NCAA UNDERGROUND: take note for your team in Europe... Mike Best - UC IRVINE

WHERE HE PLAYS – 6-10, long and agile. He can play both the 4 and the 5 spot in Europe.

PHYSICAL SKILLS – Long, good leaping ability and hand-eye coordination, decent speed; has to improve body strength and physicality

WHERE HE RECEIVES THE BALL AND HOW HE FINISHES – Best is smooth player with very soft touch from mid-range. With UC Irvine he pretty much played forward position because of their personnel. Best is skilled player who has the ability to knock down mid range jumpers since he has soft touch on his shot and good shooting form. He has shown ability to put the ball on the floor (with either hand) and get to the paint. Best is smart player who understands his strengths and plays to his potential. He likes to post up and play from the block, even though he has decent low post game, he prefers to shoot turnaround jumper or fade away rather than creating contact and getting the ball all the way to the rim. As mentioned, Best is very long, and has decent bounce, considering this he should be even better rebounder on both ends of the floor. He is decent on the offensive glass (putpacks) but could be more aggressive trying to get offensive rebounds since he has necessary athleticism.
NEGATIVES: body strength (has to get stronger); he is not a great finisher through contact. Same thing with low post, even though he has necessary skills when playing with his back to the basket, he is not type of player who would initiate contact and get the ball all the way to the rim.

WHERE AND HOW HE DEFEND – UC Irvine played zone most of the season due to their personnel. Best has good length that he uses well to contest shots and bother shooters since he played as F in the bottom of the 2-3 zone. He could improve his lateral movement in order to defend Forwards outside of the paint, at the next level. His length helps him in the low post, however he has to get stronger in order to be more effective low post defender.

HOW HE PLAYS PICK AND ROLL – offense & defense – he is useful in ball screen situations, he is very good at popping out to the high post – FT line and knocking down jumpers. In pick situations he can also roll to the basket looking for lob plays or post ups, but as mentioned he is very good at reading defense and catching the ball around high post and creating from there.

RIGHT FIT FOR HIM – slower pace team with ball screens – He is type of player who plays better off of other people, so he’s at his best when he can be second or third offensive option of his team.
(SCOUTING BY NIKOLA KNEZEVIC)

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