NCAA UNDERGROUND: take note for your team in Europe... Adrian Diaz-Florida Int'l

WHERE HE PLAYS – 6-10 Pure Center

PHYSICAL SKILLS – Good athlete for his size, good leaping ability, average speed; not great lateral speed on defensive end; very long which really reflects on his ability to block shots.

WHERE HE RECEIVES THE BALL AND HOW HE FINISHES – All of his touches are around the basket/ low post position – Diaz prefers to catch the ball on the right block and shoot over his left shoulder. He has decent post moves and can create his own shot, however he is much stronger going to his right and shooting over his left shoulder. Has to get much better at using and finishing with his left hand. He has soft touch around the rim, and because of his length he is good finisher. High percentage shots and offensive rebounds make him very effective offensive player. Diaz has decent footwork in the low post. He is very good rebounder on both ends of the floor, and he is always present on the glass (especially on the defensive end). Negatives: not good finisher with his left hand; he is right hand dominant and most of his shots are over his left shoulder. In 1 on 1 situations he has to work on going to his left and finishing better with his left hand. Moreover, he has to be even better finisher through contact and has to be more physical, especially on the offensive end. Diaz has to work on his free throws.

WHERE AND HOW HE DEFEND – very useful defensive player. Because of his size and length he is a real rim protector. Diaz is not overly fast player, and lacks lateral speed, however he compensates this with his length and great shot blocking ability. He is solid post defender who stays in the paint most of the time and bothers opponents. In 1 on 1 situations, he ‘walls’ up most of the time, looking to use his long arms in order to change opponents shots. Really good rebounder.

HOW HE PLAYS PICK AND ROLL – offense & defense – in ball screen defense, he stays flat since he is not quick enough to hedge on ball screens and his team prefers him in the middle of the paint so he can protect the rim. Offensively, after setting the ball screen he rolls to the block every time, looking to get low post touches and play 1 on 1.

RIGHT FIT FOR HIM – slower pace team with more set offense.

(SCOUTING REPORT by NIKOLA KNEZEVIC)

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