Draft Profile: Myles Turner

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By Taylor C. Snow

The country sat in anticipation last spring, anxiously awaiting Myles Turner’s college decision. Of the top seven recruits on the 2014 ESPN 100, Turner (ranked No. 2) was the only one who didn’t commit by mid-November 2013. He kept us waiting until the last day of April, when he finally committed to Texas. Though he couldn’t lead the Longhorns past the second round, Turner made his mark as a defensive blockade and a face-up force on the offensive end.

I project Myles Turner as a center in the NBA. He’s got incredible length, standing in at 6-foot-11 ½ with a 7-foot-4 wingspan, and he has great hands. He’s super active at both ends of the court. You never need to worry about him being plugged in. He does not have a well-rounded game offensively but he does bring a lot to the table. He can post up and extend out to the 3-point line, although his perimeter shot is very erratic. I think he’ll develop an NBA 3-point shot that draws respect, but I don’t expect him to become an elite 3-point shooter. Most of Turner’s offense comes via the jump shot, either from the block, in the midrange, or from long distance. He rarely makes a post move to take a jump hook, layup, or any other shot around the basket. He has a heavy tendency to turn over his right shoulder to get his shot off; it’s his go-to move. Turner’s release is ultra quick for a big man. The problem is that sometimes it’s a little too quick for his own good. In other words, he sometimes worries about getting the shot off as quickly as possible, rather than taking his time to go through a fluid and consistent release. Turner needs to learn his limitations and refine his shot selection. I think he can be a true weapon in the NBA as a screener. He already uses a nice, wide base on his screens, and if and when he puts on weight and strength, he’s going to pick off guards left and right with that big body. He’s a good but not great rebounder whose length makes up for his sub-elite instincts. He does use his large frame to box out, rather than just reaching for loose balls. Defensively, he’s an excellent shot blocked off of the weak side. He has great shot-blocking instincts and is always ready to provide help and rim protection. His combination of length and shot-blocking instincts allows him to really affect shots, whether it be as a help defender or as a primary defender on a post up or spotter. He’s not the most agile big man in the world, but his big strides help him to cover a lot of ground quickly. His lack of speed and athleticism does worry me. I think he could really struggle against some of the more athletic big men in the league. That being said, he’s still a great prospect. He has a high motor, protects the rim and can shoot it. Those are all highly coveted characteristics and skills.

By Taylor C. Snow

Turner was born on March 24, 1996 in Bedford, Tex. to David and Mary Turner. He attended Trinity High School in Euless, Tex., where, as a senior, he averaged 18.1 points, 12.2 rebounds and 6.8 blocks per game. During the summer prior to his senior season, Turner won a gold medal for the USA U18 National Team at the 2014 FIBA Americas, setting a team-record 18 blocks during the five-game tournament. Regarded as one of the top prospects in the recruiting class of 2014, Turner was ranked No. 2 on the ESPN 100. He eventually signed with the University of Texas on April 30, 2014. During his freshman season with the Longhorns, he averaged a team-high 6.4 rebounds and was third on the squad in points per game (10.1). Turner led the Big 12 with 89 blocks; teammate Cameron Ridley was a distant second with 60. He also led the conference with an 86.3 defensive rating. On March 30, Turner announced his declaration for the NBA Draft via YouTube.