http://www.cbssports.com/nba/draft/players/1647102
Positives: Has the power (16 reps in the bench press at the Chicago pre-draft camp, one of the best figures at the event), size (6-foot-10), bulk (268), wingspan (7-1), standing reach (9-2) and court speed (3.33 in the three-quarter-court sprint) that teams are looking in a classic half-court type of center … Despite just four years of college basketball and two years of junior national team competition, Parakhouski displays a well-rounded game and has continued to improve in most areas each season … Moves well for a big man and shows good angling and positioning fighting for rebounds … Has shown marked improvement with his basketball IQ, timing and leaping ability to develop into a quality shot blocker …
Has the large, soft hands for the catch-and-shoot scoring, working well when guards feed him around the basket and using his reach to feather the ball over tall defenders … Has a good feel for playing with his back to the basket and has developed efficient range with his jumper … Agile for a player his size, showing good ball-handling skills, especially when working with guards on pick-and-roll plays … Gets up and down the court well and provides a physical presence under the basket …
Has just an adequate vertical leap, but he uses his length and timing to go up and block shots … Not the type that can go above the rim to secure the rebound, but pushes the opponent out of the paint, using his long arms to retrieve shots off the glass … Very tough when establishing position in the paint, knowing how to use his elbows and hands to push and shove his way to the basket … .Still a work in progress, but showed a better understanding of post offense and is developing a decent touch 6-to-8 feet from the basket (shot 58.1 percent in the post, mostly on pick-and-pop plays or tip-ins) … Best when playing close to the basket, as he realizes he has no perimeter game … Shows good coordination … Gets a bunch of his rebounds on second and third effort (aggression is his game).
Negatives: Has good court speed, but not enough to be effective in an up-tempo game … Has shown good upper-body strength, but must improve his lower body area, as he might struggle vs. more physical NBA types trying to establish inside position … Still a hoops neophyte, but has worked hard and you can see marked improvement in most areas of his game …
One area in which he seems to have regressed is at the foul line … Mechanically needs a complete overhaul (56.2 percent free throw shooter last year, after making 70.7 percent as a freshman) … Plays with good aggression, but needs to stay in front of his man defending on the perimeter (tends to give a side) …
Has worked on his jumper, but is reluctant to take those shots … Needs to work on improving his leaping ability and footwork when firing mid-range jumpers … Most of his turnovers are the result of when he attempts to put the ball on the floor (dribble is too high and deliberate) … Needs to get more arch in his shot when facing the basket … While his low post game has shown improvement, he lacks explosiveness attacking the rim … Uses his body to alter or block shots, but does not show the lateral agility to mirror shooters or the quickness to come out of the paint and defend at the perimeter.
- Dave-Te' Thomas
