Cason Wallace Scouting Report: 2023 NBA Draft
By: Bryce Williams
Here at Next Man Up, we are enjoyers of guard play. Especially two-way guard play. Players like Jrue Holiday and Marcus Smart are players we love to nerd out about. Lucky for us in this draft cycle, an elite two-way guard is projected to be in the top half of the lottery: Cason Wallace.
THE BASICS:
Name: Cason Wallace
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 193 lbs
Age: 19
Position: Guard
School: Kentucky
THE GOOD:
The defense is what gets scouts excited at the next level for Cason Wallace. He has elite two-way potential in that he should be able to contribute heavily on both sides of the ball. He has easy All-Defensive team upside. Not only is he a great defender, he also loves to guard. Wallace will pester you for 94 feet for 48 minutes. Wallace has got super active, strong hands that will tip, deflect, and rip the ball out of your hands like candy from a baby. Defense is not the entire picture for Wallace however. His quickness allows him to get downhill quickly and ambush bigs at the rim. Wallace is confident in his shot and likes to get to a midrange pull-up, which he shot at around a 40% clip last year at Kentucky.
THE BAD:
While his defense is rock solid, Wallace’s offensive game is still a little bit shaky. He lacks a consistent perimeter shot, but his ability to shoot in the midrange and at the free throw line effectively points towards growth at the next level. He has not shown the ability to consistently create shots for himself, leading to concerns about whether Wallace can be a lead guard for an NBA team.
PRO COMPARISON:
When you turn on the film, seeing anyone other than Jrue Holiday is hard. Holiday is an elite, tough, two-way player that has grown into a consistent All-Defense and All-Star threat. If Wallace can grow into the perimeter shooter that Holiday is, he will be a vital cog in a championship team’s machine.
CONCLUSION:
Cason Wallace is the best defensive prospect at the top of his class. He has elite, All-Defensive team upside. His tough mindset and physical play style should translate well to the next level. His shot leaves some to be desired, but the potential is there for it to improve. Wallace has all the tools in the world to command a future $20 million plus per year contract in the NBA after his rookie contract.
