NCAA UNDERGROUND: take note for your team in Europe...Tim Derksen - San Francisco

WHERE HE PLAYS – His natural position is at small forward. At 6-3 205 pounds, this season he played as a 4 (because of team’s needs), and caused a lot of matchup problems, by spreading out the court and attacking PF from perimeter. He’s so smart he can really contribute at any position.

PHYSICAL SKILLS – Lefty with strong body, average speed, below average leaping ability and explosiveness off the ground, good body control.

WHERE HE RECEIVES THE BALL AND HOW HE FINISHES – Derksen’s strength offensively is a combination of his versatility and high basketball IQ. He knows how to play and understands the game – compensates the lack of high level athleticism with high basketball IQ and ability to attack and score from multiple positions. His offensive advantage is his ability to hit outside shots (40% from the 3pt line) – Derksen is very good perimeter shooter who can knock down shots from any situation; mostly his shots are from catch and shoot situations (penetrate and kick, or pick&pop); he has quick release and doesn’t hesitate to shoot the ball when he is open. Also his ability to attack of the dribble helped him a lot this year. As mentioned he played as PF this season, and he used to attack slower defenders from perimeter successfully, getting in the lane and making the right decision. Derksen is very useful player offensively since he does everything on the floor - understands the game and has high basketball IQ, doesn’t need the ball in his hands all the time in order to be productive; can hit outside shots and attack of the dribble (mostly to the left), off of 2-3 dribbles. Also, Derksen likes to push the ball in transition after getting a defensive rebound. Against similar size players, he is more than comfortable posting up defenders and scoring around the basket – even though he would have problems finishing vs more athletic defenders, he has decent low post game and understands how to use his body and strength in order to compensate lack of athleticism around the basket. Derksen is a great player to have on the team since he can fulfill multiple roles and does everything on the floor.
NEGATIVES: lack of high level athleticism; ability to finish through contact vs taller defenders; ability to finish with his right hand; much more stronger attacking to his left.

WHERE AND HOW HE DEFEND – can defend positions 2, 3 and (some) 4’s. Derksen moves his feet pretty well when he is out on perimeter – he is capable of keeping the player in front of him and has good defensive effort. In the low post, even though he would struggle against much taller post players, he fights for positions pretty well, moves his feet and uses his strength in order to protect the paint. Derksen is good rebounder for a player his height, and doesn’t back off from contact. He can still work on his overall speed and lateral movement, but he is decent on ball defender out on perimeter.

HOW HE PLAYS PICK AND ROLL – offense & defense – if he is at 4, most of the time he would be in pick and pop situations, looking for catch and shoot 3s; if he is at 3, he is capable of putting the ball on the floor and use ball screens, where his first option is to shoot off the dribble (playing in ball screens situations as a primary ball handler is not his strength). Defensively he is more than capable of switching ball screens and being decent on ball defender or guarding a low post player.

RIGHT FIT FOR HIM – fast pace team; team that spreads the floor so he can use his offensive versatility.
(SCOUTING BY NIKOLA KNEZEVIC)

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