Sam Dekker made his debut with the Wisconsin Badgers in 2012 and ever since there has been rumblings of the kid eventually leaving for the NBA.
There’s no doubt he made the right decision by forgoing his senior year and making the jump to the pros, but the questions lie in how will his game translate to the next level?
Dekker’s best strength is his sneaky athletic ability as he frequently surprises you with his quick step to the lane and an above average move to the hoop. He’s also a great shooter from outside and he appears to have NBA-range. His stock really took off this season as the Badgers made a very deep run to the national title game. Dekker is leaving at the right time.
There are some glaring weaknesses however, which will be significant barriers to success at the pro level.
The most concerning was his production at the charity stripe.
Another problem I see Sam Dekker encountering when trying to be a first-round prospect next year is his inability to take over a game and be a top option in an offense. He’s had a ton of chances to be the main guy in Bo Ryan’s offense and he’s failed to stand out in my opinion. While he has been a consistent scoring option, guys like Frank Kaminsky have shown a greater propensity to be the center of attention and take over.
Here is the Sam Dekker highlight reel:
Here’s where we have Sam Dekker in our latest NBA mock draft:
16. Boston-Sam Dekker, SF, Wisconsin, 6-9, Jr.
After battling injury early this season, Sam Dekker saw his draft stock stock soar thanks to a terrific showing in the NCAA Tournament. His size, versatility, and athleticism are attractive to NBA teams and he could be the small forward of the future for the C’s.
Nick Grays is a senior writer at the Sports Bank where he covers the Wisconsin Badgers and Green Bay Packers. He also enjoys sharing Fantasy Advice and pretends to be a Golf expert from time-to-time. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here or visit his blog Nick Knows Best. If social media is not your thing, shoot him an email at grays@uwalumni.com.
*Pictures obtained from zimbio.com and msn.foxsports.com.