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Detroit Pistons #DraftDreams: Kyle O’Quinn

By Patrick Hayes

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Info

  • Measurables: 6-foot-10, 240 pounds, senior C from Norfolk State
  • Key Stats: 15.4 points, 10.4 rebounds, 2.6 blocks per game, 57 percent from the field
  • Projected: Late first/early second round
  • Hickory High Similarity Score

Why I’m intrigued by this guy

A big man who is tough, blocks shots, can sing and has an outside shot at being available early in the second round? Yeah, that’ll work.

Pros for the Pistons

Defensively, O’Quinn is a fantastic shot-blocker and won his league’s defensive player of the year award. Offensively, he’s a fantastic finisher and he has range on his jumper. Basically, he fits the exact bill of what the Pistons need. The downside is O’Quinn went from being a sleeper and potential steal in the second round to a guy who had a fantastic tournament run and has been great in pre-draft workouts, so the likelihood that he could surge into the late first round is growing.

Cons for the Pistons

O’Quinn’s offense will probably take some time to develop and the aggressive, relentless way that he plays will probably mean he’ll be foul-prone in the NBA. The Pistons are likely not looking for anyone they take in the second round to do more than play a reliable role, though, so those things definitely don’t out-weight O’Quinn’s many pluses. As I said above, though, it’s looking increasingly likely that the Pistons won’t be in a position to draft him. Also, as all Mid-Major players do, O’Quinn will face questions about how he will react to facing much bigger, tougher competition on a game-to-game basis once he gets to the NBA.

What others are saying

Chad Ford:

"O’Quinn has the most buzz right now. He’s coming off a terrific performance in the NCAA tournament, impressed scouts at Portsmouth and the Nets’ group workout, measuring a whopping 7-foot-4 wingspan at the latter event. For teams that need bigs who can contribute off the bench, he’s a very intriguing prospect."

DraftExpress:

"On the offensive end, O’Quinn finished consistently, but still needs to improve his polish as a post scorer and jump shooter. The center also impressed with his passing ability, seeing holes in the defense and using his high basketball IQ to find an angle to get the ball to open cutters. Though O’Quinn has been at no loss for exposure after Norfolk State’s upset of Missouri, there were some question marks about how his production might translate against similarly sized opponents in the NBA. He did an outstanding job putting those to rest, as it was clear that he’s one of the best players in the tournament from the moment he stepped on the floor."

Detroit Bad Boys:

"So why Kyle O’Quinn? Well what first struck me was his overall frame, but what sealed the deal was his ability to wear his emotions on his sleeve…something the Pistons have missed out on since Roscoe was around."

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