Chicago Bulls: Top 12 point guards and scouting reports in 2021 draft
CAMERON THOMAS. 8. 23.0 Points, 3.4 Rebounds, 1.4 Assists, 0.9 Steals, 0.2 Blocks, 41% FG, 33% 3PT, 88% FT, 34 Minutes Per Game. Point Guard. Louisiana State University
Height: 6 Feet 4 Inches
Weight: 210 Pounds
Wingspan: Not Reported
League: NCAA
Draft Age: 19.68
Draft Projection: Late First Round
Though a five-star recruit in the high school graduating class of 2020, Cameron Thomas didn’t come to LSU with massive expectations. However, he finished his freshman season with a historic scoring line. Very few freshmen have scored over 22 points per game in a major conference, yet Thomas will likely find himself selected in the late first or early second round.
There is no doubt that Thomas is a talented scorer, though, at this point, there are many more question marks than strengths with him. His efficiency this past season was not where it should have been, though one would expect some dip due to the sheer volume of shots he took. However, perhaps the most concerning part of his inefficiency is his three-point shooting, as he is a smaller guard who will need to hit outside shots as a pro.
Additionally, Thomas has been a largely one-dimensional player to this point in his young career. In the NBA, the most competitive league in the world, pure-scorers are a dime a dozen. If Thomas wants to have a long career in this league, adding playmaking or defense to his game will be imperative. There is optimism for his range as a scorer, though, as his free throw shooting was phenomenal on nearly eight attempts per contest.
Although Thomas probably won’t ever be a good defender or playmaker in the NBA, at minimum he could provide a major scoring boost off of the bench, barring his efficiency improving at the next level. However, given that his usage will decrease immensely as a professional as well as his elite free-throw marks, this is a real possibility.