Denzel Valentine, Michigan State
Age: 22 years old Size: 6’5, 220 pounds
Last Season’s Stats: 19.2 points; 7.5 rebounds; 7.8 assists per game
Shooting Percentages: 46.2% from the field; 44.4% from three-point; 85.3 % from the free throw line
Denzel Valentine is as hard of a prospect to decide on as there is. He is as offensively versatile as any player coming out of college. He shot 44.4 percent from the three-point line, was used as a point-forward, was the leading defensive rebounder by wings per Draft Express at 8.5 defensive rebounds per 40 minutes, and was as efficient as they come with a 61.5 true shooting percentage.
He does not come without his own set of issues. Valentine, like Hield, is a senior and is 22 years old. He is already three to five years out from his best years as a pro. He also has issues athletically. For someone who is 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, he uses it awfully bad. Valentine has not been able to score at the rim very efficiently and that is just going to get magnified once he makes the leap to the NBA. Couple that with issues defensively and you have some real concerns. If I were in Tim Connelly’s shoes I would be staying away from Valentine.
