Kelly Oubre Jr.

McDonald’s All-American Recap:

Oubre appeared to be at 6-foot-7,  which is good size for a small forward. When you combine his height with a long wingspan and—most importantly—freak athleticism, Oubre has all the physical tools to be a productive finisher at the rim.

And that’s exactly what he showcased in Chicago — the ability to get to the basket in a straight-line fashion, and then finish. The lefty plays above the rim on the break, whether he’s handling the ball or trailing the wings. Oubre excels in a transition-heavy game right now.

This is a new development in Oubre’s game. Throughout the previous two years (most recently during the EYBL circuit this past summer), Oubre was hardly the type to attack the rim. His first instinct was to shoot 3’s, and then continue shooting 3’s to see if he could heat up. Aside from the occasional transition bucket, Oubre hardly looked to feast at the rim. He didn’t showcase a great jump shot in Chicago (0-5 from 3-point range), but Oubre is a proven shooter in my book. Combine shooting ability with a newfound purpose attacking the rim, and you have a player who is filling out the holes in his game.

That being said, it seems Oubre still hasn’t developed the most vital skill holding him back this summer: ball handling. Simply put, he still can’t handle the ball under pressure right now. When faced with pressure in the half court, Oubre retreated and eventually picked up his dribble, essentially moving the basketball further away from the basket.

Oubre needs to work on his ball handling in order to move the ball forward, let alone create shots for himself. He’s a terrific athlete who explodes through the lane, but his potential is seen in glimpses because he literally picks up his dribble every other play. It’s tough for him to create shots right now.

McDonald’s All-American Preview:

I’ve known Kelly and his family since his sophomore year at Bush (TX) High School, when he played alongside then-senior Cameron Ridley. He had a stellar high school career—beating the rival Harrison twins three times as a junior—but Kelly fell under the radar playing on the Houston Hoops, an AAU team stacked with wing prospects such as Justin Jackson and Justise Winslow. Jackson and Winslow got the majority of the minutes and touches.

Now at Findlay Prep for his senior campaign, Oubre has “mysteriously” skyrocketed into the top-10 of the rankings. He’s always had the game, but now he finally has the opportunity to showcase his skills.

At 6-7, 195 pounds, Oubre is an athletic swingman with the most bounce in the country. He quickly runs the floor and has a rare second bounce to finalize plays above the rim. In the half court, the lefty has a smooth jump shot out to 3-point range. Excellent potential as a cutter as well. Can shoot it, slash off the ball, and finish in the lane.

But right now, Kelly is a streaky shooter, and he struggles to handle the ball under pressure. His improvement in these two areas will determine if he has a future in the NBA, because the physical gifts are certainly apparent. Oubre is a tireless worker with a burning desire to improve, and he has the upside to be the best perimeter player in the class.

Maybe I’m inherently biased, but I think Kelly will be an absolute stud at Kansas. With continued development—namely, adding muscle and handling the ball under pressure—Oubre has the natural talent to be an instant contributor in Lawrence, and then some.

Elite 24 Showcase 2013 (New York, NY)

Observation 2: Kelly Oubre needs to improve his ball handling

I’m a huge fan of Kelly’s game, especially as an NBA prospect. Like I’ve said before, he plays with a smooth and gracious flow, is extremely versatile and has supreme bounce, I believe he will be a first round pick in the 2015 or ’16 Draft.

That being said, the Elite 24 exposed one of his weaknesses, which he’ll need to improve on: ball handling. Right now, Oubre doesn’t consistently break his man down off the dribble, and often telegraphs his movements, lunging towards the direction he is going. He’s not very comfortable advancing the ball vs. pressure.

Oubre often keeps his head down when driving, leading to strips and turnovers. He’s one of the most electric players in transition, and I think he’s a future pro, but his ball handling needs work.

Big Strick Classic 2013 (New York, NY): On Friday, Oubre was the star of the scrimmage, scoring 36 points, including five 3-pointers. He followed that up on Saturday with a 25-point, 9-rebound outing, earning game MVP honors.

Frankly, Kelly Oubre is one of the five best players in the country, and projects to be a 2015 first-round pick. He has smooth range on his lefty jumpshot, guards three backcourt positions, has supreme bounce and length, and can both dribble and finish with his off hand (right).

Oubre is a great athlete who feeds off his defense to create transition opportunities. He can make plays off the dribble and finishes with thunderous authority. The kid is a moving pogo stick with unreal bounce and a mean streak.

Nike Global Challenge 2013 (Washington D.C.): Already a solidified freak athlete and defender, Oubre knocked down a series of 3-pointers in D.C., indicating he is making strides towards reaching his potential. He also continued to make plays off the dribble and finish above the rim. He’s already a Top-20 player in the country, but if he begins to shoot it with more consistency, he’s a Top-10 player for sure.

Nike Peach Jam 2013 (North Augusta, SC): Oubre is a great athlete who feeds off his defense to create transition opportunities. He has freakish athleticism and length, making him a versatile defender. He can make plays off the dribble and finishes with thunderous authority. Oubre is versatile enough to legitimately guard three positions on defense, and has shown a knack for rebounding in traffic. The kid is a moving pogo stick with unreal bounce and a mean streak; when Oubre is clicking, he has the makings of a future pro.

His biggest concern is his jumpshot. If he can shoot it more consistently, he’ll elevate his game a notch. Right now, he plays on a wing-heavy Houston Hoops teams, so I certainly wonder how he’d benefit playing alongside a traditional point guard.