2015 NBA Draft: Karl-Anthony Towns (PF/C; Fr; Kentucky)

1. Karl-Anthony Towns
Latest Rumors: MINNESOTA
Center / 7-0 / Kentucky / Freshman 10.3 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 1.1 apg

The Timberwolves have to explore all options here and a case could be made that guards D'Angelo Russell and Emmanuel Mudiay have more star potential than Towns and Okafor. But for a team like the Timberwolves that has difficulty attracting talent through free agency, a chance to solidify their frontcourt is likely too difficult to pass up. Not to mention trying to team Russell with Rubio along with Wiggins could backfire and cause Rubio to want out. Towns is less NBA ready offensively, but his superior mobility, defense and overall potential make him the choice over Okafor.
 
Twitter: @KarlTowns
Comparison: Andrew Bogut
Global Ranking: 1st
Salary: $4,753,000*

di Federico Roma, SpazioNBA.it

Nome: Karl-Anthony

Cognome: Towns

Età: 19 (15/11/1995)

Statura e peso: 2.11 x 113 kg

Università: Kentucky Wildcats

Classe: Freshman

Ruolo: Ala grande/centro

Giocatore NBA simile: Andrew Bogut/ Rasheed Wallace/Vlade Divac

CARATTERISTICHE: 

Una delle star NCAA che aspirano alla prima scelta, nonché uno dei protagonisti della squadra che sta dominando in questo momento: i Kentucky Wildcats di coach Calipari.

Un big man molto tecnico, ma anche dalla potenziale stazza giusta per fare la differenza in NBA, in un momento storico di penuria di grandi lunghi.

Ha un repertorio offensivo raro per la sua età: un ottimo tocco per un giocatore della sua statura, sa aprire l’area anche per un tiro dalla media, saltuariamente si prende delle responsabilità anche da "3",  oppure appoggia al tabellone. Ottimo passatore, vede i tagli dei compagni e ribalta il gioco; ha ancora ampi margini di miglioramento in post, ma ha già un ottimo gancio. Deve migliorare la rapidità di piedi e soprattutto non subire troppo il contatto. In generale è un giocatore difficile da marcare.

Non è il miglior atleta, ma il suo istinto gli permette di essere un ottimo rimbalzista. Buona posizione nel tagliafuori, anche nel traffico grazie alle lunghe leve; spesso realizza da rimbalzo offensivo, ed è anche un buon stoppatore, più per il tempismo che per l’elevazione. Difensivamente subisce gli avversari più grossi, usa troppo le mani e questo potrebbe causargli problemi di falli.

Towns è una delle top pick, ha il potenziale per fare il primo violino, deve mettere su massa muscolare, ma questo non dovrebbe essere un problema (Anthony Davis docet). Le sue medie per ora sono 8.3 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 1 apg in 19.7' di utilizzo, dovuto all’utilizzo del platoon system, che consiste nell’utilizzo di 10 giocatori con minutaggio più o meno equivalente, circa come succede nell’hockey, questo permette di mascherare i difetti dei giocatori ed esaltarne i pregi. Certo che un metodo del genere è possibile solo grazie all’eccezionale profondità del roster. 

Sarà scelto con una delle prime tre chiamate e ha il potenziale per fare grandi cose anche in Nba.

STORIA: 

Karl-Anthony Towns nasce a Piscataway, New Jersey, il 25 novembre 1995, da Karl Towns, ex giocatore di Monmouth, e Jacqueline Cruz, di origine dominicana. 

Frequenta la Theodore Schor Middle School, ripetendo il settimo anno dopo essersi trasferito dalla Our Lady of Fatima School nel 2009. Per questo non è entrato nella classe del 2014, con i suoi pari-età. 

Si iscrive alla St. Joseph High School dove si distingue come un ottimo studente (3.96 GPA), oltre che come uno dei migliori prospetti della nazione. Nel 2012 da freshman trascina la squadra al titolo nazionale, e alla Final Four nei restanti due anni. Da senior mantiene medie spaventose (20.9 ppg 13.4 rpg 6.2 bprg, con il 66% dal campo e l’82.2% dalla lunetta). E al liceo ha messo a referto anche due quadruple doppie.

A 16 anni, grazie alle origini della madre, è convocato per la nazionale olimpica dominicana. Ad allenarlo in quell'avventura fu Calipari, che arrivò a una posizione dalla qualificazione ai Giochi di Londra 2012.

CONCLUSIONI:

Towns è uno dei migliori prospetti della nazione. Tre volte All-state selection, 2014 Gatorade National Player of The Year, convocato sia per il McDonald’s All-America sia per il Jordan Brand Classic, 5° per Rivals, 9° per ESPN. 

Riceve offerte di borse di studio da Kentucky, Florida, Kansas, Rutgers e Duke, ma alla fine accetta l’offerta dei Wildcats per essere allenato di nuovo da coach Cal, che di lui dirà: «Karl is way better than I thought when I saw him in high school, I mean, I coached him a little bit, but he never got in games and it was mostly practices and we were playing so many games he really didn’t do that much with the national team. So, in high school you saw him, ‘he’s got a ways to go now. What I’m seeing right now is a very active player that’s skilled and runs better than I ever though he’d run. That’s now without really getting into the season and doing anything».

Federico Roma, SpazioNBA.it

2015 NBA Draft Profile: Karl-Anthony Towns

by Joey Ramirez

Lakers.com Contributor

Posted: May 21, 2015

Karl-Anthony Towns made a lasting impression in Kentucky’s final two games of the NCAA tournament, averaging 20.5 points while shooting 17-for-24 (70.8 percent) from the field. Patrolling down low, Towns ranked among the SEC’s best in rebounds (6.7; ninth) and blocks (2.3; second), while leading the conference in player efficiency rating (31.4). A testament to Kentucky’s and his own success, Towns also led the SEC in both offensive (126.8) and defensive rating (78.1) — the latter of which topped the nation. For his efforts, the 19-year-old was named SEC Freshman of the Year, inheriting the title from current Laker Julius Randle.

Karl-Anthony Towns

- 10.3 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 2.3 bpg, 56.6 FG%

- Second Team All-American

- SEC Freshman of the Year

- First Team All-SEC

Birthday: 11/15/95

NBA Position: Center 

Class: Freshman

Ht: 7-0

Wt: 250

Hometown: Piscataway, NJ

High School: St. Joseph's

NBA Comparison: Andrew Bogut/Vlade Divac

Strengths: 

Center prospect with the size and skill set to make a strong impact at both ends of the floor in the NBA ... 

Hard worker, smart kid, with strength of character ... 

Shows desire and a competitive nature ... 

Possesses a great feel for the game ... 

Offensive game oozes potential with a text book shooting form, great touch and ability to hit outside and mid range jumpers effortlessly and consistently ... 

Has even implemented a steadily improving hook shot into his repertoire ... 

His length and strong body gives him excellent ability to rebound and hold position in the post ... 

Tremendous rebounder on a per 40 minute basis, with big hands, good box out fundamentals, post positioning and energy ... 

Has worked hard on his body and has developed broad shoulders and good strength ... Should be able to add additional weight and play comfortably in the 260-270 range ... 

Shows a willingness to play physical and fight in the post ... Terrific passer, good vision, he's able to find players when doubled, and even have the offense run through him at the high post ... 

Very good shot blocker. Though not a huge leaper, has excellent timing and shows the ability to use his great length as a rim protector ...

Shows better speed than quickness, and can really motor once he gets a head of steam ... Hustles and shows the willingness to defend and play hard ... Underrated foot speed and perimeter defensive ability ... 

Doesn't seem to get winded easily, though the UK platoon system helps in this area ... Has shown the ability to defend players much smaller than himself with success on the perimeter ... 

Weaknesses: 

Has struggled mightily with his post offense early in the season. Post play, foot work and confidence on the block needs a lot of work ... Still appears to be growing into his body, movements are gangly ... A very solid athlete, but not the most explosive leaper without momentum, though he's shown the ability to dunk from the free throw line, so he's not exactly a plodder ... Second jump leaping not a strong point ... Appears to leap better off of one foot than two which is better for wing players ... Huge feet seem to weigh him down some and challenge his ability to make quick moves from a standstill position ... Has shown a tendency to get in foul trouble and the current "platoon system" at Kentucky does not allow scouts to accurately judge his ability to play full games and stay out of foul trouble ... Has a lot less pressure to produce on a daily basis on a stacked UK team. It's easy to look good when teams are not able to focus all of their attention on a player the caliber of Towns. Coach Calipari's system also does an excellent job of showcasing a player's strengths while masking their weaknesses ... Top heavy. Despite showing a huge set of arms and shoulders, his lower body strength needs work, as he gets knocked off balance and pushed around at times. Balance can improve. Granted, considering his age and work ethic, these are not hugely concerning issues ... 

Notes: 

Measured 6'11.5 (in shoes) 235 lbs, with a 7'3.5 wingspan at the 2013 Nike Big Man Skills Academy... 

One of three prospects in the 2015 draft (along with Mudiay and Okafor) with franchise potential... Just scratching the surface of his abilities, and appears to have a lot of upside left to develop... 

Mother hails from Dominican Republic... 

Less polished and proven than Duke center Jahlil Okafor , but we view him to be the better long term prospect for the NBA level... 

Played for the Dominican Republic National Men's Team, at age 16, coached by John Calipari, during the summer of 2012... 

Aran Smith 12/11/14