Scouting Report: Jonah Radebaugh
Jonah Radebaugh already caught my attention in the second half of last season when he stepped up his game and played some really good matches in Ludwigsburg. But this season his role in the team is even bigger and he stepped up his game again and I believe there is a possibility that richer clubs will target him in this offseason.
PLAYER INFO
Position: G
Height: 191 cm (6 ft 3 in)
Date of Birth: 17/6/1997
Nationality: American
Current Team:
MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg
Previous Teams:
2020 Köping Stars
2020-present MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg
VIDEO REPORT:
OFFENSE
Shooting: He is a versatile shooter that can make shots of the catch and of the bounce. I wouldn’t describe him as a pure shooter but shooting is just a part of his game and he can bring good shooting percentages game after game. His percentages from all type of shots from different spots are very good this season and I’m confident that he is be able to sink the shots with decent percentages at higher level too. His release is pretty high and smooth and he doesn’t make any unnecessary moves in the shooting motion. Also the transition from the dribble into the shooting motion is fluid and it doesn’t take a lot of time. With his quickness and handles he is able to create enough separation for the shot too.
Pick & Rolls: Per InStat around 25 % of Radebaugh’s possessions this season were pick & rolls. That is a big number and he is doing a good job when he is running those type of plays. What makes him so dangerous in pick & rolls is his ability to shot, drive or pass the ball. He can do all three on high level and is basically a complete pick & roll player. It’s hard to tell which of those is his biggest strength but the defense needs to be prepared on everything. He usually makes good decisions and doesn’t make many mistakes which is another great sign.
Playmaking & passing: Radebaugh is not really a player that could run the offense all the time and is much better in the combo guard role or used as secondary ball handler. He has some good court vision and passing game and can dish assists but I wouldn’t trust him as my main playmaker. Very good and useful in drive & dish or drive & kick game when he draws the attention or out of pick & rolls where he is able to throw some sharp and precise passes. Let’s say that he is a very useful player that you love to have in your team and give him the ball when you need something to happen.
Isolation: Even though stats on InStat are showing that he is pretty bad in isolations and that he scores only 0.72 points per possession in isolation this season, I would say that he passes the eye test. As said, he is an all-around offensive player and can create the advantages in isolation. At the moment he is not capitalizing the shots but over years and with more experience I’m sure that he will be more efficient in those shots and that stats will also support my thesis that he is a good iso player.
Transition: It’s no secret that Ludwigsburg builds their game out of aggressive defense and there are usually a lot of fast break opportunities. Radebaugh is very good on open court where he can use his athleticism and versatile scoring very well. Capable of quickly bringing the ball to the basket or stop and take a shot with confidence in transition. Also loves to run without the ball and has a complete arsenal of weapons in his transition offense too.
DEFENSE
Perimeter defense: Radebaugh can offer a lot on the defensive end too. As mentioned before, Ludwigsburg plays aggressive defense on perimeter and Radebaugh plays an important role in that. He can play pesky defense on the ball handler and force him into mistakes. He isn’t scared of contact and uses his body and hands very well. His lateral movements and reactions are great and he is a player that you can rely on in defense.
Pick & Roll Defense: Radebaugh can play very good pick & roll defense. Per InStat, opponents score just 0.47 points per possession this season when Radebaugh is defending them in pick & rolls. He is again using his athleticism and body tools well but if you combine that with his footwork and the ability to fight through screens and if you add to that he is forcing opponents into tough shots you get a player that offensive player don’t want to face and play against.
Steals: Radebaugh has great feel and instincts for steals. There is no surprise that he is amongst the best in this category in German BBL and in Basketball Champions league. Of course good team defense plays a big part in that but Radebaugh is amongst the main perimeter defenders of Ludwigsburg and his role in defense is big. His hands are quick and also has good eye-hand coordination to react quickly. Intercepts a lot of passes to and usually those steals lead to easy points in transition.
Rebounding: Another thing Radebaugh is really good at for a player his size and position is rebounding. He is active as a rebounder on both ends and averages more than 5 rebounds per game and had similar if not even better rebounding numbers throughout his career and I think he can bring this quality to any team or league.
SUMMARY
There is really a lot to like in Jonah Radebaugh. Starting from his offense where he can bring scoring punch on all levels while also being a player that doesn’t look just for his points but can make some nice passes too.
An all around offensive player that can do a lot of the stuff very good but in my opinion he is even better in defense. His high motor and energy make life hard for most players that are facing him and Radebaugh is giving his best night after night.
In my opinion teams from top level will soon start calling and knocking on his doors and he could be the next player from Ludwigsburg that will finish in Euroleague.
