Evan Mobley: 2021 Scouting Report

Bio and Measurables:

Strengths: Evan Mobley is a consensus top three pick and quite possibly the most interesting prospect at the top of the board. In an NBA era where unicorn big men have become coveted as an essential piece to an organizations future, Mobley fits the bill. Defensively he does everything you need from an elite rim protector and shot blocker. His ability to stay straight up while defending on the ground or in the air is one of the main reasons he averaged more blocks than fouls per game during his freshman year. In an era where many foul call could be labeled as questionable and the rules are ever changing to encourage an offensive game, Mobley’s ability to stay on the floor and out of foul trouble will aid in his development. As a shot blocker, he not only played strong defense on his own man but was timely in offering weak side help. In the situations where Mobley notched a rejection to his stat line, a lesser defender would have allowed the opposing player to score or get fouled. He has also shown he can defend on the perimeter. Even though he measures in at 7-0 his quick hips allow him to stay in front of his man even when switching the pick and roll. Combining his current status as a perimeter defender with his shot-blocking prowess Mobley’s ability to perform on the defensive end is extremely valuable. At the next level, he may not be able to stay in front of the quicker guards out on the perimeter however, as he grows and adjusts he will be a defensive anchor in the league. Offensively, Mobley has the potential to become one of the premier big men in the league. Though he is still developing his jumpshot, he has shown that his touch and fluidity on the offensive end has a high ceiling. While playing for USC he flashed the ability to stretch the floor from behind the arc, even if it was a small sample size, shooting 30% from deep (12/40). As a 7ft three level scorer Mobley will have the opportunity to either roll or pop when setting screens because of his shooting ability, allowing NBA offenses more room to operate in the half court. Finally, during his freshman year he showed that he has the potential to become a playmaker and active passer at the next level. As big men continue to evolve in the league, being able to run the floor and pass the ball is becoming an essential skill. While he played within his role,  Mobley did start the break on occasion which allowed him to show his dribbling and passing potential. Mobley may be the second or third prospect selected in the upcoming draft, but will be a two way centerpiece for years to come. 

Areas of Improvement: For everything that Mobley does well on the floor he also has areas of improvement that should be addressed as soon as possible. First and foremost, even though his current body type gives him the ability to move a bit quicker than other big men around the court, he needs to bulk up. He has the frame to put on the muscle and strength needed at the NBA level and this should come as his organizations training regiment becomes routine. The player that Evan Mobley currently is doesn’t necessarily need to get bigger because he can space the floor. However, if he wants to become the best version of himself, gaining muscle will open up more avenues in his game. This is true both defensively and offensively. On the defensive end Mobley often struggles to hold post position when a larger/stronger defender is on the low block. At the next level, a majority of big men will use this advantage to score against the young big. If he can gain the muscle mass to contend in the post he will have a much easier time defending some of the league’s premier centers. Offensively, adding healthy weight to Mobley’s body could help him work on his unpolished post game. While he has shown good footwork and touch around the rim, in the form of floaters and jump hooks, his lack of strength has often times pushed him off the block similar to how he is getting pushed on the defensive end. If he is able to address these issues he will become better defensively and add a more traditional post game to his future team. 

External Factors: Basketball has always been in the family when it comes to Evan Mobley. Mobley’s father played college basketball at Portland and Cal Poly Pomona, his mother won a high school state championship as a player in San Diego and his brother Isaiah played alongside him this year at USC. 

Medical History: Evan Mobley has no public history of injury or medicals. 

Summary: Mobley is going to be a top three pick in the draft and the first center off the board. His ability to protect the rim and challenge defenders even when he is away from the rim or sliding from the weak side will be a major advantage in the NBA. As a rookie it is also essential to gain development minutes to continue to grow, and Mobley’s ability to avoid foul trouble should help keep him on the floor for extended periods of time. A three level scorer who has shown he can space the floor, expect Mobley to continue to shoot from behind the arc in the flow of the game. During his time at USC putting the ball in his hands produced successful offensive possessions even if he wasn’t scoring. Being able to control the flow of the game and get capitalize on his potential playmaking ability should be a major point of emphasis during his rookie year. If he continues to grow as a ball handler and playmaker he could be the next great “unicorn” in the NBA. However, if Mobley is unable to add muscle his offensive and defensive impact could be diminished due to his inability to stand his ground against the opposing center. Even the smaller centers, in terms of weight and strength, are bigger than Mobley in todays NBA. In all, his strengths far outweigh the areas of improvement and we should expect Evan Mobley to be reach an All-Star level ceiling in the a few short years. 

MIP Projection: Top Three