keaton wagler scout

wagler is every bit of 6’6 and is an elite shooter off the catch and dribble. Wagler was in the 89th percentile as an off-the-dribble shooter, and shot 37.7% on them overall (excellent). He has a ridicoulous jab cross stepback that he uses (and converts on) at least one time per game. He has a low release point, but he is 6’6 and the touch is excellent, with a two foot hop and a strong base. The wrist flicks and the shot looks the exact same every time. He shot 41.9% on guarded catch-and-shoot jumpers on 43 attempts. Hesis, turn arounds, whatever, wagler is a dangerous pull up shooter.

He can get it off movement as well, his handle is tight with a nice herky jerky pace to it that throws off defenders, stepping back the minute they bite on a drive. Using that handle and the threat of the shot lets him get downhill; hang dribbles and the hesistation to get in the air, between the legs, behind the back, and his favorite spin move going in either direction.

Wagler has to have these moves because he isn’t strong or athletic. While he dosen’t elevate at the rim, he draws a good amount of fouls, decelerates, has euro steps, two foot finishes, and a somewhat workable left hand. He’s really physical, often bumping downhill to gain leverage and score over defenders. He dosen’t go around defenders and goes straight to his spot is. Can finish from akward angles, move the ball around in the air, using the rim protect against centers. Made 56 percent of his attempts at the rim in half-court settings, but after though later on.

However, wagler lacks burst and strength on both ends of the floor. He dosen’t elevate much at the rim, gets his shot blocked sometimes, and has trouble holding that line. Creating space vs athletes is a real weakness for him. Faster players get back in front of him pretty easily. There’s drives where wagler scores, but there was no space created. The threat of the jumper lets him get there. He had zero dunks, which is bad. He also lacks a consistent mid range counter. Low release point hurts him in the mid range, dosen’t often shoot these, and he dosen’t shoot floaters either. When he did, he wasn’t efficient on them. Wagler has to really work for his looks, which is why he’s not projected as a no.1 option but more like a 2nd one. Can he stay consistent at the rim?

Nice feel for the game as well, can make kickout reads, skip passes from a live dribble, hit dump offs to his bigs, and makes the right decision every time he is trapped. He’s never rushed and plays to his strengths, He cuts off the ball and plays unselfishly. He does misfire when driving due to lack of elite vision.

Wagler was a pick-and-roll ball handler for 42.5% of his team’s possessions this season and ranked in the 93rd percentile. Wagler was a pick-and-roll ball handler for 42.5% of his team’s possessions this season and ranked in the 93rd percentile, averaging 1.080 points per possession, which Synergy categorizes as Excellent. He was also a spot-up shooter on 19.2% of their possessions and ranked in the 86th percentile, averaging 1.151 points per possession, which is also considered excellent.

His defense will be probably a negative early on. Bigger players bump him, and he needs to be more disruptive on defense. He gave up penetration too easily, even if he’s 6’6 he didn’t average 1 block or 1 steal this year. Really, he can’t really navigate screens at the level you would like. At least he has feel for where to be.