Tom Digbeu came up several years ago, going from Lithuania to Australia to the G League to the second French league. As a 21 year old, Digbeu played in the French League and averaged 16.2 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 2.9 APG, 1 SPG, 0.5 BPG, and 2.6 TOPG on splits of 48/30/86. Below is his full scouting report:
Name: Tom Digbeu
Height/Weight: 6’5/169
Wingspan/ standing reach: 6’6 ½ (2017)/N/A
Hand size: N/A
Position: SG
Pre-Draft team: Motor City Cruise/ASA
Tools: athleticism, P&R ball-handling, floater/runner
Pros:
- Good athlete
- Good shooting touch, indicated by high FT%
- Has a reliable floater/runner with both hands
- Comfortable finishing with both hands
- Explosive first step
- Quick in transition
- Able to get explosive shot contests
- Good P&R ball-handler
Cons:
- Labored jump shot
- Negative assist:turnover ratio
- Needs to improve ball security
- Needs to get stronger/add weight
- Can get swallowed in P&R and misplay screens
- Mostly square frame
Swing Skills:
- Defensive impact
- Jump shooting
- Game scaling up from lower competition
Summary:
Tom Digbeu has potential as a second round draft & stash prospect that plays with a fun, flashy play style to create for himself and others, while often going for the home run play. While this can sometimes cost him, his ability to see the toughest plays in several facets of the game screams upside for some team to capitalize on.
Defensively, while he struggles to sometimes communicate with teammates in the pick & roll and to read the ball-handler manipulating the screen correctly, he can often make up for mistakes by going for the kill with strong closeouts, which also can hurt him at times by being overly aggressive. However, he generally calculates when a player may be faking to get him up in the air, and mostly times contests well.
Offensively, Digbeu’s passing pops, especially out of the pick & roll. He will need to prove that his passing ability and flair can stick without more turnovers against higher competition as he rises closer to the NBA. The biggest swing skill for Digbeu to stick in the NBA is his jump shooting. He has paradoxal numbers, shooting 26.8% from 3 with a shot that looks labored, while showing great touch at the line, shooting 87.4% on 135 free throw attempts this season. Digbeu will be a great study of whether to believe the raw 3P% numbers and the mechanics that need tweaking to the eye, or the touch with his high free throw percentage.
Overall, Tom Digbeu is a fun upside play as a combo guard with potential as a shooter with a reworking of his form & mechanics, as well as improved consistency in his decision-making. Look for Tom Digbeu to get some looks for teams wanting to save money and stashing Digbeu, whether it be overseas as he climbs the European ladder, or coming back to the G League.
Similar to: Jonathon Simmons, RJ Hampton
Projected draft range: 45-undrafted
Expected role: Slashing creator
Unplayable if: Jump shooting never progresses, while P&R defensive tendencies don’t improve
Exceeds expectations if: The free throw percentage becomes a better indicator for realistic shooting upside, and his jump shot form improves to help him become a capable shooter.
Miscellaneous Synergy Stats:
Catch & shoot 3s: 17-54 (31.5%; 34th percentile)
Off the dribble jumpers: 10-46 (21.7%; 14th percentile)
Runner: 20-47 (42.6%; 63rd percentile)
Half-court at rim: 28-46 (60.9%)
Videos:
Shot chart:
