NBA Draft: Villanova's Cam Whitmore Checks a Lot of Boxes for Oklahoma City Thunder

A look at Cam Whitmore, an explosive forward out of Villanova, and why the Thunder might target him in the 2023 NBA Draft.

With the 2023 NBA Draft just two and half months away, the Oklahoma City Thunder will soon be adding another first-round talent to the roster, assuming they elect to keep their pick. And while currently projected to hold the 10th pick according to Tankathon, it’s no secret that the Thunder have plenty of assets to move up the board.

One prospect that seems to be a no-brainer is Cam Whitmore, a 6-foot-7 forward who is projected to go in the top five after finishing up his freshman campaign with the Villanova Wildcats averaging 18.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.1 threes, and 2.1 steals per 40 minutes on 57.1 true shooting across 26 games.

This is just an everyday, casual dunk for Cam Whitmore... pic.twitter.com/HzH8Yg6oC1

— dustin (@thunderdustin) August 31, 2022

The Thunder have plenty of guys who can handle and pass the rock, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey, and Jalen Williams headlining that list. But beyond that, there’s also Luguentz Dort, Aleksej Pokusevski, Kenrich Williams, and even rookie center Jaylin Williams. Those guys might not be Giddey, but they certainly are capable of keeping the ball moving and finding the open man. But the Thunder just don’t have enough guys that consistently take advantage of some of the incredible passing that this team displays on a nightly basis.

That’s where Whitmore comes in.

A great example of the ball movement Mark Daigneault wants in the Thunder offense

Great passing from Poku and Kenrich to find an open Wiggins for 3 pic.twitter.com/dahQwFZJi1

— Andrew Schlecht (@AndrewKSchlecht) October 28, 2022

The first thing that stands out about Whitmore’s game is his incredible vertical athleticism and physicality that helped him throw down 28 dunks in 26 games and finish 65.8% of his 114 shots at the rim. Turn on the tape and you will see shades of New Orleans Pelicans’ forward, Zion Williamson. That’s how explosive he is.

At 230 pounds, the big-bodied forward has a first step that allows him to blow by defenders from a standstill with ease, generating a ton of rim pressure. Whitmore showcases impressive acceleration at his size, too, providing him the tools to exploit slow-footed and/or weaker defenders. On top of that, he’s able to quickly pop off the ground, absorb contact, and use his elite vertical to finish over the top of the defense as both a cutter and slasher, making him a huge offensive threat – in transition and in half-court – that the opposition simply can’t ignore.

Whitmore is capable of knocking down shots from beyond the arc, too. Whitmore probably isn’t the next Klay Thompson or Desmond Bane, but the powerhouse athlete did launch over nine 3-point attempts per 100 possessions and knock them down at a 34.3% clip and shoot over 70% from the free throw line. Those numbers are solid indicators that his outside shot can translate to the NBA.

I really think Cam Whitmore is the third best player in this class, elite athleticism, great frame, good handle, solid shot, feels like the perfect modern wing.

He is also 2 years younger than Brandon Miller (who was a 20 year old freshman btw) pic.twitter.com/25rzmpw5FE

— Teg🚨 (@IQfor3) March 30, 2023

His freakish athleticism has helped him find success on the defensive end of the floor as well. Whitmore isn’t the most polished defender at this point in his career, but he still proved to be incredibly impactful for Villanova, notching a steal percentage of 3.2 and a block percentage of 1.6 – impressive numbers. Whitmore also secured 20.3% of all available defensive rebounds, helping to put a period on his opponents’ possessions.

And by all accounts, he’s also a high character kid – something the Thunder’s General Manager, Sam Presti, places a premium on.

Just ask Adam Spinella, host of ‘The Box and One’ podcast, who has coached at the AAU level against Whitmore. Spinella characterized Whitmore as being “grounded in his faith” and “quiet by nature,” saying he “doesn’t command the spotlight with his personality” in a scouting report he wrote in March. Spinella even shared a story about how Whitmore influenced his teammates to capitulate after they refused to move after being made aware that they were sitting in the wrong seats.

At just 18-years old, there is no doubt that the Villanova product ticks a lot of boxes for the Thunder. He’s young, explosive, and has a high ceiling.

Whitmore, in theory and in time, would pair well as a complementary piece around a corp of young talent that can give him the ball in advantageous spots. And it’s not too far-fetched to think he might be the perfect replacement for Dort who could be on the move sooner rather than later after struggling to find consistency within the Thunder’s offense this year.

But if they want him, it looks like they might have to part with additional assets barring some luck on lottery night, as it will likely require trading up to the fourth, fifth, or sixth pick as things currently stand. And Presti, who famously cited lyrics by A Tribe Called Quest, saying “scared money don’t make none,” isn’t afraid to break the bank to go and get the guy he wants.

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