Meet draft prospect Corey Kispert
Andy Katz sits down with Gonzaga's Corey Kispert ahead of the 2021 NBA Draft.
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About Corey Kispert
• Corey Kispert is a mature swingman with a reliable shooting stroke who improved steadily over his four year career at Gonzaga which culminated with one of the most efficient individual offensive seasons in college basketball history and a National Championship appearance. Widely regarded as a top-100 prospect in the high school class of 2017 following his senior season at King’s High School (WA), Kispert emerged as a contributor for the Bulldogs as a true freshman. Averaging 8 points and 4.1 rebounds per game as a sophomore in his first season as a full-time starter under Head Coach Mark Few, he solidified as a valuable two-way contributor alongside Rui Hachimura and Brandon Clarke. Making massive strides over his last two seasons in Spokane, Kispert averaged 18.6 points, 5 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game while shooting 44% from beyond the arc as a senior to earn WCC Player of the Year and Consensus All-American 1st Team honors.
• Listed at 6’7 with a solid 223-pound frame and average length, Kispert is a capable athlete who can catch lobs pretty impressively but is more strong than quick defensively.
• Establishing himself as one of the best shooters and most polished all-around players in college basketball last season, Kispert filled a prominent role for a talented Bulldogs team. Showing a tremendous feel for relocating off the ball, sprinting to the arc in transition, and running off screens, Kispert did much of his damage in catch and shoot situations, but also showed the ability to finish strong inside, put the ball on the floor a bit looking to create, drain pull-ups, and keep opposing defenses in rotation. His maturity was apparent and a key part of Gonzaga’s early season dominance.
• A competitive defender with no shortage of big-game experience and the physicality to put a body on bigger forwards, Kispert held his own at both forward spots last season even if he was not always able to effect shooters rotating off the ball.
Advanced Stats
• Ranking among the top shooters in college basketball, over half of Kispert’s shot attempts were catch and shoot jump shots last season. Proving to be a very reliable perimeter threat overall while running especially hot on several notable occasions, Kispert scored 1.21 points per catch and shoot jump shot in the half court [81st percentile]. He was tremendously consistent spotting up in space as his compact shooting motion seldom waivered when he did not have a hand in his face.
• Shooting the ball at a high-level in limited attempts off the dribble, Kispert found shots in a variety of ways on the perimeter displaying a strong feel for moving off the ball and the ability to stop and pop with range against sagging defenders in limited opportunities handling the ball.
• While he forced little off the dribble and is not an especially dynamic ball handler, Kispert’s timing as a cutter and ability to take the ball strong to the rim when he could get downhill helped him average 1.32 points per shot around the rim in the half court [80th percentile]. Bouncier than one might expect with a head of steam and adept at picking and choosing his spots, Kispert proved to be more than just a shooter.
• His opportunistic style translated particularly well in the open floor as he averaged a historically efficient 1.55 points per transition possession [97th percentile].
• Checking some other boxes keeping the ball moving consistently and even making some reads out of ball screens , Kispert has obvious roleplayer potential.
• Ranked 1st in the NCAA and 1st in the WCC in offensive efficiency (1.24 points per possession)
• Ranked 1st in the WCC in transition scoring (5.4 points per game)
• Ranked 1st in the WCC in spot up scoring (5.5 points per game)
• Ranked 3rd in the WCC in off screen scoring (1.5 points per game)
Defensive Analysis
• Kispert is a steady, experienced defender with a good motor and whose physicality outweighed his lack of length at the collegiate level. Allowing 0.72 points per isolation possession [51st percentile], he held his own on the ball in many matchups but gave up quickness to more dynamic shot creators and could not always effect shooters when looking to contest on the perimeter.
• Making an effort to use verticality contesting inside and box out bigger forwards, Kispert did some little things and was seldom out of place on the defensive end as a senior.
— Profile by Synergy Sports
