This piece does not reflect the views of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Sophomore, SG, Duke
6’5.5”, 196 lbs 6’5.25” wingspan 8’2.5” standing reach
College Stats In 2016-17:
37 games, 35.5 MPG, 19.5 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 2.5 APG, 49 FG%, 43.8 3P%, 85.6 FT%
Second-Team All-American First-Team All-ACC ACC Tournament MVP
Where He’ll Go:
Kennard is considered a mid to late lottery pick.
Best Game In 2016-17:
In a 94-55 home win over Maine on Dec. 3, Kennard finished with 35 points, eight rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block in 34 minutes. He shot an efficient 11-for-16 from the field, 4-for-9 from the 3-point line and 9-for-9 from the free-throw line.
The Rundown:
At the very least, Kennard should be knock-down 3-point shooter in the NBA. You don’t just hit 44 percent of your 3-pointers in college by accident.
He has good height for a shooting guard, although his wing span and strength leave some to be desired. Offensively, he’s very gifted and clever with his moves. He has an arsenal of ways to score, although not all of them will transition to the NBA just based on his athleticism.
He has solid body control and footwork. He’s a very smart player. He’s an above-average passer and makes good decisions. He doesn’t look like the most athletic guy, but he keeps defenders off guard with some of his herky-jerky motions. He’s also a good rebounder for his size.
There are concerns, too. Will Kennard be able to score the same way he did in college in the pros? Probably not, but he should be more than just a 3-point shooter in his career, maybe just not right away. There are also concerns on whether not he’ll be able to defend some of the more athletic shooting guards in the NBA.
Overall, the question, like any other prospect, will be what skills transfer over from college to the NBA for Kennard? That will define whether he’s more than just a knock-down 3-point shooter.
Quotable