Kentucky Basketball: Revisiting Tyler Ulis' High School Scouting Report

We all know what type of player Tyler Ulis is, as he enters his sophomore season at the University of Kentucky, but what was expected of him before he reached the collegiate level? 

The Ohio native was one of many highly touted recruits to enter Lexington last season, and because of the wide range of talent on the roster, Ulis was not able to fully live up to his high school scouting report. 

Now that he is seen as a leader on the young Kentucky team as a sophomore, he will have a chance to grow into the all-around player he is expected to be. 

Before we look at what to expect specifically from his sophomore season, let's look back at his high school scouting report and see what areas he has improved in over the last year and a half. 

Scouting Reports

Ulis was given a 0.9918 on 247sports.com's composite ranking, which equates to a 5-star recruit. He was ranked as the No. 3 point guard in the nation and the 19th best player in the country. 

When describing Ulis' game, Eric Bossi of Yahoo! Sports said: 

"Lacks size but plays the point guard position without fear. A natural leader who has a good feel for when to attack, when to pull back and when to turn into a jump-shooter. Will obviously need to add strength, but moves feet very well and has quick hands on defense." 

Handling of the Point Guard Position

Ulis impressed during his time at the point for Kentucky last season. He led the Wildcats in assists with 3.6 per game, and he contributed one steal per contest on the defensive end of the court. 

The scouting report was 100 percent correct about his ability to play the position without fear. Few freshmen are able to step into a limited role like he had and attain the level of success Ulis reached. 

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

While 23.8 minutes per game seems like a lot for a freshman to play, Ulis' total could have been much higher had he not entered Kentucky alongside a bevy of 5-star prospects. 

Two of Ulis' best games of the 2014-15 campaign came against ranked opposition. Against then-No. 4 Louisville on December 27, Ulis produced 14 points in 26 minutes. In the SEC contest versus then-No. 18 Arkansas, the guard contributed 14 points and three assists. By showing up in two big games, Ulis showed that he can become the big-game player Kentucky will need him to be this season.

However, there is still some work left to do for Ulis, since he only scored 20 points in the Wildcats' final four NCAA Tournament games. 

Natural Leader With Good Feel 

Ulis' leadership potential wasn't tested too much throughout his freshman year, since he was surrounded by other first-year players that took on that particular role. 

However, Ulis did exhibit a strong feel for the game from his point guard position. His ability to attack and pull back handed the Wildcats a good amount of flexibility in the backcourt. 

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Outside of his assist total, Ulis' production from beyond the arc was arguably his best statistic. His 42.9 percentage from downtown was the best on the team. Devin Booker was a close second at 41.1 percent. 

Based off his freshman season, we can assume Ulis has little issue with the feel of the game, but he will receive a bigger test in regard to leadership during the 2015-16 season. If he can bank on his experience and lead the Wildcats back to the Final Four, Ulis could be set for a high spot in the 2016 NBA Draft. 

Strength

Ulis was listed by Kentucky's athletic website as 5'9" and 155 pounds for his freshman season, which wasn't a massive upgrade from his high school days. 

If Ulis wants to thrive at the next level, he will have to add some more muscle over the next 12 months. If he develops the extra strength, Ulis will be able to compete with the best guards in the NBA right away. 

Timothy D. Easley/Associated Press

The good news for Ulis is that he does have the skill set already in place on the defensive end that will help him grow as a player. With Booker and the Harrison twins now gone, Ulis will be asked to boost his total of one steal per game from last season. If he can add to his numbers from last season, as well as limit his turnovers, he will become an intriguing guard prospect to most professional teams. 

Sometimes it is more important to have the skills in place before gaining strength, and that is the case with Ulis. The added muscle and body discipline can be taught, which means Ulis should be fine if his upward trajectory continues as expected. 

Ulis contains most of the same skills that were listed on his scouting reports. The key for the guard this year will be to display his leadership ability early and often. As we said, the extra strength will come with time, but if he is not able to add the intangible leadership to his list of impressive qualities, it may end up hurting him at the next level.