Category: Scouting Report

Donovan Clingan: NBA Draft scouting report and intel

2004 | 7’2 | 7’7 WS | 280 LBS Team: Connecticut Best aggregate mock draft rank: 7 / Worst rank: 19 2023-24 stats: In the 2023-24 season, Clingan played 33 games averaging 22.1 minutes per game. He scored 12.9 points per game, shooting 64.3 percent …

2004 | 7’2 | 7’7 WS | 280 LBS

Team: Connecticut

Best aggregate mock draft rank: 7 / Worst rank: 19

2023-24 stats:

In the 2023-24 season, Clingan played 33 games averaging 22.1 minutes per game. He scored 12.9 points per game, shooting 64.3 percent from the field, 28.6 percent from three, and 57.4 percent from the free-throw line. Additionally, he recorded 7.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 2.5 blocks, 0.5 steals, 2.0 personal fouls, and 0.8 turnovers per game.

His late mother, Stacey Clingan, played college basketball for the University of Maine.

Stephon Castle: NBA draft scouting report and intel

2004 | 6’6 | 6’9 WS | 215 LBS Team: Connecticut Best aggregate mock draft rank: 5 / Worst rank: 20 Agency: Wasserman Group 2023-24 stats: In 32 games, Castle averaged 10.7 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, with 2.9 assists. He shot 47.0 percent from …

2004 | 6’6 | 6’9 WS | 215 LBS

Team: Connecticut

Best aggregate mock draft rank: 5 / Worst rank: 20

Agency: Wasserman Group

2023-24 stats:

In 32 games, Castle averaged 10.7 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, with 2.9 assists. He shot 47.0 percent from the field, 26.2 percent from three, and 76.0 percent from the free-throw line. Additionally, he recorded 0.6 blocks, 0.8 steals, and 1.5 turnovers per game.

His father, Stacey Castle, starred at Far Rockaway High and was a teammate of current UConn associate head coach Kimani Young. He played briefly at Oak Hill Academy before committing to Wake Forest, where he played alongside Tim Duncan.

Ron Holland: NBA draft scouting report and intel

2005 | 6’8 | 6’11 WS | 206 LBS Team: G League Ignite Best aggregate mock draft rank: 3 / Worst rank: 12 Agent: Justin Haynes, Bill Duffy 2023-24 Stats: In 15 games of the 2023-24 season, Holland averaged 18.5 points, shooting 47.4 percent from the …

2005 | 6’8 | 6’11 WS | 206 LBS

Team: G League Ignite

Best aggregate mock draft rank: 3 / Worst rank: 12

Agent: Justin Haynes, Bill Duffy

2023-24 Stats:

In 15 games of the 2023-24 season, Holland averaged 18.5 points, shooting 47.4 percent from the field and 23.9 percent from three, with 6.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.1 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game.

Lions draft prospect of the day: Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas

Mitchell is a name to know for the Lions first pick in the 2024 NFL draft

Today’s Lions Draft Prospect of the Day is one of the more prominent candidates to be Detroit’s first-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft

The focus for these potential Lions prospects is on players who should hold some appeal for Detroit in the draft. Not all of them will be prominent names or high draft picks, though today’s is certainly a name most fans should be aware of already. 

Adonai “AD” Mitchell, WR, Texas

Height: 6-foot-2

Weight: 205 pounds (measured at NFL Scouting Combine)

Mitchell began his college career at Georgia, where he started right away for the Bulldogs’ national championship team in 2021. After a 2022 campaign where he caught just nine passes in six games and suffered an ankle injury that sidelined him for half the season, Mitchell transferred to Texas, where he played his high school ball in the Houston area.

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His one year for the Longhorns was a breakout season, with Mitchell catching 55 passes and scoring 11 touchdowns for Texas on the way to a CFP berth. Only 21 years old, Mitchell declared for the draft after the season.

 

What I like

  • Elite speed and impressive length as an outside receiver
  • Tested in the top one percent of all wide receivers in RAS over the last 37 years
  • Changes speeds and footwork in his releases well to create extra separation
  • Spent time working in a pro-style, timing-based offense in college
  • Good at tracking and adjusting to the ball in the air
  • Capable of the spectacular catch on a poorly thrown ball
  • Impressive power and strength after the catch
  • Sure-handed in his one year at Texas; just one drop in over 100 targets
  • Played very well when facing strong secondaries (Alabama, TCU)

What worries me going into the NFL

  • Under 100 receptions in three years of college football
  • Really downshifts to change direction and make breaks in routes
  • Doesn’t feel the holes in zone coverage consistently
  • Has Type 1 diabetes, which presents health management challenges
  • Surprisingly weak in contested catch situations
  • Inconsistent blocking effort and technique
  • Overall intensity and effort levels are all over the map
  • Lots of body-catching and stopping of momentum to secure the catch all the way in

Best game I watched: Kansas State

Worst game I watched: Oklahoma

Overall

Mitchell is a world-class athlete who has occasionally played football very well. He’s capable of being in the class of Justin Jefferson as a prolific big target with outstanding speed on the outside. But he rarely put that all together in his three years of college. Mitchell’s game-to-game — and even drive-to-drive — effort and engagement are rightly questioned, which could be a function of his medical condition. Risky prospect with a very high ceiling but also some technical drawbacks that would require ironing out to fit well into Ben Johnson’s offense in Detroit.

Cody Williams: NBA draft scouting report and intel

2004 | 6’8 | 7’2 WS | 180 LBS Team: Colorado Best aggregate mock draft rank: 3 / Worst rank: 17 Estimated NIL earnings: Over $150,000 (Celsius, Topps) 2023-24 Stats: Williams averaged 28.1 minutes per game, shooting 55.2 percent from the field, 41.5 …

2004 | 6’8 | 7’2 WS | 180 LBS 

Team: Colorado

Best aggregate mock draft rank: 3 / Worst rank: 17

Estimated NIL earnings: Over $150,000 (Celsius, Topps)

2023-24 Stats:

Williams averaged 28.1 minutes per game, shooting 55.2 percent from the field, 41.5 percent from three-point range, and 71.4 percent from the free-throw line. He also contributed 3.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.7 blocks, 0.6 steals, and scored 11.9 points per game.

His parents, Ronald and Nicole Williams, were both members of the United States Air Force. His older brother is 2022 former lottery pick Jalen Williams of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Zaccharie Risacher: NBA draft scouting report and intel

2005 | 6’10 | 6’11 | 210 LBS Team: JL Bourg (France) Best aggregate mock draft rank: 1 / Worst rank: 18 Across 51 games in all leagues, Risacher averaged 10.5 points, shooting 46.3 percent from the field and 39.1 percent from three-point range. He …

2005 | 6’10 | 6’11 | 210 LBS

Team: JL Bourg (France)

Best aggregate mock draft rank: 1 / Worst rank: 18

Across 51 games in all leagues, Risacher averaged 10.5 points, shooting 46.3 percent from the field and 39.1 percent from three-point range. He also contributed 3.3 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.3 blocks per contest.

Risacher’s father, Stéphane, won a silver medal with the French National Team at the Olympics.

Nikola Topic: NBA draft scouting report and intel

2005 | 6’6 | 7’0 WS | 201 LBS Team: Crvena Zvezda (Serbia) Best aggregate mock draft rank: 1 / Worst rank: 15 Agent: Misko Raznatovic In 13 Adriatic League games, Topic averaged 18.6 points and 6.9 assists per game, shooting 52.4 percent from the …

2005 | 6’6 | 7’0 WS | 201 LBS

Team: Crvena Zvezda (Serbia)

Best  aggregate mock draft rank: 1 / Worst rank: 15

Agent: Misko Raznatovic

In 13 Adriatic League games, Topic averaged 18.6 points and 6.9 assists per game, shooting 52.4 percent from the field and a three-point percentage of 28.2 percent. He also recorded 0.9 steals and 3.1 turnovers per game.

His father, Milenko Topic, is a former professional basketball player, head coach and gold medalist with the Yugoslavian National Team.

Lions draft prospect of the day: Tip Reiman, TE, Illinois

Lions draft prospect of the day: Tip Reiman, TE, Illinois scouting report

Today’s Lions Draft Prospect of the Day is an interesting tight end who appears to fit what the Lions want at the position. 

The focus for these potential Lions prospects is on players who should hold some appeal for Detroit in the draft. Not all of them will be prominent names or high draft picks, and that’s true of the subject today. 

Tip Reiman

Height: 6-foot-5

Weight: 271 pounds (measured at NFL Scouting Combine)

Reiman grew from a walk-on in 2020 into an offensive captain for the Fighting Illini in 2023. Primarily an in-line tight end, the South Dakota native hauled in 19 passes in each of his final two seasons at Illinois. He elevated his draft profile with a strong week at the Shrine Bowl, where the Lions met with him, and an impressive NFL Scouting Combine and pro day display.

 

What I like

  • Brings a physical presence as an inline run blocker
  • Good feet and decent leg drive on the edge as a blocker
  • Sure-handed receiver on outlet throws
  • Feisty competitor who isn’t afraid to mix it up or challenge defenders
  • Progressed nicely at engaging blocking marks at the second level and avoiding holding penalties
  • Great grip strength and hand/shoulder power for the position
  • Tested out much better than expected as an athlete
  • Physical and balanced after the catch
  • Considerable special teams experience

What worries me going into the NFL

  • Oddly short arms (32″) for his height
  • Very pedestrian mover in space; didn’t come close to playing with the athletic testing numbers he posted at the combine
  • Slow release from the line and plodding change of direction and breaks in routes
  • Can get stiff and rise up when forced to sustain blocks

Overall

Reiman is a great story in rising up from walk-on to venerated team captain at Illinois. He also proved to be a pretty good blocking tight end with reliable hands as an outlet receiver as his Illini career progressed.

An outstanding NFL Scouting Combine workout definitely attracted attention, but Reiman never displayed that sort of athleticism functionally on the football field. He lacks suddenness and quickness, playing with slow feet and average acceleration in the open field. Reiman projects as an inline-only blocking tight end with the capability of catching the outlet and red zone passes thrown his way. If you combine Lions reserves James Mitchell and Brock Wright, you’d come close to what Reiman offers in the 5th-6th round.

 

Lions draft prospect of the day: Blake Fisher, OT, Notre Dame

Fisher gets overshadowed by linemate Joe Alt, but he’s a very promising prospect in his own right

Today’s Lions Draft Prospect of the Day is overshadowed by a more prominent teammate in this class but is a very strong prospect in his own right. 

The focus for these potential Lions prospects is on players who should hold some appeal for Detroit in the draft. Not all will be top-100 players. This one figures to be, even if not all current projections reflect that. 

Blake Fisher, OT, Notre Dame

Height: 6-foot-6

Weight: 310 pounds (measured at NFL Scouting Combine)

Notre Dame’s starting right tackle for the past two seasons, playing opposite likely top-10 pick Joe Alt on the left side, Fisher started out playing left tackle for the Fighting Irish. He was the first true freshman to start the season opener at left tackle. Unfortunately, he tore his right meniscus in that game and missed the rest of the season. Fisher has stayed healthy and grew into a legit prospect in the last two years.

Fisher turned 21 in March. He met with the Lions at the combine and also during Notre Dame’s pro day.

 

What I like

  • Long build with arms over 34″ and large hands
  • Quick feet and lateral range in both the run game and pass protection
  • Has some jolt to his punch
  • Really good hip/shoulder coordination and fluidity for a taller tackle
  • Understands how to expand his angles without lunging or losing balance
  • Really good at pulling and engaging in space on the move
  • Keeps nice spacing and coordination on combo and duo blocks
  • Very rarely fooled by the pass rush; good football IQ
  • Decent anchor strength and he does a great job keeping his feet active while engaged
  • Technical consistency improved quite a bit as 2023 progressed
  • Plays with confidence and passion

What worries me going into the NFL

  • Will play too tall at times, negating his length and power advantages
  • Takes time to reset his long arms and recover if beaten initially
  • More of an occupier (but very adept at it) than a true people mover in the run game
  • Last guy moving at the snap too often, though that did improve as his career progressed

Overall

Fisher has optimal length and good athleticism to play either tackle spot. While he played right tackle for the Fighting Irish, he might project better as a left tackle in the NFL Fisher has nice feet and good foundational discipline, though he sometimes gets too tall. Most of his negatives are as much functions of inexperience as they are technical flaws, and his athletic upside gives Fisher a higher ceiling than most Day 2 tackles.

All the feedback I got from NFL sources after Notre Dame’s pro day was that Fisher will indeed be a Day 2 pick, perhaps quite a bit earlier than current projections would indicate. For the Lions, he’s an ideal developmental tackle who can potentially adapt at guard if needed. The ability to play right or left tackle and move well enough to play any scheme makes him a very appealing sleeper–as much of a sleeper as a Notre Dame lineman can be.

 

Lions draft prospect of the day: Malik Mustapha, S, Wake Forest

Mustapha is a very impressive athlete and offers some middle-round upside for a team like Detroit

Today’s Lions Draft Prospect of the Day is one of the most physically impressive figures in the 2024 draft class. 

The focus for these potential Lions prospects is on players who should hold some appeal for Detroit in the draft. Not all will be top-100 players, though today’s featured player could threaten to crack that mark. 

Malik Mustapha, S, Wake Forest

Height: 5-foot-10

Weight: 209 pounds (measured at NFL Scouting Combine)

Mustapha was a three-year player and two-year starter for a good Demon Deacons defense, primarily playing as a box safety. A transfer from Richmond after one year, Mustapha racked up 175 tackles, four sacks, 10 pass breakups, four INTs and also forced four fumbles in his three years in Winston-Salem. He was a team captain in his final season and appeared in the Senior Bowl. He led all DBs in bench press reps at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine with 22.

The Lions met with Mustapha at the Senior Bowl and informally at the combine. Age is not verified, but he was in the high school class of 2020.

What I like

  • Very impressive muscular build
  • Despite being very muscular, he’s not stiff as an athlete
  • Big-time hitter with an enforcer mentality in short-area coverage and run defense
  • Really good closing burst to the point of attack; GPS timed over 23 MPH in-game
  • Impactful between-the-tackles run defense, an excellent terminator of interior run plays
  • Good at avoiding blocks, and his angles to the ball have shown improvement
  • Disciplined in containment and gap assignment in the run game
  • Can turn and run with any RB or TE in coverage

What worries me going into the NFL

  • Bites hard on play-action and well-run route fakes and has never gotten better at avoiding it
  • Can be very late to recognize the ball in the air
  • Does have special teams experience but missed as many tackles (6) as he made for Wake Forest in kick coverage
  • Lacks length in coverage
  • Has an oddly small tackling radius with short arms (30″)
  • Missed tackle rate over 18 percent for three years, did improve in 2023 (12.5% per PFF)
  • Instincts in coverage are spotty
  • Wasn’t asked to blitz despite often being in an alignment where he could

Overall

Mustapha has a first-guy-off-the-bus build and the explosive athleticism to match. He did play some high safety and a little bit of heavy slot in college, but Mustapha doesn’t have the savviness or ball awareness in coverage to do that very often. In the NFL, he’s a box safety who is really more of an undersized linebacker. Think of a shorter Miles Killebrew but with much better run defense. Mustapha generally projects in the 90-150 overall range, an area where the Lions don’t currently have any selections.