UCLA Basketball: NBA Draft Profile

Many players leave the UCLA Basketball team and make it big time, however few do it right out of their freshman year. Kevon Looney is expected to be one of the lucky freshman who is a top NBA pick for 2015. Go Joe Bruin is here to give you some of the key information you should know about Looney.

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UCLA Bruins

About Kevon Looney

Height: 6’ 9″

Weight: 222 lbs.

Wingspan: 7′ 3.5″

Standing Reach: 9′ 2″

Although Looney was one of the new guys on the team last year, he really contributed to the success of the Bruins this past season. Coming from Milwaukee, WI, Looney took L.A. by storm. He started in all 36 games, averaged 11.6 PPG and lead the team with 9.2 RPG.

Not only did he rank second in the Pac-12 in rebounds, but also led the conference in offensive rebounds per game (3.4). He also ranked second in the conference with 15 double-doubles, the highest among all freshmen in the nation. While at UCLA, Looney became the school’s first freshman to total at least four double-doubles in his first five games. An impressive resume and, to put it briefly, Looney made it look easy in Southern California.

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Why Looney Will Be An Asset

Dec 20, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; UCLA Bruins forward Kevon Looney (5) shoots the ball against Kentucky Wildcats during the second half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

Looney attacks the ball high. At 6-foot-9 with a 7-foot, 3-and-a-half inch wingspan, there is no doubt that he poses a challenge to all of his opponents, even large ones.

As a rebounder, he is aggressive. Looney was a leader in rebounds not only in the Pac-12, but across the nation. He attributed his ability to knowing where the ball would end up as instinct, but it is clear that rebounding is something he dedicates a lot of his time to. In fact, he has even said that it is something he has been working on ever since he started playing at home with his dad and brother.

When focused, he has the potential to be a great defender. This season he averaged 0.9 blocks per game but with some seasoning, he could play even better.

As a team player, he is unselfish. Although the spotlight had been shining on him throughout the season, you could tell Looney was not cocky, but confident. It was clear to fans that he was willing to put in the effort to make a name for himself as a freshman at UCLA.

What Looney Has To Work On

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Like many of the other UCLA Bruins this past season, the key for success that Looney needs to work on is consistency. We have seen a lot of offense from him in the form of offensive rebounds, but finding a way to score consistently without allowing other players to close in on him during his shot will help him crash the offensive glass.

It seems as though Looney will need to pick up the pace a bit as well. On the court, it appeared as though he was a bit sluggish at times. He did well around the rim, but as an overall perimeter player, he needs work. It would have been great to see how much he could have improved had he chosen to stay with UCLA basketball a bit longer, but with some work on his upper body strength, transitions, and by making sure to stay out of foul trouble, Looney has the potential to be a great power forward in the NBA.

Draft Projections

Draft Express: #23 Portland Trail Blazers

NBA.com: #20 Toronto Raptors

Yahoo! Sports: #20 Toronto Raptors

ESPN: #19 Washington Wizards

NBADraft.net: #23 Portland Trail Blazers

Summary

Kevon Looney needs some time to develop further, but with continued hard work and dedication, we can expect to see a significant improvement in his ball-handling skills. As a first-round prospect, it seems that whichever team gets Looney will be signing a great young player with a sky full of potential.

UCLA Basketball: NBA Draft Profile – Kevon Looney

By Jessica Chaoui | Jun 23, 2015