Malcolm Hill Draft Stock

[Calvin]

Should be fun to see if Malcolm can be the next Illini in the pros. I've seen him in the discussion for the 2017 draft, although he's definitely not a consensus guy or first rounder.

IMHO

His natural position would be the 2/3. He size is good for the 2, but he's undersized as a 3, which would be his best position from a skill standpoint.

Strength is quite good. He's able to finish with contact.

Versatility is quite good --his time in college has been demanding in terms of positional skill, which should benefit him.

People have said his athleticism is below average for an NBA player. I would say that he's below average for a lottery player, and maybe slightly below average for a first rounder. Reason I make this distinction is that his body control, hands, shooting, are all solid --it's lateral movement, quickness and explosiveness that seem slow by NBA standards.

Scoring. This is what would get him to the league. He can score at all three levels, makes his FTs, and should be a guy whose hands we'll want the ball in when we need a score. His ability to create space and get off his shot has improved, and to me, that's a hallmark of guys who make it to the league.

As much as I like what I've seen, we've played absolutely nobody. He'll play some real competition a few times in the non-conf, and of course get a steady diet of it during the conference slate.

 

[Second and Chalmers]

Kyle Anderson of the Spurs feels like a good comp. Anderson is probably a better passer, but with his added strength Hill might be a somewhat better defender.

If Hill can be a reliable 3-point shooter I think he can find a spot in the NBA. He's just a natural getter of buckets.

 

[BlindLoyalty]

If Hill makes it to the NBA it will have to be as a role player/specialist. As such, he needs a singular elite skill (shooting, defending, rebounding, etc). Currently, I do not see this one elite skill. Hill is a high usage scorer, not a shooter. He is a below average NBA athlete, that creates off the dribble to get his points (so far not a catch and shoot guy). However, he has a shot b/c there are some really terrible NBA teams with awful rosters.

Off the top of my head my comp for Hill would be former West Virgina player Da'Sean Butler.




Here is his DraftExpress has to say:

Hill isn't blessed with elite physical tools, measured just 6'5 ½ in shoes with a fairly pedestrian 6'8 ½ wingspan for a small forward. He's not an exceptional athlete on top of that, lacking overwhelming quickness or explosiveness, but brings strong versatility, competitiveness and intelligence to help compensate.

 

[Illinoy]

Kyle Anderson of the Spurs feels like a good comp. Anderson is probably a better passer, but with his added strength Hill might be a somewhat better defender.

If Hill can be a reliable 3-point shooter I think he can find a spot in the NBA. He's just a natural getter of buckets.

Anderson is 6'9" with a 7'3" wingspan and is considered a point forward.

Best case scenario and comparison for Malcolm is Jared Dudley. That guy that has managed to carve out a niche in the nba with pure aptitude and work ethic.

 

[Second and Chalmers]

Anderson is 6'9" with a 7'3" wingspan and is considered a point forward.

Best case scenario and comparison for Malcolm is Jared Dudley. That guy that has managed to carve out a niche in the nba with pure aptitude and work ethic.

Jared Dudley is better than Kyle Anderson.

Dudley totally transformed his game after he left BC. He was more of a big in college and transitioned into being a 3-point specialist.

I guess theoretically Hill could do the same, but it's his herky-jerky scoring ability that's comparable to Anderson.

The common factor with Dudley is just being a very productive 4-year college player, and hopefully having a monster senior year as Dudley did.

 

[Illinoy]

Jared Dudley is better than Kyle Anderson.

Dudley totally transformed his game after he left BC. He was more of a big in college and transitioned into being a 3-point specialist.

I guess theoretically Hill could do the same, but it's his herky-jerky scoring ability that's comparable to Anderson.

The common factor with Dudley is just being a very productive 4-year college player, and hopefully having a monster senior year as Dudley did.

You do know that Kyle Anderson is considered to be smooth and just not explosive right? Dudley and Malcolm are A LOT alike at the same points of their careers. Both like to post up smaller players and bump them to create space to score over. Both probably aren't viewed as athletic enough to guard perimeter players at the next level, or long enough to guard 4s or many 3s. They're just guys that find ways to get it done. I think Malcolm is just more a more capable perimeter shooter when comparing to Dudley, however Dudley had a higher release in college that made it easier to retool himself as a 3 point specialist in the NBA.

 

[Lord Snow]

I feel like Malcolm will be the Andre Miller of the 2/3 spot. If that makes sense.

 

[CubsBearsBullsIllini]

I have a feeling Hill will be one of those guys that just hangs around the league forever. not really ever all star caliber but not bad either. I think Jared Dudley is a perfect comp for what Hill could be.

 

[Second and Chalmers]

You do know that Kyle Anderson is considered to be smooth and just not explosive right?

"Slow-mo" is his nickname. Gets defenders off balance, uses his body well, good midrange game.

You're talking like Anderson is some superstar here. Jared Dudley is a better player who was taken higher in the draft and is more explosive than Anderson or Hill. Anderson as "the talented one" and Dudley as "the try-hardy one" doesn't seem to fit the facts, to me.

All three are in the same general phylum of player though.

 

[BananaShampoo]

I feel like Malcolm will be the Andre Miller of the 2/3 spot. If that makes sense.

Man, I hope he has that long of an NBA career, but also hope he doesn't bounce around to so many teams like Andre. I think that guy has played for half the teams in the league at one point or another.

 

[othawhitemeat]

Can't think of a great example, but how about Malcolm Brogdon from last year as a recent one. Good shooter, can create for self and others, heady, etc..

 

[blmillini]

Unfortunately, Hill is a great college player that just doesn't have quite enough of any specific skill or size/strength advantage to make it long term in the NBA in my opinion unless he can develop a consistently strong 3-pt shooting stroke.

 

[Deleted member 8213]

Unfortunately, Hill is a great college player that just doesn't have quite enough of any specific skill or size/strength advantage to make it long term in the NBA in my opinion unless he can develop a consistently strong 3-pt shooting stroke.

I realize today's NBA is a completely different animal but if a guy like Nick Anderson could develop the range to have the success he did in the NBA after hardly playing guard in college, then its not out of the question for Hill.

 

[blackdog]

Biggest problem for Malcolm right now would be on the defensive end. I'm sure he could score at the NBA level at least decently but could he be able to stay in front of NBA 2/3s. If he is going to be a defensively liability off the bench not many teams are going to give him a chance.

 

[haasi]

My NBA comp for him is poor man's Joe Johnson. Similar size, both great scorers, lots of midrange jumpers, some PG skills, slow first step. He obviously has a ways to go before he's Joe Johnson, and if I had to guess he's either a stud abroad or develops a 100% deadly 3 point shot, continues to increase athleticism, and becomes a solid NBA rotation guy. Although Malcolm's a great college player, guys in NBA will be much more capable of staying with him and shutting down his stepback jumper. I was hoping that his vertical gains over the summer would yield increased quickness, but haven't really seen that yet.

 

[Captain Bubbles]

I thought of Hill like a Quentin Richardson-type.

 

[gibb52]

Classic tweener. Not quick/athletic enough to be a 2, not big enough to be a 3. I see a euro league player, at least for 3-4 yrs until he carves out some kind of niche to be useful in the NBA.

 

[Calvin]

Classic tweener. Not quick/athletic enough to be a 2, not big enough to be a 3. I see a euro league player, at least for 3-4 yrs until he carves out some kind of niche to be useful in the NBA.

Seems like a good assessment. Was hoping he'd show more this year. He'll need a serious uptick in conference play to have a shot.

 

[FiveStar]

I don't want this to be taken as if I'm not a Malcolm hill fan, but if he were in the league today, can anybody name a less athletic wing player than he is?

I'm open to anyone: starter, rotation, or last guy on the roster.

 

[Se Il Illini]

I think his best place would be Europe. As stated above, he is a tweener at this point.

 

[UIGrad03]

I don't see an NBA player at all unfortunately. And if anything he looks slower and less explosive than in the past. Was hoping for an improvement there.

 

[TriCityBurbs]

If anything, Malcolm even being in the discussion as an NBA or Euro guy is great. He was not a top 50 out of high school if i remember correctly, and has certainly over-performed and has turned into a college star. The way he has changed his body, and been so versatile is pretty amazing considering where he was his freshman year. Without him we are probably 5-6 right now at best.

 

[TCTORNADO]

RSCI-

Hill #70
Nunn #57

 

[robertgoulet]

I don't want this to be taken as if I'm not a Malcolm hill fan, but if he were in the league today, can anybody name a less athletic wing player than he is?

I'm open to anyone: starter, rotation, or last guy on the roster.

Lou Deng.

Unfortunately for Malcolm, Deng has a few inches on him so he can afford to be less athletic.

 

[DragonIlliniFan]

Lou Deng.

Unfortunately for Malcolm, Deng has a few inches on him so he can afford to be less athletic.

Both 3's, but two totally-different 3's.