College Prospect Spotlight: Xavier’s Desmond Claude

This week, we highlight the spectacular play of Xavier wing Desmond Claude.

The college season is officially underway, as teams around the country look to make a run at the NCAA Tournament. Many of these contests early in the 2023-24 campaign can be extremely interesting as rosters begin to mesh and first-year players find their footing.

As this is happening, future NBA talent begins to shine. There's always a handful of college players who don't get as much national attention as they deserve, but are incredible players that could make an impact at the next level.

For this week’s spotlight, we take a look at Xavier wing Desmond Claude, who has legitimate NBA talent.

Desmond Claude (Wing | Xavier Musketeers)

6’6” | 207 lbs

Season Stats: 25.0 PPG | 3.0 APG | 50.0% 3PT

Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer-USA TODAY NETWORK

Notable Accolades

One game into the season, Claude has proven to be a legitimate sophomore breakout candidate. Coming off of a Big East All-Freshman Team nod last season, he was a player that entered his sophomore season with quite a bit of momentum.

He didn’t disappoint in Xavier's opener, notching 25 points and three assists while hitting two of his four triples. Claude will have every opportunity to take that next step and continue this success in the current season, especially given the elevated role. Xavier graduated quite a few perimeter players, clearing the way for him to be a focal point of the offense. 

NBA Upside 

A former four-star recruit, Claude has always possessed the size and skillset to play at the NBA level dating back to his late high school days. The current Xavier guard struggled from beyond the arc last season overall, but improved as the year went on. He shot the ball very well in the season opener, which provides optimism for his offensive game at the NBA level. Not only is there shooting upside, but Clause is also a solid passer for his size on the wing. 

Defensively, Claude notched a 68 DSI last season according to Cerebro Sports, which speaks to his impact on the defensive end. That could make the difference in his draft positioning, especially if the offense remains highly productive. He can play a similar role that Colby Jones did last season after being selected in the early part of the second round in the 2023 NBA Draft. A similar type of player on the defensive end, Claude is versatile enough to guard at least three positions effectively. 

While it's never smart to put any prospect in a box, Claude feels like a very effective NBA role player that could develop into more with his two-way impact. 

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