The AAC Defensive Player of the Year at Wichita State in 2021-22, Dexter Dennis’ defense scaled up to the SEC at Texas A&M. As a fifth year senior, Dennis averaged 9.5 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 1.2 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.6 BPG, and 1 TOPG on splits of 39/31/77. Below is his full scouting report:
Name: Dexter Dennis
Height/Weight: 6’6/210
Wingspan/ standing reach: 6’11/N/A
Hand size: N/A
Position: Wing
Pre-Draft team: Texas A&M
Tools: Athleticism, length
Pros:
- Outstanding athlete
- Elite chasedown artist
- Lockdown defender; strong recovery ability, versatile, and good footwork
- Excellent motor
- Jump shot form seems workable to give him realistic shooting upside
- Outstanding timing to block shots
- Despite lacking advanced handles, he is confident with the ball in his hands and not afraid to attempt to create
- Good rebounder
- Generally mistake-free
Cons:
- Minimal self-creator
- Inefficient year over year (never shot 40+% in college)
- Inconsistent guide hand at times on his release
- Needs to improve jump shooting base & base consistency (narrow, lift, direction his feet point, etc)
- Must get better at finishing through contact
- May need to add strength/weight
- Needs to be more efficient
Swing Skills:
- Jump shooting
Summary:
Dexter Dennis was one of the top defenders in the AAC at Wichita State before transferring to Texas A&M for his fifth and final year of eligibility.
Offensively, Dennis profiles solely as an off-ball wing that should project as purely a catch & shoot player that sticks to the corners & wings with good off-ball movement behind screens in motion offenses.
While Dennis’ 3P% doesn’t command hard closeouts, teams still are quick to cover him on the perimeter due to volume (consistently 4 attempts or more per game from 3), and with a good head fake and confidence even with straight line dribbling and crafty finishing ability, Dennis has the ability to attack closeouts in some capacity. Dennis will still have to prove consistency at the rim (52% at the rim in the halfcourt) to fully maximize this skill, but there is enough promise with him thriving off of corner drives (shown below).
Defensively, Dexter Dennis is an elite transition defender thanks to being the best chasedown artist in the draft. On top of that, with long arms, a great motor, and clear intelligence, he can defend multiple positions within the halfcourt. With potential to become a lockdown defender as he gets stronger and keeps developing his body, Dennis has a role that gets him on the floor right away with defensive intensity and ability to make teammates better.
Overall, Dennis’ confidence, motor, and athleticism combination with room to grow in skill as he continues to put in the work make Dexter Dennis one of the top sleeper wings in this draft. Playing in the SEC, he hid in plain sight as an off-ball threat that can be assigned to the best opposing player. If he can continue to attack closeouts in the NBA, even if it just from the corners, as well as hitting and taking jumpers that go down as the free throw percentage indicates, he can safely become a 3&D wing off the bench for any team.
Similar to: Royce O’Neale, Dorian Finney-Smith, Michael Kidd-Gilchrest
Projected draft range:
Expected role: 3&D wing
Unplayable if: Lack of shooting and lacking elite defense to counter shooting woes limit his ability to stay on the court.
Exceeds expectations if: Free throw percentage accurately predicts his shooting ability better than his subpar 3P%, and his shooting sticks to become a 3&D wing.
Miscellaneous Synergy Stats:
Catch & shoot 3s: 38-119 (31.9%)
P&R defense: 0.628 PPP (78th percentile)
Videos:
Shot chart:
