WHO: Duke University, Wake Forest University
RESULT: Wake Forest 83, Duke 79
WHERE: Winston-Salem, North Carolina
It was time for me to catch the Hunter Sallis experience, the Gonzaga transfer turned ACC breakout talent lighting up conference play. The upset against Duke was a good barometer — not only due to his red-hot game, but also because of his positional counterparts Jared McCain and Tyrese Proctor (fellow NBA prospects).
Hunter Sallis
29 points (11-13 shooting, 5-6 from 3, 2-2 from the free throw line), 6 rebounds, 1 assist (3 turnovers), 1 steal, 1 foul in 39 minutes
Offense: Sallis put on an absurd shot-making clinic against Duke, another standout game in conference play. He moves methodically with the ball in his hands, looking for any sort of advantage to create offense against the defense. He can stop and pop on a dime in the mid-range, regardless of the defensive pressure. He has a feathery touch on his floaters. More intriguingly, from a scalability standpoint, he had several instances playing off his teammates to either knock down 3’s or attack closeouts -- also shooting 42.9% on 112 catch-and-shoot 3's this season, per Synergy Sports. He could have a bit more pop in movement, but he's good at subtly relocating to the right passing window. He still has room to grow as a playmaker, though his creation out of the pick-and-roll was intriguing.
Defense: On the ball, he’s a bit jittery, as he can bite on screens or dribble moves a bit too much. He’s a viable help defender, as his 6’10” wingspan is an asset when closing passing lanes. His help defense at the nail is intriguing, an area in which he can muck up driving actions to force turnovers.
Kyle Filipowski
17 points (6-13 from the field, 1-6 from 3, 4-4 from the free throw line), 8 rebounds, 5 assists (1 turnovers), 0 stocks, 4 fouls in 38 minutes
Offense: Filipowski is still working on his perimeter jumper. The mechanics aren’t bad, but it wasn’t falling last game — worth noting: he’s shooting 34.4% from 3, up from 28.2% last season. He’s a deft weapon in Delay/Elbow actions because of his screening and decision-making. He operates with ‘0.5’ second decision-making to dissect defenses as a driver or a passer. His skillset is tailored to be a connector at the top of the key.
Defense: I’m impressed with how Filipowski has fared when thrusted into different actions, primarily when he’s asked to defend a bit higher at the level of the screen. However, Wake Forest exposed his lack of vertical pop. They punished him for coming too high at the level of the screen with slip passes, and he struggled contesting at the rim — fouling in the paint. While Filipowski has done a lot to improve as a defender — primarily with his mobility and his defensive event creation — these gaps are still ones to monitor as he transitions towards becoming a full-time NBA 5.
Jared McCain
15 points (4-7 shooting, 3-4 from 3, 4-4 from the free throw line), 5 rebounds, 1 assist (0 turnovers), 1 steal, 1 block, 0 fouls in 36 minutes
Offense: McCain’s shooting is intriguing because of the variety in the ways he can get his shot off. He can pull up early in transition. In the halfcourt, he’s a deft off-ball mover that can square his jumper off the catch before letting it fly. He doesn’t have the ball-handling and passing chops to be a primary facilitator — which will be an element to be mindful of as a 6’3” guard at the next level — but he can leverage his body and physicality to generate advantages.
Defense: McCain is a feisty defender that forced Hunter Sallis to at least work for his shots. His frame bodes well defensively, as a low center of gravity and physicality allow him to absorb contact. He doesn’t let drivers push him to their spots. He flew around screens as well, making sure Sallis didn’t get a sliver of light. He’s also a solid positional rebounder for his size, an outlet for him to be a transition threat in grab-and-go situations. Obviously, tough to fully gauge the defensive performance with an opposing guard going berserk, but McCain illustrated solid technical elements in his defensive skillset.
Tyrese Proctor
14 points (5-10 shooting, 4-8 from 3), 3 assists (1 turnover)
Offense: Proctor and McCain are a great backcourt fit, because they can shoulder playmaking responsibilities together — along with Caleb Foster — to ultimately minimize their deficiencies as ball-handlers. Proctor is most optimal initiating in side actions and creating against a scrambling, attacking defense — leveraging pressure for his own shot, or for the extra pass. He’s a confident shooter as well, which is another bankable skill as an off-guard at the next level.
Defense: Again, tough to gauge overall defensive impact when the counterpart from the other team is on fire. However, Proctor has interesting defensive tools. He has the size to switch and hound other guards at the perimeter — and using it to also deter drivers as well.
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