“Situational Evaluation” is a sequence of articles that seeks to look at the circumstances that the majority typically affect an NBA prospect’s success. Every participant shall be scored on a scale from 1-10 in 4 completely different classes: NBA-specific ability(s), deadly flaw(s), collegiate/abroad/pre-NBA setting, and very best NBA ecosystem.
Stephon Fortress is a 19-year-old combo guard from Covington, Georgia, who averaged 11.1 factors, 4.7 rebounds, and a pair of.9 assists for the nationwide champion Connecticut Huskies. He’s anticipated to be chosen within the lottery on this 12 months’s draft. NBADraft.internet at present has him projected at No. 4.
NBA-Particular Expertise
Successful basketball groups at any degree require a fragile steadiness of top-end scoring expertise and function gamers who present the connective tissue – fill gaps, take expenses, make further passes, dive for free balls, tip in offensive rebounds, and all the opposite non-box-score performs that result in victories.
So far as this 12 months’s potential “glue guys” go, Stephon Fortress’s recreation is a top-tier bottle of Elmer’s.
Fortress is a heady playmaker with a nervy, jittery change-of-pace recreation and above-average imaginative and prescient to seek out open shooters on his spinning forays into the lane. A loaded UConn squad didn’t lean on Fortress’s lead playmaking abilities fairly as typically as one other crew would have, however Fortress adjusted by discovering methods to maintain the ball transferring and the Huskies’ offense flowing. He posted a 2/1 help/turnover ratio as a freshman, main many to imagine he can assume a heavier on-ball workload, very similar to he did in highschool.
Fortress is a terrific finisher in site visitors and has the flexibility to slither his approach into the enamel of defenses, whereas sustaining considerably clear traces of sight. There’s a spontaneity and improvisatory component to Fortress’s recreation that retains defenses wrong-footed.
Fortress tasks as a plus defender on the following degree, as nicely, given his distinctive top/size/measurement (6-6, 215) from the guard place. He can credibly guard level guards by way of small forwards and may presumably add energy forwards to the combination as he continues to bodily mature. He already does an incredible job getting right into a defensive stance and digging into opposing ball handlers, whereas navigating by way of/round screens like a seasoned veteran.
It’s exhausting to check a situation the place Fortress doesn’t ultimately develop into a strong contributor to a playoff crew.
On a scale from 1-10, Fortress’s versatility charges at an 8.5.
Deadly Flaws
Fortress would possibly have the ability to shoot at some point, however that day just isn’t as we speak.
Fortress transformed on solely 26.7% of his 3-point makes an attempt final season – that’s 20 makes in 34 video games. A guard must both be a playmaking wizard, a Defensive Participant of the Yr candidate, or a Russell Westbrook-in-2016-level athlete to outlive these sorts of capturing percentages. After a tough first month, Fortress’s foul capturing numbers improved to 75.5%, so there’s hope that he can prolong his shot past the NBA 3-point line, however this growth is firmly in wait-and-see mode.
Fortress’s capability to create driving lanes will hinge completely on whether or not he can develop into a reputable capturing menace. It wasn’t till groups began to respect Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s perimeter shot that he grew to become an All-NBA First Staff candidate.
Fortress’s offensive recreation comes connected with a number of “ifs.” If he can deal with added playmaking/ball-handling duties … if he can begin pulling down 3s … if his man-to-man protection interprets to NBA athletes …
Within the NBA, there are “good tweeners” and “dangerous tweeners.” Good tweeners are versatile. They’re Swiss Military Knives. Dangerous tweeners – notably the “huge combo guard” selection – are a few of the most disappointing lottery picks in recent times. Fortress must convert these “ifs” into “for sures” if he hopes to seek out himself within the former class.
On a scale from 1 (not a priority) to 10 (severe hindrance), Fortress’s lack of a dependable jumper charges at a 9.
Pre-NBA Setting
Fortress arrived at UConn with a sterling highschool pedigree – stat-stuffing seasons for Newton Excessive College in Georgia, McDonald’s All-American standing, 5-star recruit, FIBA U-18 gold medalist.
A knee harm slowed him down for a number of weeks to begin the season, however Fortress closed robust, unanimously incomes Large East Freshman of the Yr standing and creating right into a key contributor in UConn’s nationwide title protection.
On a scale from 1-10, Fortress’s pre-NBA profession charges at a 9. Successful a nationwide title will do this for you.
Splendid NBA Ecosystem
Comparisons for Fortress vary from Andre Iguodala on the extraordinarily optimistic facet, and Jarrett Culver on the extra pessimistic facet. However given this draft’s lack of franchise-altering expertise, Fortress will probably hear his title referred to as within the prime half of the lottery.
May the Atlanta Hawks roll the cube on him at No. 1 total? If Atlanta’s braintrust isn’t in love with the extra upside-oriented prospects, Fortress makes a ton of sense on a defensively challenged roster in want of high-IQ ball movers – notably if both Tre Younger and/or Dejounte Murray are shipped elsewhere. It might sound loopy to spend the No. 1 total decide on a glue-guy guard with sub-30% 3-point capturing stats, however Fortress would be a part of the Hawks with an outlined function and a number of other optimistic NBA attributes on Day 1.
In reality, every crew drafting within the top-five might use Fortress, notably the playmaker-starved San Antonio Spurs – a franchise with a wonderful monitor file of turning so-so shooters into above-average ones. It appears unlikely that Fortress would drop beneath the Hornets at No. 6, as they’ve wanted to usher in further playmaking assist to ease LaMelo Ball’s burden for the reason that day Ball arrived in Charlotte.
On a scale from 1-10, Fortress’s situational independence is an 8.5. Fortress brings 90% of a perfect NBA function participant’s profile to any franchise – however a crew that may train him that final 10% (jumper) might flip him right into a borderline All-Star.
