Deng Gak

Deng Gak, 6' 10”, Center, 18.2 years old, Australia, Class of 2017

Strengths
-A legit 6'10. Possibly taller. Seems to have grown since the last time we saw him
-Very skinny at the moment, but has a frame that is well proportioned and should fill out in the long term
-Long arms and big standing reach
-Quick off his feet. Can play above the rim with his length reach
-Raw offensively, but drops glimpses of intriguing potential that could be harnessed into more than that long term, especially with his face-up game
-Has a high release point on his jumper and sound shooting mechanics. Will make an occasional mid-range jumper with soft touch
-Shows the ability to put the ball on the ground in a straight line from the high post
-Uses both hands around the basket effectively
-Has some footwork in the post
-Doesn't always know what he's doing, but can move his feet and cover ground defensively
-Can contest shots on the perimeter

Weaknesses
-Frame is still very thin, which affects him significantly on both ends of the floor
-Doesn't handle contact that well inside the paint at the moment. Struggles to finish through contact around the rim. Not always strong with the ball. Hands are average. Gets balls stripped from him too easily
-Lacks a degree of toughness and explosiveness as a finisher in traffic. Partially due to his lack of strength
-Doesn't always know his limitations offensively. Decision making can be questionable. Has an 12/39 assist to turnover ratio in 29 games in the DX database
-Doesn't protect the rim at a high rate right now. Has blocked just 14 shots in 387 minutes in the DX database (one every 27 minutes).
-Doesn't have great fundamentals or awareness defensively
-Will get overpowered or run over by stronger players in the post or on the perimeter. Can improve his stance
-Motor comes and goes. Reaches aimlessly. Takes himself out of plays. Still figuring out the nuances of being a good defender.
-A project on both ends of the floor

Outlook Born in Cairo, Deng Gak is a raw 18-year old South Sudanese big man (via Sydney, Australia) who has made significant strides every time we've seen him the past two years. Still at an early stage of his development skill-wise and physically, but has huge potential to continue to grow based on the flashes he shows. Getting recruited at the highest levels of college basketball, and for good reason.

Jonathan Givony

Strengths:
-Excellent frame that should fill out nicely in time
-Very long arms. Big hands
-Very good athlete. Quick off feet
-Solid offensive rebounder
-Reliable hands
-Can finish impressively off two feet
-Uses both hands around the basket
-Provides some rim protection with physical tools
-Shows some ability to switch on the perimeter defensively
-Only born in 1998. Played up by two years at U19s

Weaknesses:
-Thin upper body that will take time to fill out
-Lack of strength affects him significantly on both ends of the floor
-Feel for game, experience level still a work in progress
-Limited player offensively
-Inconsistent from game to game still. Production isn't always there.

Outlook: Sudanese born big man who emigrated to Australia. Raw, but physically gifted. Looks to have made major strides from last year. Competitive. Shows some intriguing flashes offensively. Will be interesting to see how he continues to develop.