Head-to-Toe Breakdown of Final 4 Star Frank Kaminsky

Frank Kaminsky stands at 7'0" tall and over 230 pounds. He can drive the lane and step back and hit the three. This sort of inside-outside swing makes him a matchup nightmare on the college level.

His 29-point outburst in the Elite Eight against Arizona was as impressive as they come. So far in the NCAA tournament Kaminsky has averaged 22.75 points per game. He’s shooting 86 percent from the free-throw line and 70 percent from three. Throw in the 52 percent from the field and 8.25 rebounds per game and he’s heading straight toward an MOP.

First, he’s got to get by Kentucky in the Final Four.

Here’s a closer look at Kaminsky, a future first-round NBA pick and maybe the best player in all of college basketball.

Strengths: Size for position and shooting for size

Seven-footers don’t grow on trees; they are the trees, and Kaminsky uses his size to create favorable matchups near the basket and far away.

Because of his height, Kaminsky receives the ball on the low block in such a way that he can back his way to the hoop or slip past for an up-and-under. The first 30 seconds of the following video illustrate his inside game very well.

Kaminsky can also shoot the three. He made 39 three-point shots this year at an efficient .415 percent. That’s solid for a guard, let alone a player whose physical attributes suggest he’d be more at home in the paint.

At the 19-second mark in in the following video, watch Kaminsky catch and shoot from the wing. It also shows his moves in the paint and his ability to defend.

Kaminsky shined in Wisconsin's offense since so many of its players are asked to be jacks-of-all-trades, not just post players or three-point shooters. Kaminsky embodied that versatility, and that could be what makes him a decent NBA center or power forward.

Marc Tracy and Zach Schonburn of the New York Times wrote:

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The point guard may bring the ball up and the big man may frequently start plays down low, but through a series of cuts, passes and moves without the ball, they are just as likely to end the play switched. Big men must be able to shoot; point guards must be able to field the ball in the low post.

In an ideal world, [Wisconsin head coach Bo] Ryan would have five 7-foot players with low-post moves, yet also with a wing player’s ability to drive and take outside shots, and a guard’s court vision. This year, he has had to make do with only one.

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At this level of basketball, Kaminsky creates havoc for opposing defenses. How will he perform at the NBA level? That’s not entirely clear, and success is far from a guarantee.

Weakness: Average Wingspan, Defense, Lacks Explosiveness

For all his size and his shooting touch, Kaminsky’s defense is suspect. If he spends more of his time near the arc, at least he’ll be that much closer to defending his own goal.

It’s also not uncommon for him to lose track of the ball, thus allowing quick guards and forwards to slash past him to the hoop.

Kurtis Hardy of Dairyland Express wrote, “Scouts also key on what they call a lack of explosiveness, which is a nice way to say slow. This is what truly worries NBA teams, as it leads to only average rebounding, and defensive struggles away from the hoop.”

Then there’s Oregon’s Dillon Brooks doing this to him:

That’s not encouraging. Brooks is six inches shorter than Kaminsky and made the Tank look like a Revolutionary War-era cannon.

Because Kaminsky is slow, he compensates by playing off the ball. In Mike Schmitz’s Draft Express video, he illustrates how far off the ball Kaminsky will play when deciding whether to challenge the point guard or not (6:40 mark). It leaves him vulnerable to pull-up jumpers. His short wingspan means he can’t lay back and get a hand in the face of the shooter.

NBA Player Comparison: Dirk Nowitzki, Brad Miller

At first glance, Kaminsky shares a lot in common with Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki. Both are 7'0" tall. Both weigh in the 230s. Both shoot exceptionally well for big men.

ESPN’s Dan Dakich mentioned that Kaminsky was more like Brad Miller, a player who is also 7'0" tall but weighed 261 pounds, 20 more pounds than Kaminsky. Miller never shot the three but had a solid mid-range jumper. 

Kaminsky bears resemblance to Andrea Bargani with more athleticism. 

NBA Outlook

For Kaminsky to thrive in the NBA, he’ll have to shoot the three because he lacks the athleticism to do much else. Kaminsky can’t handle Anthony Davis or Chris Bosh.

Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman wrote:

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One of the big takeaways from Kaminsky's breakout senior year: The shooting stroke he flashed last season doesn't appear to be a fluke. He's sinking 1.6 three-pointers a game at a 41.9 percent clip. Obviously, there's more to his game than just shooting, but Kaminsky isn't going anywhere without a reliable jump shot. And it's looked even more convincing to start the 2014-15 season. 

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Wassmerman has Kaminsky slotted as a late lottery pick or middle of the first round. Kaminsky isn’t backing anybody down in the NBA, but his height and deft touch away from the basket could be a unique combination that could unlock a greater potential in the league for the next 10 years.

Wasserman wrote, "If he can continue improving his offensive fluidity while maintaining his sweet outside stroke, you're not going to see too many teams let Kaminsky slip by once all the upside prizes are off the board. There's just too much value tied to his particular skill set in today's NBA game."