NBA Draft 2013: Phil Pressey scouting report

SB Nation is posting scouting reports of each prospect in the 2013 NBA Draft. Learn more about Missouri point guard Phil Pressey.

NAME: Phil Pressey

SCHOOL: Missouri

AGE ON DRAFT NIGHT: 22 years, four months

POSITION: Point guard

MEASUREMENTS: 5’11, 177 pounds, 6’2.25 wingspan, 7’8 standing reach

STATS:

RELEVANT ADVANCED STATS: 37.8% assist percentage this season. Pressey is one of the top pure passers in this draft.

SB NATION BIG BOARD POSITION: No. 39.

NBA FLOOR: Sebastian Telfair

Phil Pressey sneaks into the Top 40 under the “I really enjoy watching this guy play basketball” exception. The son of Paul Pressey, the original point forward under Don Nelson, Phil makes up for a lack of size with incredible athleticism and a great feel for the game.

Last season, he was the engine of a small-ball Missouri team that went 30-5. This season, as the only one of the top six players to return, Pressey struggled as the primary playmaker and scorer on a disorganized squad comprised mainly of transfers. As a junior, he averaged 12 points, seven assists and two steals on 38 percent shooting. After shooting 43 percent from the field as a sophomore and 36 percent from three, I suspect his decline had more to do with his shot selection than his mechanics.

At 5’11 and 175 pounds with a 6’2 wingspan, Pressey can’t afford to be an inconsistent shooter at the next level. The margin for error for guards his size is too small. But while Pressey’s size is only a 1 on a 1-10 scale, his speed is a 10. Combine that with ridiculous floor vision and a flair for the dramatic, and Pressey is one of the rare guards who can completely take over a game with his passing.

Pressey might start his career in the D-League, but I don’t think he’ll last there. He’s just too talented not to make the show eventually.

Rock M Nation, SB Nation’s Missouri blog:

[NBA fans will] love his vision and creativity. Pressey sees the play developing before it happens and he puts the ball in impossible places, often without looking. At his best, he’s good for four or five “wow!” passes a game.

They’ll hate his defense. Even average-sized NBA point guards will tower over him, and he won’t be able to overwhelm ball-handlers with quickness like he could in college. If Pressey makes a roster, one day Russell Westbrook or Deron Williams is going to take him into the post, and it’s not going to be pretty.

Offensively, the key with Pressey will always be to make him a pass-first guard. In Missouri’s 23 wins in 2012-13, Pressey averaged 9.0 field goal attempts per game. In the Tigers’ 11 losses, he averaged 15.2.

Orlando Pinstriped Post:

Pressey is a small, quick guard who loves collecting assists. On December 28th, he recorded 19 assists against the UCLA Bruins. His 38.5-inch max vertical is just below Canaan’s and Siva’s but full steam ahead he’s probably faster than either. He might have been the faster player running straight.

But his poor shooting, lack of size (5-foot-11.5 in shoes), alarming turnover rate, and late-game woes will keep him from being selected in the first round. It’s also unknown how long he can stay on the floor, as he’ll most likely have a hard time defending taller guards.

For more coverage, visit SB Nation’s NBA Draft 2013 section.