Scouting and Highlights: Eddie Thigpen (2017)
Eddie Thigpen is long, athletic guard/wing who stands in at around 6’3″-6’4″. He helped his team reach the quarterfinals this year, earning 1st team all-conference along the way. He thrives in fast-paced systems both offensively and defensively. When he’s pressuring on defense and running in transition is when he’s at his best. Currently, he has up to D3 interest, but I believe he might be able to play at a higher level than that if he develops. He’s still very raw, but he has made a tremendous amount of improvements since last year. If he continues to improve at this rate, his potential is high given his physical gifts.
Here’s my take on Thigpen’s game:
Strengths:
Physical gifts – While he’s definitely not the tallest guy on the court, he has enough height to have good size at the guard position. Couple that with his long arms, and he’s got an ideal basketball frame. In addition to this, he’s quick and speedy, which makes him tough to defend and allows him to be a solid defender.
Defense – His defense is perhaps the strongest part of his game. He’s very good at pressure defense and is capable of doing so in the full-court. He’s got a knack for getting his hands on the ball both when defending on-ball and off-ball. He’s also a solid shot-blocker.
Rebounding – While he may not be a team’s number one glass cleaner, he rebounds better than most guards/forwards. He has long arms and is a quick leaper, so he’s capable of going up and getting it. He gets a lot of points off offensive rebounds.
Finishing – He’s a solid finisher. His long arms and quick leaping ability allow him to finish over/around bigger defenders. Also, when he does miss an easy layup or a finish around the rim, he does a good job cleaning up his miss with an offensive rebound and, usually, a put-back.
Areas For Development:
Shooting – He needs to improve his shooting if he wants to be super effective at the next level. He can make shots, especially a pull-up midrange, but his shot is awkward and it’s evident it needs work. Shooting is the most easily improved skill in basketball, however, so it’s just a matter of putting the time in.
Handles – Along with his shooting, his handles will need to improve in order to be successful at the next level. This will help him become a better shot creator and playmaker in the half-court. Similar to the shooting, this is something that can easily be turned into a strength with some time in the gym.