Tristan Thompson

Strengths

Left-handed… At 6'9", 235-pounds, Thompson has very good size and excellent athleticism to create a solid combination forward prospect… On the low blocks, Thompson has shown vast improvement, beginning with his demanding the basketball when he has a defender on his back. He can score with either hand as his go-to move is a baby hook shot over his shoulder, favoring going into the middle of the paint and away from the baseline. In the low blocks, he uses his quickness well, spinning off his defender for an open look or for a short jumper. He is becoming more and more comfortable operating offensively with his pull-up jumper from the mid-range, or one move and score in the low post… Thompson has terrific energy and a great motor that keeps him chasing down loose balls and around the glass for second-chance opportunities or starting a transition break going the other way. He uses his athleticism well on the glass to put himself in better rebounding position or snatch the ball in mid air… He takes pride on the defensive end of the court as he works hard to challenge shots and deny the ball into the post or block cuts through the lane… Thompson uses his strength to overpower opponents and utilize his quickness and length to run the floor for easy baskets making him a top prospect for the NBA Draft…

Weaknesses

The challenge for Thompson will be to play more consistently and dominate the paint on both ends of the floor. He has the talent and skills to do so, but it fades from the game during short stretches… To continue his development, Thompson should continue to improve his jump shot from 12-15 feet out. He also will need to develop counter low-post moves, like an up-and-under for when defenses begin to play him towards the middle…