Even top-class new recruits in Japan find it difficult to break into the rotation as freshmen in high-major programs. This often makes these types of players inconsistent in their roles and difficult to get into a rhythm. Regardless, there’s always a freshman who blossoms as the year goes on and has the chance to make it to the NBA without being central to the roster.
These are the types of prospects who don’t get as much national attention as freshmen, but they’re great players who can make an impact at the next level.
In this week’s spotlight, we look to Indiana forward Malik Renaud, a legitimate NBA talent.
Malik Renaud (Forward | Indiana Hoosiers)
6’9″ | 235 lbs
Season Stats: 6.8 PPG | 3.8 RPG | 54.5% FG
Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times-USA TODAY NETWORK
Notable accolades
Once a standout player in the Montverde Academy and a five-star prospect, Renault’s ceiling is incredibly high. He was a top 25 player in his high school class and is predicted to make it to the NBA at some point.
With a good team in Indiana with a lot of experienced players, Renault is still trying to find its groove. He’s had a tough time coming in as a freshman and carving out his role, but the flashes he’s shown say he should be a big contributor one day.
Reneau recorded 63 DSI. This is his best attribute among Cerebro’s advanced metrics. He’s tallied his double-digit steals and blocks in just over 250 total minutes played this season.
The Indiana freshman got off to a very strong start early in the season, posting double-digit numbers in four of his first five games at college, but hasn’t achieved it since. As of today, it’s likely he’ll need another year at the college level before Renault makes the jump, but the NBA definitely has an advantage.
NBA Upside
Watching Renault play, it’s clear he’s an impactful two-way player with great size and length at 6-foot-9. He also has the unique opportunity to play under Trace Jackson Davis, the exemplar of the perfect college forward. got the chance to play.
His 3-point shooting and free throw efficiency needs a lot of work in relation to Renault’s offensive game, but he was efficient within the arc. He’s also an effective rebounder in limited action, and most of his overall numbers are promising when scaled out to larger fractional samples.
Renault has always played at the highest level, most recently making back-to-back GEICO High School National Championships before jumping to college level. He’s also shown over the years with various teams that he can be a highly influential role player with limited action, but he can also step up and become more of a focus.
With a size and capacity to meet many different needs, Renault has what it takes to join the league in the near future.
Want to join the discussion? Like Facebook’s Draft Digest follow me on twitter Stay up to date with the latest NBA Draft news. You can also meet the team behind the coverage.
