Following a transfer from Wofford and sitting out a season, Keve Aluma broke out as a senior at Virginia Tech. For the year, he averaged 15 PPG, 8 RPG, 2.2 APG, 0.7 SPG, 1.3 BPG, and 1.9 TOPG on shooting splits of 49/35/72. Below is his full scouting report:
Height/Weight: 6’9 / 235
Wingspan/ standing reach: N/A
Hand size: N/A
Position: PF
College: Wofford & Virginia Tech
Tools: Stretch 4 potential, IQ
Pros:
- High feel for the game
- Good post skill
- Projectable jump shot
- Adequate footspeed defensively allows him to be somewhat versatile
- Doesn’t miss rotations on defense; projects to be a good team defender
Cons:
- Lacks explosive athleticism
- Needs to continue becoming consistent and more confident from 3
- Plays below the rim, making him a mild finisher at the rim
- Needs to add strength to guard post-minded bigs
- Doesn’t have much of a handle
- Unlikely to be able to shoot on the move
Overall:
Keve Aluma improved as a shooter upon arrival at Virginia Tech, which is the driving force behind him rising towards prospect status. As a potential stretch 4 that can rebound, play solid team-defense, and not be a liability on switches is about as much as teams can ask for out of a bench big in the modern NBA. While Aluma has an uphill battle without any outlier-level skill, his feel for the game, lack of mistakes, and potential to be a versatile mismatch big could bring him to the league. If he were to make the league, his ideal role is a reserve big that can stretch the floor and be a non-negative player.
Similar to: Frank Kaminsky, Grant Williams
Projected draft range: Undrafted
Games seen: Villanova, Clemson 12/15, Miami 12/29, Pitt, Syracuse 1/23, Radford, Louisville 1/6, Georgia Tech 2/23, Wake Forest 2/27
Unplayable if:
Athletic limitations hold him back; in this scenario, Aluma’s underwhelming finishing doesn’t hold up, his footspeed isn’t quick enough to hold his own defensively, and his shot doesn’t continue to improve
Meets expectations if:
Shooting translates and defense isn’t a notable liability. This likely puts him as an end of bench player in the NBA
Exceeds expectations if:
Basketball IQ and shooting make him a slightly positive player, with limited defensive shortcomings. Coaches find him a role that can easily hide his shortcomings and allow him to be a modern hybrid big that can play both the power forward and center slots.
