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Photo Courtesy of Zagsblog.com
Devon Dotson is a 6-foot-2 180-pound four-star point guard that will be playing for the University of Kansas in the 2018-2019 college basketball season. Dotson is a true point guard; a two-way unselfish player that always makes the right decision and controls the floor. Dotson, along with fellow McDonald’s All-American Quentin Grimes will look to make one of the best backcourts in college basketball.
Dotson has tremendous finishing ability despite his lack of elite athleticism. His ability to get in the paint and finish with both hands is one of his greatest attributes. Dotson’s explosiveness allows him to easily get past defenders and either finish or pass out for an open shot. Dotson rarely takes outside shots, but still hits from the perimeter at an average rate.
Despite Dotson’s elite ball-handling and first-step, he rarely isolates. This could be due to a lack of confidence in his off-dribble shooting, something that must improve for him to succeed in the modern NBA. His 6-foot-2 frame may limit him in this regard, making it much more difficult to rise up against the ever-growing point guards, such as Ben Simmons and Spencer Dinwiddie, of the NBA.
In transition, Dotson uses his speed and handling to beat defenders down the court. He plays best in the open floor, often creating numbers mismatches for easy points. Dotson does not have the athleticism to finish over people, but will finish the break with a lay-up or assist every time.
Dotson is one of the best two-man game point guards in the 2019 draft class. Dotson’s finishing ability complemented with his vision will make the pick-and-roll a fantastic option for Kansas this season. Continuing, Dotson rarely turns the ball over. His advanced stats may shoot him up draft boards, similar to Jaren Jackson Jr.’s defensive rating and box plus/minus, as his pure point rating and efficiency will show his value.
While Dotson is undersized, he finds a way to make an impact on the defensive end of the floor. Dotson’s fast hands allow him to intercept passes and disrupt ball handlers. Averaging 1.8 steals per game in his senior season at Providence Day High School, Dotson has proved that he can be disruptive to ball handlers.
Devon Dotson is a true point guard that will be a contributor to a contending Jayhawks team this year, but that may not mean much to NBA teams. The NBA has turned to dynamic point guards with elite athleticism and length, making the true floor general a dying breed. As a result, Dotson’s ceiling is capped by his lack of size, verticality, and wingspan, but his decision-making and quickness should be valuable. His NBA comparisons include Chris Paul, though it would be a huge surprise if his career accolades mirrored those of the Point God. Dotson figures to be a late first-round to early second-round pick in the 2019 draft.