NBA Draft 2018 Prospect Watch: Keita Bates-Diop

Strengths

Being able to slot in at either forward spot, the versatility Bates-Diop projects to offer comes at the right time for the now-former Buckeye, considering where the game is trending.

With his great size (6’7″) and long, rangy wingspan (7’3″), Bates-Diop utilized his physical advantages on the offensive end, whether that was scoring over the top of defenders from mid-range or posting up his matchup down low and finishing around the basket using his deft touch.

Being able to space the floor effectively was also a featured element in his offensive repertoire as well, seeing that he knocked down 35.9 percent on 5.4 three-point attempts per game this season.

On the defensive end, Bates-Diop possesses the length to block shots at the rim and certainly stands as a savvy defender, in terms of defending within his team’s scheme.

Along with that, Bates-Diop has long been a willing and effective rebounder on that end, considering he registered a 20.2 defensive rebounding percentage over his four years at Ohio State, per Sports-Reference.com.