Profiling the sophomore from Wisconsin.
Sam Dekker may not be a household name but he is definitely a player any coach would like to have on his roster. In a game always seemingly in need of long-range sharp shooting, Dekker certainly has the tools to fill that niche. The Wisconsin Badger’s 6’7,” 220 lb small forward is an irreplaceable part of the team’s success this season, currently ranked 21st in the nation and coming off a gutsy win over Michigan State.
Dekker is seemingly in perpetual motion on both sides of the floor, incessantly coming off curls or screens or hounding his man trying to do likewise. Possessing classic size for his position, Dekker combines his activity with his acute spatial awareness to great effect. He moves well without the ball with timely cuts and fills empty space naturally. His awareness extends towards his teammates and opponents also, often displaying a knack for seeing plays develop a step ahead by hitting teammates with crisp passes or gambling correctly in the passing lanes. You could argue that he plays better off the ball than he does with it which isn’t necessarily a bad thing if you ask some coaches. The perfect role player is as necessary to the winning formula as the go-to star and Dekker shows a good amount of promise to be the former.
By far Dekker’s greatest weapon is his jump shot. He is essentially the stereotypical, tall, white American player that hangs around the perimeter and shoots threes. If you have to be one-dimensional, deadly shooting is near the top of the list of preferred dimensions to have. Dekker has much going for him in this department, with solid height, high elevation on his jumpshot, strong mechanics, and most importantly a lightning quick gunslinger’s release. Dekker can get his shot off quickly and also over most defenders which is vital at the NBA level. His three point percentage has taken an alarming drop this season, to 33% from the 39% his freshman season but this in large part to an increased role in the offense which has resulted in defenses keying in on him, resulting in hot and cold shooting displays.
Dekker does not possess the overall skill set to carry an offense as of yet. Doing most of his damage off catch-and-shoot situations, Dekker runs into trouble frequently when the defense makes him put the ball on the floor to drive or shoot off the dribble. Dekker is a mediocre ball handler that keeps his dribble too high, possibly because he seemingly has T-Rex arms. He can go to his right or left comfortably but struggles in traffic against length and can get caught occasionally if an outlet pass isn’t available. Dekker does possess deceptive athleticism but he isn’t a strong finisher. He could improve in this department as he matures and puts on muscle.
Dekker shows a lot of potential as a spot-up shooter in the NBA, the kind of player that the Spurs can plug into their system and make 29 other GMs look foolish. He is not particularly NBA ready, especially not physically and greatly needs to work on his ball handling as well as becoming a more consistent shooter if he is to see consistent minutes. He’ll also need to show scouts a better mid-range game and employ some floaters and runners into his arsenal to overcome his physical shortcomings. Dekker will likely remain a first round prospect though thanks to his motor and advanced understanding of the game beyond his years, possessing building blocks of an exemplary role-player as a 3 & D swingman.
NBA Comparison: A raw, poor man’s Mike Dunleavy, Jr.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
