NBA Draft: Cam Whitmore Continues to Hone Swing Skill
One of the more polarizing players in the 2023 NBA Draft pool, Villanova’s Cam Whitmore had one of his better performances of the season in Monday’s 77-73 win over Georgetown.
He didn’t explode for 20-plus or showcase his above-the-rim athleticism in any major way, but he showed some confidence in the swing skill that’s likely going to directly impact his position on draft night: shooting.
Whitmore posted a fine stat line against Georgetown — 13 points, four steals, two assists and a block — with plenty of his high-flying athleticism intermingled throughout. But his three triples on five attempts were far-and-away the most important stat for him on the night.
At 6-foot-7, Whitmore has all the physical aspects you want in a scoring oriented wing. He’s got a strong frame, he’s lengthy and has some of the all-world athleticism that’s propelled several stars in the NBA.
He’s got solid body control and has enough of a first step to think he has creator potential down the line in the NBA. But time and time again we’ve seen these archetypes fizzle out without legitimate outside game. And that’s what makes Whitmore’s 3-point shot so pivotal.
So far, Whitmore’s shot a respectable percentage from beyond the arc. And that’s even accounting for a last-second preseason thumb injury that was sure to hamper his overall game in the earlier part of the season.
He’s hit 18 of his 50 three-point attempts so far this season, and is now averaging averaging 13.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.3 steals while shooting around 50 percent overall in 26 minutes per game.
They’re not staggering numbers, but they’re certainly good enough to see the potential down the line.
If Whitmore can continue to show confidence and consistency in his outside scoring ability, the rest of his attributes will carry him as far as he’ll want to go in the 2023 NBA Draft.
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