Lightning-Quick Combo Guard Brings Instant Offense to the Association
There may be some question marks surrounding Coby White’s game as the 2019 Draft
approaches, but none of them will be about his ability to score the ball.
Known for his expansive locks, White broke the North Carolina high school
scoring record before arriving in Chapel Hill and broke Michael Jordan’s
freshman scoring mark when he got there.
Defenders are bigger, stronger, just as athletic and vastly more experienced at
the next level, but when a youngster’s posted stats like that, it’s very likely
they’ll be able to score on the big boys.
The blazing-fast combo guard came to North Carolina as a pure scorer, but
refined his point guard skills along the way. And while certainly not a finished
product in that department, will come to the Association with more than just a
big offensive resume.
But it’s that offensive resume that’ll land White in the Lottery – possibly as a
top 10 pick.
As a freshman, the 19-year-old averaged 16.1 points per, canned 82
three-pointers, posted three games of at least 30 points and tallied 562 total
points, leading his home-state Tarheels to the Sweet 16. He shot 35 percent from
beyond the arc last year and has NBA-level range on his shot.
If Virginia’s system slowed its pro prospects down, North Carolina sped them up.
The lighting-quick White flourished in Roy Williams’ up-tempo offense as a
fearless scorer and facilitator in transition. White might be quicker end-to-end
than the two point guards expected to go before him – Ja Morant and Darius
Garland – next Thursday night.
White is what they call a “three-level” scorer. He has an explosive first step
and gets to the rim easily, where he finishes well with either hand. He has a
mixed bag of tricks in the mid-level game: pull-ups, step-throughs, euro-steps,
giant-slayers. And he can drill the three-ball, despite an unconventional
shooting stroke.
For such an efficient scorer, White – who has a very low release point – might
have to tweak the mechanics on his jumper at the next level. He’s adjusted to it
to this point – using his outstanding ballhandling abilities and quick trigger
to create space. Despite all that, he was still one of the most efficient
catch-and-shoot players in the country last year.
Scouts like the way his point guard skills developed over the course of his
freshman campaign. He had some of his best games as a playmaker in March against
top-shelf competition. He’s already an above-average passer in pick-and-roll
situations, and his above-average size – 6-5, 185 – should allow him to play on
or off the ball in the NBA.
But there are some question marks about White.
He’s not viewed as a top-level athlete, like Morant, and he doesn’t yet have the
pure shooting stroke of Garland. In terms of measurables, his below-average
wingspan concern scouts who don’t see him as a top-level defender.
The Wilson, NC native plays a high-speed, aggressive style which is both a
positive and a negative. He can be out of control at times and – whether or not
it’s a product of the system – has shown some questionable shot selection,
attempting 6.6 triples per contest at North Carolina. White also closed the
season on an eight-game shooting slump.
Lottery teams are often looking for added scoring punch – and if that comes in
the form of a point guard, all the better. White should be able to get buckets
at the league level, but plenty of guys can fill it up. But taking him in the
top 10, some franchise will expect him to develop into a complete guard – and
maybe the face of the franchise.
White broke the North Carolina state scoring record in high school and then
eclipsed Michael Jordan’s freshman record at UNC. Photo by David Dow/Getty
Images
STRENGTHS The Cavaliers saw how a dynamic point guard can transform an offense
and White is built in the same mold – an aggressive, explosive, end-to-end
player who can score from almost any point on the floor. And like Sexton,
White’s game is still a work in progress.
Arguably White’s biggest draw is his blazing speed – he’s virtually impossible
for opponents to stay in front of. He’s a nightmare in transition, creating
opportunities for himself and his teammates. But he’s just as deadly in the
half-court set, able to blow by defenders with a quick-twitch first step and
very good finishing at the rim upon arrival.
White is in constant attack mode and welcomes contact at the rim. But he’s also
crafty in the mid-range game, which makes him even tougher to check considering
his ability to accelerate past perimeter defenders.
Despite shooting just 35 percent from deep, scouts see him as a relatively
polished shooter, despite his unorthodox release point. His percentages on
catch-and-shoot triples were as good as almost any in the country.
WEAKNESSES White doesn’t turn 20 until midway through February, so there’s
plenty of time to fix some of the warts that he’ll bring into Association.
While his calling card is his end-to-end speed, he still needs to find the right
gear for the right situation. At times, he can play too fast, leading to
turnovers and poor possessions. He averaged 2.7 turnovers per as a freshman.
Defensively, White has a long way to go. He doesn’t have the physical traits to
be a top-shelf defender, with a light frame and short wingspan, but does move
well laterally and has quick hands.
MEASURABLES: Body Fat: 4.3 percent | Hand Length: 7.75 inches | Hand Width: 9
inches | Height without Shoes: 6 feet 3.5 inches | Height with Shoes: 6 feet
4.75 inches | Standing Reach: 8 feet 1.5 inches | Weight: 191.4 pounds |
Wingspan: 6 feet 5 inches
HOW HE’D FIT Word on the street is that White has already received a promise by
a Lottery team and will be snagged somewhere in the top 10. He has a skillset
that should see him in a team’s starting lineup not long after opening night.
After just a single season of college, he’s still rough around the edges,
especially as a pure point guard who can get others involved. He’ll be playing
with a lot of guys who broke state high school scoring records in a few months.
The offensive-minded White has similarities to both Collin Sexton and Jordan
Clarkson. But the Cavaliers already have one of each – and they’re quite pleased
with both.
They say you can never have too much of a good thing, but the Wine & Gold’s
issues last year weren’t backcourt scoring. And anything can happen on Draft
night.
Media Content:
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