jr. just turned 19 years old, so he has time to improve and get the most out of his talent. If he works on his shooting, things will fall into place nicely.

NBA Player Comparison

James Harden Without a Jump Shot

James Harden is the reigning Sixth Man of the Year, and one of the best 2-guards in the NBA. Though he is known as a scorer, he is a very good ball handler and passer. I personally believe he is the Thunder's best passer.

At 6'5" and 220 pounds, he and Wroten Jr. are almost identical in size and both are left-handed. Harden is a good athlete, but not a freak, which is also similar to Wroten Jr.

Harden's scoring and assist totals have increased in each of his three seasons in the NBA. This past regular season Harden averaged 16.8 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists from the 2-guard position.

I think ultimately Wroten could have this type of production

The thing that will hold him back initially is his shooting. Harden is a 39 percent three-point shooter and he's an 84 percent free-throw shooter. These two areas account for tons of production and offensive options.

Harden is a better defender, as he's more willing to body-up on his man. This is something Wroten Jr. must do as well to become a complete player.

If Wroten Jr. can improve in these areas, he can maximize on his potential.

Draft Projection

Mid- to Late-First Round

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