Anthony Davis: Comparing His Pro Scouting Report to His Collegiate Outlook

Will Anthony Davis come full circle? That's the question that defines his offensive ceiling. Coming out of Chicago, Anthony Davis' defensive skills were almost an ancillary fixation. The main draw was that this 6-foot-nine (in socks) kid possessed guard skills. He was rarely asked to flaunt these at Kentucky, but his high school tapes are replete with fadeaway three pointers and coast-to-coast finishes.

If Davis never flashes his offensive arsenal at the pro level, he could still be valuable. He rebounds well, but boards aren't his calling card. At 4.7 blocks per game (and only two fouls), he's just so good at defense, that he may not need much else to make All Star teams. 

So defense is the guarantee, the plank on which to build towards Anthony's ceiling. I personally believe he'll develop an offensive game on top of his defensive mastery. The kid has giant, dexterous hands, hands that can pluck the ball out from awkward angles behind his head. 

On the high pick and roll, Davis has already shown an impressive ability to finish with one-dribble drives towards the hoop. If he gets any space, it's a dive and a lay-in. In general, he has a supernaturally nice handle for a big man. 

While Anthony looked like a decent shooter in high school, there were concerns early in his Kentucky "career." But, near the end, he started to chuck with more fluidity. Davis shot only .150 from three last season, but he was three-of-eight on his final eight attempts (he shot 20 in all). The young string bean also delivered his long-twos with better form and success as the year went on. Below, you can view some of his more errant jumpers, before the evolution took hold. 

It wasn't just his shot, Anthony Davis started to develop a legitimate inside game. March Madness viewers were treated to a beautiful jump hook that Davis had rarely used prior to March. Perhaps that was the most encouraging sign in terms of Davis' offensive potential. He came into college with guard skills, and he's beginning to marry that with a big man's game. If it all comes together, we're looking at a Hall of Famer.