Milwaukee Bucks NBA Draft Prospect Watch: Precious Achiuwa
What the experts say
ESPN [$] (Jonathan Givony): 12th
The Athletic [$] (Sam Vecenie): 15th
Sports Illustrated (Jeremy Woo): 23rd
Sporting News (Chris Stone): 14th
Bleacher Report (Jonathan Wassermann): 18th
The Ringer (Kevin O’Connor): 21st
Quotes:
Having placed him 23rd on his most recent Big Board, Woo detailed the skill, and feel for the game, concerns surrounding Achiuwa going into the next level, despite the production compiled throughout his lone season at Memphis:
"“From a productivity perspective, Achiuwa has had a strong freshman season, putting his physical tools to use on the glass and around the rim, and proving a surprisingly solid defensive presence playing center in James Wiseman’s absence. It’s probably his most natural position, although he still seems more interested in floating to the perimeter and moonlighting as a skill player, which has always been a concern. Achiuwa’s actual skill level and feel are often called into question, as he’s not a convincing shooter and often relies on drawing fouls with his strength and quickness. He fits the bill athletically, and could end up going higher than this. But there’s also reason to be skeptical.”"
Having projected him as a lottery pick in this class, ESPN’s Mike Schmitz ($) explained how Achiuwa was able to overcome his previous inconsistencies and star in a role that truly unlocked his versatility and potential at the next level:
"“Achiuwa entered college with a reputation for inconsistency — playing with energy, defending everyone and showing glimpses of skill one day, yet hunting shots, missing open teammates and looking lost defensively the next. He ultimately bought into a reliable role after James Wiseman’s departure, finishing the year averaging 15.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 1.9 blocks in 30.2 minutes. Although his skill set is still a work in progress, it’s easy to see Achiuwa’s role in the NBA as a modern big with the defensive versatility to guard all five positions.”"