JEFF WITHEY
7-0, 235 lbs.
School: Kansas
Class: Senior
Selected with 39th overall pick by Portland Trail Blazers
STRENGTHS: Withey was a monster in the paint defensively for Kansas, finishing second in the nation in blocked shots (3.9 per). He thoroughly dominated the interior, owning the paint and winning the National Defensive Player of the Year award. Withey is every bit of 7 feet tall, and uses all of his length on both ends of the floor. He’s got great timing on shots, and often comes up with possession after he blocks a shot, something lost on today’s big men. He’s also a decent athlete for a big man. He has a second gear that he can get to when he gets the ball in position to score. Offensively, he’s raw, but he was the most improved player on Kansas the past two years and put up 13.7 points per game. He’s also a good free throw shooter (71%).
WEAKNESSES: Like most big men prospects, he’s going to need to add some muscle. In his current state, he’d get pushed around down low. Withey can be awkward at times and doesn’t have a go-to offensive move that can work at the next level. He’s robotic in his motion at times and doesn’t run very well. There are questions as to whether or not he has the foot speed and athleticism to make it in the NBA.
BOTTOM LINE: Withey is a project on offense, but he can be an immediate difference maker on the defensive end of the floor. He improved so much in his time at Kansas that there is reason to believe his game can continue to grow. He won’t earn big minutes right off the bat, but in time there’s no question that Withey has the defensive talent and shot blocking skills to be a solid contributor in the league.