Wildly Unnecessarily Lengthy 2015 NBA Draft Board, Part 4: NCAA Centres
Thomas Gipson
Despite being 6'7, it is hard to call Gipson anything else other than a center. He is a paint-exclusive player, and he's a tank in there.
Not entirely unlike Brad Waldow above, Gipson is a finisher and a position-getter underneath the rim. It is very difficult to take position back off of him once he's gotten it off of you. Gipson bullies his way to the line, scores frequently and efficiently, combining this strength with a very good foul stroke, good post feet, spin moves and reverse finishes. He gets position and makes a target for the guards, and although he is limited to screening when away from the basket (showing no sign of a consistent jumpshot), Gipson does at least have a running hook shot he very much underutilises. There is offensive ability to be found, and if he hasn't the look, he does a decent job of passing it back out.
The Waldow comparison, however, is a style comparison rather than a standard one. Smaller than Waldow, Gipson is also less poised and doesn't have as good of touch. He struggles a bit when contested, travels fairly frequently and can be stripped by helping defenders, which, combined with his lack of height and length that makes it less than automatic to feed him a pass over the top, limits his post game.
On defense, there are significant problems. In no way an athlete and anchored by slow feet, Gipson is perennially slow to rotate, both on the perimeter and the interior. This is largely to blame for Gipson's constant foul problems, and although he improved in this department as a senior, this is in part due to less attempts to contest. The same lack of great length from above limits Gipson's effectiveness as a shotblocker, and although the big man will step across and try to take charges, this isn't easy for him to do.
Like others on the list, Gipson has had NFL workouts since completing his college basketball career. This speaks to his size and strength. It might also be the better fit for him - as big as he is, for basketball, he might not quite be big enough. Nevertheless, at the right level, Gipson is an offensive presence and occasional rebounder whose lack of athleticism. The Big 12 was just about the right level.
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Despite being 6'7, it is hard to call Gipson anything else other than a center. He is a paint-exclusive player, and he's a tank in there.
Not entirely unlike Brad Waldow above, Gipson is a finisher and a position-getter underneath the rim. It is very difficult to take position back off of him once he's gotten it off of you. Gipson bullies his way to the line, scores frequently and efficiently, combining this strength with a very good foul stroke, good post feet, spin moves and reverse finishes. He gets position and makes a target for the guards, and although he is limited to screening when away from the basket (showing no sign of a consistent jumpshot), Gipson does at least have a running hook shot he very much underutilises. There is offensive ability to be found, and if he hasn't the look, he does a decent job of passing it back out.
The Waldow comparison, however, is a style comparison rather than a standard one. Smaller than Waldow, Gipson is also less poised and doesn't have as good of touch. He struggles a bit when contested, travels fairly frequently and can be stripped by helping defenders, which, combined with his lack of height and length that makes it less than automatic to feed him a pass over the top, limits his post game.
On defense, there are significant problems. In no way an athlete and anchored by slow feet, Gipson is perennially slow to rotate, both on the perimeter and the interior. This is largely to blame for Gipson's constant foul problems, and although he improved in this department as a senior, this is in part due to less attempts to contest. The same lack of great length from above limits Gipson's effectiveness as a shotblocker, and although the big man will step across and try to take charges, this isn't easy for him to do.
Like others on the list, Gipson has had NFL workouts since completing his college basketball career. This speaks to his size and strength. It might also be the better fit for him - as big as he is, for basketball, he might not quite be big enough. Nevertheless, at the right level, Gipson is an offensive presence and occasional rebounder whose lack of athleticism. The Big 12 was just about the right level.
