Willie Cauley-Stein (Kentucky | Junior | Center)
HT: 7'0" | WT: 245 lbs. | Wingpsan: 7'3" | 21 years old
2014-15 NCAA Stats: 8.9 PPG | 6.4 RPG | 1.7 BPG | 57.2 FG%
As you may have heard, the 2014-15 Kentucky Wildcats featured nine McDonald’s High School All-Americans on their roster. National Defensive Player of the Year and likely lottery pick, Willie Cauley-Stein, however, was not one of them.
Indeed, their starting center arrived in Lexington less heralded than many of his teammates, but equipped with all of the tools to join them as pro prospects. Over the next three seasons, the 7-foot, former high school wide receiver did just that, distinguishing himself with a three-year highlight reel of blocked shots (233), steals (115) and wins (80).
If it weren’t for a torn ACL in his freshman year or a broken ankle in the NCAA Tournament as a sophomore, there’s a good chance he’d already be in the NBA. Instead, he’s one of seven Wildcats looking to show teams that he's ready to break out in the pros after sacrificing minutes and touches for the good of the team.
“Willie Cauley-Stein can guard anyone on earth”
That was the title of an SB Nation article following Kentucky’s thrilling Elite Eight win over Notre Dame this past April, which Cauley-Stein helped secure with a series of incredible defensive plays in the final minute. It was just another display of his freakish versatility and vast potential as a dominant stopper at the next level.
His measurables set him apart – including 6.3% body fat, which is very low for a big man and a standing reach of 9’3” that ranked fifth among the players measured at the Combine, according to DraftExpress – and he makes use of his tremendous physical gifts to excel in just about every area of defense.
“No big man (minimum 6’9”) has ever recorded a quicker time in the lane agility drill, which assesses body control and change of direction ability,” Kevin O’Connor points out in the piece. Cauley-Stein’s combination of size and quickness is literally unmatched in the history of NBA draft picks, since such metrics were recorded.
His rim protection and turnovers-forced (per-possession) numbers and were both best on Kentucky’s No. 1 ranked defense, and yet Sports Illustrated’s Luke Winn argues the Cauley-Stein may be underrated because of everything he does that doesn’t show up in the box score; he guarded all five positions – no exaggeration; all five positions – so capably that you forget how difficult it is to guard any single one. His ability to switch on every screen unlocked everything the Wildcats were able to do on defense, and it projects well in today’s spread-screen-and-roll NBA.
Offensive potential
The tagline of the SB Nation story reads: “Forget offense. Kentucky center Willie Cauley-Stein is one of the best defensive prospects to come into the NBA Draft in a long, long time.” But while O’Connor makes a compelling argument that Cauley-Stein’s defensive abilities alone make him worthy of a top pick, he also possesses significant offensive upside under the right circumstances.
Cauley-Stein draws comparisons to former No. 2 overall pick Tyson Chandler for his defensive prowess, but the former Knick and provided an idea of the value that such athletic centers can provide on offense, as well: By running the floor hard in transition, setting solid screens and rolling to the rim in the NBA like he did in college, Cauley-Stein is a good bet to post high field goal percentages and finish plenty of lobs as he works on his other skills.
His work at the free throw line is also encouraging; after shooting just 37 percent as a freshman, he improved to 62 this past season. Unlike, say, DeAndre Jordan, who lives around the rim but is lost at the stripe, Cauley-Stein should be able to draw fouls and convert easy scoring opportunities early in his career.
Knicks fit
Cauley-Stein’s defensive potential makes him an intriguing pick for any team. If Phil Jackson decides to call his name on June 25th, he’ll be expecting a player who can come to New York and make an impact with his energy and athleticism, the way Chandler did when he was the Defensive Player of the Year in 2012.
Maybe not right away, but you never know – at 21 years old, Cauley-Stein’s body is much more advanced than Chandler’s was during his first few seasons in the NBA.
He knows his strengths – “Right away, just energy, defense. Definitely defense.” – and he perked up when asked at the Combine about Jackson saying he was looking for a defensive big man: “I heard that. I think it’s right up my alley. That’s what I do. That’s what got me here. If you’re telling me I can go right into the league and fill a role like that, that’s great.”
As a competent ball-handler and passer for his size, he certainly has the potential to develop into a Triangle fit. His athleticism, experience and three-year track record of historically elite defensive production would seem to make him a “safe” pick, but his team-first attitude and desire to be great is what could really set him apart.
“My will to win is..." he said to reporters in Chicago before taking a moment to reflect, and then giggle. “I haven’t lost a lot in my life. I hate to lose.”