After withdrawing from the 2019 NBA Draft and participating in the 2019 Pro Basketball Combine, Xavier Sneed returned to Kansas State for an increased role. As a senior, Sneed averaged 14.2 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.3 BPG, and 1.6 TOPG on shooting splits of 37/30/69. Below is his full scouting report:
Name: Xavier Sneed
Height/Weight: 6’6/ 210
Wingspan/ standing reach: 6’9/ 8’7
Hand size: 9 ¼
Position: Wing
College: Kansas State
Tools: Defense, athleticism
Pros:
- Excellent athlete
- NBA level frame
- Good rebounder
- Good transition passer
- Capable of guarding 1-3
- Intelligent off-ball defender
Cons:
- Poor shot selection
- Needs to speed up jump shot
- Inefficient shooting splits
Overall:
Xavier Sneed is someone I got to see up close last year at the Pro Basketball Combine. He measured well and is a good athlete, but still needs to put together his skillset. While his stats don’t jump off the page and the shooting inefficiencies are easy to be turned off by, Sneed is likely to play a much lower usage role at the next level. If his NBA role is low usage, he would likely be a 3&D prospect. His defense is NBA ready, and it will improve as he continues to add strength. Sneed has the instincts to disrupt plays and is what I consider a “defensive playmaker” by forcing turnovers with his length and ability to see a play before it happens.
Offensively, there is room to improve all-around, but the one area Sneed will be asked to produce in has potential to be a strength: jump shooting. Despite underwhelming percentages, if Sneed can speed up his jump shot, he should be able to shoot over defenders and be capable from the corner 3. While he could create space for his jumpers in college, he likely won’t have to do much ball-handling like he did in college, which could bode well for his ideal NBA role. Sneed ranked in the 68th percentile in spot up shooting as a senior, which could mean that a potential hidden gem is behind mild shooting splits.
Sneed’s potential as a 3&D wing at the end of the bench could be appealing to NBA teams on draft night.
NBA Comparison: Floor: Vincent Edwards: ceiling: Tony Snell
Projected draft range: 50-undrafted
Best fit:
There’s no specific team that needs Sneed more than another, but any team confident in developing Sneed’s jump shot, which is realistic, should be quick to offer Sneed a two-way contract.
