2012-13 statistics:
- 18.7 PPG
- 11.1 RPG
- 2.4 BPG
- 50.9 FG%
- 78.9 FT%
Mike Muscala enters the NBA draft after four years at Bucknell. Standing 6’11” and weighing 239 pounds, Muscala is intriguing due to great length, mobility, and size. He has the ability to run the floor, finishing on fast breaks and making an impact on transition defense. His length aides him on defense, disrupting and blocking shots.
Offensively, he can score by posting up and facing the basket. Most impressive is his footwork and patience; Muscala takes his time, using polished post moves to create scoring chances. Facing the basket, he displays much of the same patience, with a shooting range of just inside the college three-point line. His ability to score off the pick and pop will aide in his transition to the NBA.
He moves his feet well on defense and does a good job of creating a wall by keeping his hands up. As stated before, his length strengthens his blocking ability, but more impressive is his ability to stay out of foul trouble, averaging only 2.2 fouls per game his senior year. Muscala shows a desire to crash the offensive glass, and his ability to position himself in the right spots on defense strengthens his ability as a rebounder.
To succeed at the pro game, he will need to get stronger. While he knows how to position himself well in the post both offensively and defensively, opposing post players are able to knock him out of position or prevent him from even getting it. What’s slightly worrying is often Muscala was the biggest player on the floor (particularly in the league play), so if he has trouble maintaining position against smaller opponents, he will not bode well against the much bigger and stronger competition in the NBA. Muscala will get stronger as he adapts to the pro game, but whether or not he utilizes that added strength remains to be seen.
Still, there is a lot to like about Muscala. He shows ideal traits for an NBA big man both physically and fundamentally, and these alone should catch the eyes of general managers. He will likely be drafted in the 2nd round (our current mock has him selected at 38 to Washington), but by this point, he will be a low risk prospect that could excel his rookie year given he plays a supporting role for a more established team.
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