Cam Whitmore Scouting Report: 2023 NBA Draft
By: Bryce Williams
It was a tumultuous season for the Villanova Wildcats in Kyle Neptune’s first year at the helm. The team dealt with major injuries to star players like Justin Moore, while dealing with the transition from Hall of Fame coach Jay Wright. The shining star of last year’s squad was Cam Whitmore, a highly talented freshman. Let’s take a look at what makes Whitmore such an interesting prospect and a future lottery selection.
THE BASICS:
Name: Cameron Whitmore
Age: 18
Height: 6'7"
Weight: 232 lbs
Position: Wing
School: Villanova
THE GOOD:
Whitmore has perhaps the most NBA-ready frame out of anyone in this year’s draft. Listed at 6’7”, Whitmore is built like a linebacker. He has shown great athleticism for his frame, bullying smaller defenders and blowing by bigger defenders. Whitmore will be one of the youngest players in this class, and he will be 18 by draft day. He has a high offensive IQ and knows when to choose his spots to take over. Whitmore commonly attacks hard closeouts to get to the rim and is not scared to use his frame to challenge shot-blockers. He has a multitude of finishes that makes him hard to defend in the paint. Defensively, he stands his ground as a solid on and off-ball defender. He’s able to use his size to wall up against drives to the rim and has the speed to keep up with quicker guards. Whitmore is also a solid contributor on the glass.
THE BAD:
While he has the confidence and the form, Whitmore was not a great shooter last year. He only shot around 34.3 percent from three. His handle will need to continue to grow to be an effective scorer at the next level, as he was not consistently able to create looks for himself. Within the Villanova offense, Whitmore had numerous opportunities at the low block against a smaller defender. He was not able to convert, even though his frame should make it easy to overpower someone that close to the hoop.
PRO COMPARISON:
Whitmore could have a similar role on an offense to Miles Bridges. Bridges, a hyper-athletic wing from Michigan State, was an excellent driver and finisher while he waited for the other areas of his game to improve.
CONCLUSION:
Whitmore has the frame, the tools, and the confidence to be a good piece on a contending roster. It will be a waiting game to see if the shot can develop or if he can create consistently for himself and others. Currently being mocked to the Pistons, Detroit would form an exciting young core consisting of Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, and Cam Whitmore. The three-headed monster from the perimeter would cause defenses to panic, and it would commonly leave Whitmore unattended. Whitmore should carve out a nice role in the NBA for himself as he continues to learn and grow as a player.
