NBA Draft Scouting Report: Gonzaga's Ryan Nembhard
Ryan Nembhard
Guard | Gonzaga
Height: 6'0” | Weight: 170 lbs
2024 Draft Age: 21.36
Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports
Prospect Profile
Ryan Nembhard is the brother of Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard. While he doesn’t have the same frame of his brother, standing at just 6-foot, he still has great upside. After two seasons at Creighton, he’ll now make the same move his brother did and transfer to Gonzaga.
A real playmaker, Nembhard prefers to set up his teammates over score for himself. With that in mind, he can score when needed. Either way, he is comfortable being the lead guard and can facilitate a quality offense system. He combats his lack of size with IQ and good decision making. He’s also a solid shooter, converting on 35.6% of his shots from deep last season.
Over the past two seasons, he led his team in assists. As a sophomore, he notched nearly five per contest and even had a game in November with 12 dimes and zero turnovers. The margin for error is more thin for Nembhard as a prospect given his size, but if he can prove to be a quality backup point guard option at the next level, there’s tremendous value in that. Being the floor general of the second unit is a critical role.
Where the lack of height is really concerning is on the defensive end. While Nembhard does have grit combined with quick hands and feet, he’s limited in who he can guard effectively. Even some off-ball guards and most wings at the next level will have at least six inches of height on him. Proving he can hold his own this season on that end will be a swing factor for his draft stock.
In the NCAA Tournament last season, Nembhard proved he can perform on the big stage. He had a massive outburst of 30 pounds against Baylor, which was a game that he was needed to be the team’s primary scorer. In a new system at Gonzaga, he will look to once again play for a championship-caliber team and elevate their play on both ends ahead of the 2024 NBA Draft.
Highlights
Draft Projection
Second-Round Pick in 2024 NBA Draft.
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