I agree that Tim Finke is going to outperform his ranking. He's a different kind of player than Malcolm Hill was as a high school prospect, but similar in the sense that talent evaluators are getting hung up on questions about his ultimate upside and overlooking the qualities that are going to make him a great college player.
Tim is a good but not great athlete (though he's got more bounce than you'd expect), a good but streaky outside shooter, and a crafty scorer but not a first option offensively. He's average height for a wing and needs to add weight. Nice passer, but not a great ball handler. A little mechanical with the ball. It's easy to see why scouts are ranking him around #100 in his class. However, he's a relentless competitor who does all the little things, his fundamentals are top notch, and he's got ice water in his veins (I've seen him hit big shots on multiple occasions). Doesn't back down from anyone. He's also got a nose for the ball - rebounds out of his area and hustles for steals and occasional chase-down blocks.
In my mind, he projects as a gritty do-it-all wing who can function as a second/third offensive option at the P5 level and occasionally carry a team with his outside shooting. I think evaluators are underrating a few things that will make him a standout college player: 1) his motor, 2) his ability in transition, and 3) his potential as a spot-up shooter (he's been up-and-down in AAU, but he's got good form and a lightning quick release).
The other thing that we Illini fans have special insight into is Finke's genetics. Much like Malcolm (and obviously his brother Mike), there's a solid chance he grows an inch or so before his freshman year and really fills out. A 6'7, 210 pound Tim Finke with a more consistent shot is a no-brainer B1G starter. I expect that's what we'll see by his sophomore season. I hope he comes here.
