No. 1 seed Kansas is looking to become the first school to win back-to-back National Championships since Florida in 2006 and 2007. If the Jayhawks pull off history, there is no doubt freshman wing Gradey Dick will be a key contributor.
It didn't take very long for Dick to make an impact at Kansas. The five-star recruit and 2022 Gatorade National Player of the Year quickly emerged as one of the best NBA prospects in college basketball because of his elite perimeter shooting.
Dick averaged 14.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.4 steals per game, earning a spot on the All-Big 12 Second Team in a year where the conference was believed to be the best in the NCAA.
What will Dick bring to the NBA team that selects him? Take a look at his strengths, weaknesses, 2023 NBA Mock Draft projection and player comparisons below.
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Gradey Dick strengths
Dick is one of the best 3-point shooters in the country and at 6-8, it's easy to see why NBA teams would consider him a lottery pick.
The freshman wing is a flamethrower, knocking down 39.9 percent of his 5.8 3-point attempts per game. With a smooth, high release, Dick only needs a split-second to get his shot off against even the tightest defense.
He already has NBA range and during his freshman season, he proved there is no 3-point shot he can't make. Kansas used all types of screens to free up Dick for open looks, flying off of flares, pin downs or double screens ready to catch and shoot.
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If he doesn't have an open look off of the catch, Dick is capable of pump faking, putting the ball on the floor, making one quick move and getting back into position to fire away. His ability to shoot on the move is what separates him from other marksmen in this class, and he's always trying to find open space.
Beyond his biggest strength, Dick is also an active cutter in the halfcourt. In transition, he's a threat when he runs the lane because he can fade to the wing or corner for a 3, or dive to the rim as a lob threat with deceptive athleticism.
He brings a ton of energy on the defensive end and on the glass, willing to make winning plays on both ends of the floor. He has the height and length to develop into a versatile 3-and-D prospect, he's just not there yet.
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Gradey Dick weaknesses
Defense is Dick's biggest weakness, but it's not from a lack of effort. At 19 years old, he still has a lean frame, listed at 205 pounds despite being 6-8.
He will certainly be an easy target when he first gets to the NBA but as he builds strength and gets quicker laterally, he should be able to develop into a solid perimeter defender.
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Dick also isn't much of a shot creator aside from a few quick moves to buy an extra second before launching from 3. He won't beat defenders off the dribble in isolation and attack the basket, but he's shown an ability to finish at the rim as a cutter. If he wants to be more than just a 3-point specialist, he'll have to get more shifty and explosive off the bounce.
Gradey Dick NBA Mock Draft projection
Mock Draft projection: No. 12 overall
In my latest Mock Draft, which was published after the NBA All-Star break, I had Dick going 12th overall. While the lottery is his commonly projected range, there is no doubt a team in the top 10 would consider the freshman wing if they desperately needed perimeter shooting.
Gradey Dick NBA player comparison
Plays like: Klay Thompson
I see shades of Thompson in Dick's game because of how effortlessly he shoots the ball out of all different types of actions. While Dick is nowhere near the defensive stopper Thompson was, there's a similarity in his ability to score from the outside in bunches without needing to even put the ball on the floor.