The San Antonio Spurs are desperate for a little win to snap their 16-game losing streak. It appears they are back in some losing fashion though and therefore, back at the bottom of the standings. While some fans may be sad, others are excited for the NBA Draft lottery. And that should get you excited for the next prospect to watch in Villanova’s Cam Whitmore.
The 6-foot-7, 232-pound freshman has been a bit late this season with a wrist injury but has improved with each game. He has a strong body that absorbs contact and is super athletic. He has been the main reason why Villanova has resurged in recent weeks and is threatening to upset several teams in the Big East Tournament. Here are his stats through 23 games (before Big East Tournament play begins):
- 12.6 PPG, 1.4 SPG, 5.1 RPG, 0.7 APG
- 46.9 FG%, 34.7 3P%, 73.3 FT%
- 20.2 PER, 104.6 ORtg, 100.2 DRtg
Destruction of Cam Whitmore
Whitmore showed flashes of what makes him so proud coming into high school. He finishes above the rim and likes to throw down thunderous dunks. He plays with a ton of energy and that makes up for a lot of shortcomings, especially with his inconsistent shooting at times. With that being said, he has gotten better from beyond the arc and could be more reliable at the next level with more space around him.
Whitmore’s defensive rating doesn’t show it, but he could be a great defender at the next level. He can guard two or three positions with his long arms and strength to stay out of his spot. He usually finds himself in the right place at the right time where loose balls are concerned as well. He is a great rebounder who can rip and run with it in the open court.
19 points on 8-for-11 shooting and 10 rebounds tonight for Cam Whitmore,
Really showed his power/athleticism. In addition, the shot looks fine. pic.twitter.com/oECq6rJNQX
— Derek Parker (@DParkOK) March 9, 2023
While he doesn’t have an advanced handle, he’s fine in the open court. He also has enough change to catch a defender off guard at times. He needs to tighten that up if he’s to be trusted with the ball in his hands as a potential initiator though. His tantalizing speed and athleticism will get him drafted and likely in the top 10.
Stay tuned for more college basketball Project Spurs.