Scouting Report: Rashard Kelly
After a few reports on some great scorers it’s time for some different profiles and there is probably no better name than Rashard Kelly. He doesn’t stand out statistically but does so many things on the court that he deserves some attention from clubs from higher levels.
BACKGROUND INFO
Position: PF
Height: 201 cm (6 ft 7 in)
Date of Birth: 22/8/1995
Nationality: American
Previous clubs:
2018–19 Parma Basket
2019–20 Aquila Basket Trento
Rashard played college basketball for Wichita State for four years. In those four years combined he averaged 4.5 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. Maybe someone would expect better stats but most of his game can’t be tracked with stats. He started his professional career in Parma Perm in the VTB league and played in the VTB All-Star game that year. Then he went to Italy where he played for Trento in Italian league and in Eurocup.
VIDEO REPORT:
OFFENSE
Shooting: Shooting from distance is one of his main weaknesses so far. He can hit some shots here and there but not consistent enough and capable of some bad misses when completely open too. His release is on the slower side and needs time and space for shot. Also not the smoothest release and some fixes need to be made in his shooting mechanics. If he manages to improve his shot to at least a decent level and to be around 30 % behind the three point line and his free throws percentages above 75 %, his market value would increase by a lot.
Versatility: One of his strengths in offense is his versatility. Can play on both forward positions in offense and be used in many ways. He can play on perimeter handling the ball while also showing some back to the basket game on low post. Fluid ball handler for a player his size. On post ups he can create some separation or move bodies but again lacks the shooting touch from mid range and on fadeaways. He is also showing some good court vision and playmaking skills from the low post and knows how to create some points for himself or his team mates.
Transition: As mentioned before, Rashard is really fluid with the ball in his hands and that can be seen well in transition. Usually bringing the ball forward after securing a rebound and rarely having problems handling the ball. Also likes to run without the ball and looking for easy points or dishing some assists. Athletic enough to outrun other forwards and showing some good feel on open court. Transition plays are a big part of his offensive game and they are on a high level.
DEFENSE
Perimeter Defense: Defense is the part of Rashard’s game where he is excelling the most. He can defend basically all positions and in the quarterfinals series against Anadolu Efes he was defending Vasilije Micić, Krunoslav Simon, Tibor Pleiss and some other players - basically all positions. He moves his feet well, has solid reactions and is not afraid of contact. His defensive versatility and switchability could be really useful in most teams on any level.
Off-Ball Defense: Rashard is also a high IQ off-ball defender. His court awareness and rotations are on the highest level, covering so much ground and usually rotating at the right time. With his athleticism he can even make some blocks from the weak side. Really smart team defender that can cover up the mistakes from his teammates and hold the defense together.
Post Up Defense: When you are defending all positions, you need to be able to hold your stance and defend something down low too. Rashard has no problem defending wings on low post but sometimes having a hard time defending taller and bigger players. He lacks elite length but he is replacing that with his athleticism and strong body.
Rebounding: Even though he is not the tallest player he can help his team a lot in rebounding. Showing some good instincts and timing for rebounds and can compete with taller guys too. Goes after every ball and as I already mentioned before, he likes to push forward after grabbing a rebound and look for points in transition.
Steals & Blocks: With his great court awareness, Rashard is usually at the right place at the right time. Great anticipation and can make some deflections or interceptions. Similar story with his shot blocking. Rotating well and contesting shots at the rim. Not elite shot blocker but probably above average in comparison to players with his size.
SUMMARY
Rashard Kelly is not a player that will score many points but he will get the job done. Versatile in offense and can play in many roles on many positions but his career path will depend a lot on his ability to make open shots. So far he is not consistent enough but if improves his percentages to a decent level, he could become a great player for the top level.
Defensively he can offer a lot to his team on basically any level already but has some room to improve too.
I think he should get some offers from teams that play in international competitions.
