D-League NBA Draft Prospect: Elijah Pittman, G/F, Delaware 87ers

After a rocky collegiate career, Elijah Pittman held his own in a limited stint in the D-League and is hoping to get a call on Draft night.

After covering Aquille Carr, Minor League Hoops will take a look at another enigmatic player eligible for the NBA Draft who ironically played at Delaware this past season in a limited stint much like Carr. Wing player Elijah Pittman, similar to Carr, is probably on the outside looking in coming into this draft, but he does offer enticing skills, athleticism and tools as a player. Let's take a deeper look into Pittman, how he fared in the D-League, and what his outlook will be for the NBA Draft and beyond.


Who is Elijah Pittman?

Pittman is a physical specimen that has attracted all coaches at all levels in his playing days. At 6'9, 210 pounds, Pittman has shooting ability to play both guard and forward on the wing, and though his dribbling isn't the strongest aspect of his game, it is good enough to merit playing time at the shooting guard position.

While his physical skills have never been in question, it's Pittman's maturity and questionable decision making that has held him back as a player. In junior college, he was dismissed from the Chipola Junior College in Texas in April due to multiple arrests. In October of his first season at Marshall University in 2012, he was involved in an altercation with a male Marshall student where Pittman faced misdemeanor battery charges (he later made a plea agreement). After eight games at Marshall his senior season (last year), the Thundering Herd suspended him indefinitely and he decided to leave the team after the suspension to pursue a professional career (more on that below). Off the court, Pittman hasn't done much right.

But on the court, Pittman has produced, especially at Marshall. His junior year was extremely promising as evidenced by his comprehensive stats courtesy of DraftExpress. Take a look at his per 40 stats in his two seasons with Marshall:

And then take a look at his efficiency stats in his first year at Marshall:

In his junior year, Pittman produced a PER (player efficiency rating) of 20.1. In the 8-game sample his senior year, he was on his way to surpass that with a 26.6 PER. His usage rate increased from 22.6 his junior year to 32.2 his senior year, and it was obvious that Pittman was turning into a reliable, go-to-guy for the Herd. He had three 30-plus scoring games in his eight game sample his senior year before his suspension, though they did come against pretty inferior competition (South Carolina State, Morehead State and UNC Wilmington). But regardless of competition, it is interesting to see if Pittman could have turned into a premiere player in the Conference USA judging by his impact and usage his senior season with the Herd.


So how did Pittman get to the D-League?

After Pittman was suspended, it seemed like Pittman had run out of chances at the collegiate level. Considering his past legal and off-the-court issues, it seemed very unlikely he was going to get back with the team and transferring didn't seem like an option for it was unlikely he was going to get another chance with another college, let alone another Division 1 school. So, much like Glen Rice Jr. the year before (who was dismissed from Georgia Tech), Pittman left Marshall and decided to go the D-League route to prepare for the NBA Draft.

In a good profile with Mid-Major Madness, Pittman acknowledged his mistakes and vowed that he has changed for the better. Here are some comments about the changes he made personally in his life and his drive in preparation for the draft:

"I’ve spent a lot of time handing out food for the homeless," said Pittman. "I also helped administer used clothes to the homeless with Kroger grocery stores. But other than that, I eat, sleep and drink basketball. I want coaches to know that I’m as hard working and humble as anyone else. I want an opportunity in the NBA more than anything, and to prove people wrong and that I am cut out for this."

The 87ers, who have been more than willing to take a flier on guys with checkered histories (see Carr and Norvel Pelle), ended up signing Pittman, hoping that his new outlook and the experience from the problems had changed him for good. Though he only played 10 games and averaged 20.6 minutes per game, Pittman stayed out of the media when it came to off-the-court issues, which is a success for him considering how bad his reputation was prior to signing with Delaware.


So how did Pittman do in the D-League?

Pittman didn't replicate his college production, but that was to be expected. The 22-year-old wing was a late addition, and considering how poor Delaware played this season (they finished 12-38), I'm sure trying to fit into the 87er squad wasn't an easy endeavor. The lack of experience with the team and his struggle to find a rhythm at a much higher level of play had the most effect on his efficiency, as his PER dipped to 12.7 and his TS % hovered around 54% according to DraftExpress, and his PIE (Player Impact) was 5.8%, according to the D-League stats page.

But considering his experience and his late exposure to the team, Pittman certainly held his own. He averaged 10 points per game and 3.6 rebounds per game in the 10 game sample and continued to show many of the skills that made him such an enticing prospect. For starters, Pittman's outside shooting carried over at the D-League level in some regards, as he proved to be a solid catch and shoot player. 66.7 percent of his 3 point shots came unassisted, and 33.8% of his points came from beyond the arc in his time with the 87ers. Pittman shows good shot form, with a high arc and clean release, and with his size, it makes it difficult for smaller wing or perimeter players to contest it. Let's take a look at Pittman's shot chart for the year, and pay specific attention to where he made most of his 3-point shots:

Pittman proved to be very efficient from the corner, especially from the right side. Considering how NBA teams like to spread the ball around and find those shooters in the corner for the 3 (heck, just look at the Spurs and Heat), Pittman could prove himself to be valuable to many different NBA squads. How he progresses with this outside shot and dependable he can be with it could be the difference from him finding a spot in a NBA rotation or being a Minor League lifer who spends a majority of his professional career in the D-League or overseas.

Though his outside shooting has garnered a lot of praise, Pittman has also showed a strong ability to dribble drive and finish around the rim. Here's a possession in a D-League game where he recognizes the advantage in the matchup and finishes successfully around the rim.

Pittman (located in the right wing around the score ticker) makes a good crossover move on the wing defender, recognizing the space open in his area, which is prime for him to dribble drive into. The BayHawks are throwing some kind of zone look with the post defender manning the middle sagging heavily off his man at the top. From here, it really depends on Pittman's skills and athleticism in terms of how this possession will finish. If he is athletic and strong in his drive, he'll get the bucket or fouled. If he isn't, it could result in a turnover or blocked shot.

Let's see how it finishes:

He successfully drives by the wing defender and as expected, the post defender helps and picks him up. Pittman however continues to attack, seeing the middle of the lane open and knows to be aggressive. At his size, he can hold his own with both post defenders (look at the other defender lurking on the left block), but he has the athleticism and speed to drive by them as well. Which results in ...

This excellent finish at the rim. Not only does he get by the slower post defender, but Pittman sidesteps and finishes on the right side, knowing that the help is coming from the left block. And thus, the post defender on the right block can't defend it because he can't match his athleticism, and the right block defender just is too late in terms of helping, unable to defend due to Pittman's adjustment. It's this kind of ability to recognize the defense and finish appropriately that makes Pittman a special player. And if you look at the shot chart above, Pittman was very reliable around the rim, as he was above league average at 63.3 percent. Check out the highlight video below and you'll see Pittman doing much of the same things on tape.



If Pittman has any weaknesses, it may be the fact that his game isn't very diverse beyond scoring. He isn't as strong a rebounder as you would imagine considering his size. He only averaged 0.9 offensive rebounds per game with Delaware, and his rate was 5.1 percent his junior season as well (5.0 percent in the smaller senior season sample). In order to take advantage of his size and ability to score around the rim, he has to be more active in terms of getting loose balls and second chance points (only 1.9 second chance points average last year). Also, defensively, while he has the length and size to affect opposing wing players, he doesn't show as much commitment or consistent energy on the defensive end of the ball. While that is something that can improve (after all, he has the natural gifts to be a better defensive player), it is something he needs to be aware of going forward if he wants to stick on a NBA roster.

While Carr may be a genuine longshot, Pittman has more of a punchers chance to get selected in the second round. While the odds are long, it is obvious he has the skills, size and athleticism to compete for a NBA roster spot. He showed immense promise not only in his time at Marshall, but in his short stint with Delaware, especially when you consider the situation he was going into (late in the year, losing team, etc.). Of course, his off court issues will definitely hurt him in this draft, and could be one of the big reasons why he could go undrafted next Thursday. Fellow Thundering Herd alum Hassan Whiteside had many similar "character issues" despite being a first round talent, and those issues eventually led to him being out of the league and bouncing from overseas team to overseas team currently (he was recently released by a Lebanese professional team) despite his skills and size. I think Pittman is a lot more mature than Whiteside was entering the draft (after all, Pittman has experienced a lot more "consequences" in comparison to Whiteside), but it wouldn't be surprising to see NBA front office members hold the Whiteside flame out against him due to them both being from Marshall and both having a history of character issues. It may be unfair, but that's kind of how things go when it comes to evaluating players to draft sometimes.

Whether he is drafted or not (my guess is no), it'll be interesting to see his progression next year as a full-time professional. Even if he makes it back to the D-League next year, he certainly is the kind of player who could make an impact with a D-League team immediately. And, starting the year with the squad would help him a lot more in terms of finding his role, and thus improve his stock and reputation even more in terms of making a NBA roster. It would not be surprising at all if we are hearing about Pittman again some point next December or January, eligible for a callup and 10-day contract.

Coverage of 2014 NBA D-League Tryout

Keith Schlosser of Ridiculous Upside had a good writeup about the Top Standouts at Sunday's 2014 NBA D-League tryouts in New York City. Schlosser profiled six players at the tryout, but I am going to focus on going more in-depth about three of the players he wrote up about. A very good read, and a good introspective on the NBA D-League Tryout, which according to Schlosser, had over 200 players in attendance and many promising coaches as well.


Adam Kemp, 6-10 forward, Marist College



Here is what Schlosser said about Kemp at the tryout on Sunday:

"Despite having displayed a solid offensive game on the collegiate level as well, Kemp looked like a man amongst boys by stepping in as an intimating defensive presence. He could undoubtedly find a spot on the minor league level, because big bodies are always useful. Luckily for Kemp, he comes with a capable skill-set as well."

Kemp has just recently graduated from Marist, a team that went 12-19 and finished in the middle of the pack of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference this past season. As a player, Kemp bloomed a bit late, as he was pretty below average his first season with the Red Foxes, putting up an offensive rating of 89.4. He improved his rating though each year, and finished his senior campaign with a 103.4 offensive rating, helped by 13.1 percent offensive rebounding rate, which was 62nd best in the nation. In terms of his average stats, Kemp averaged 10.1 ppg and 7.6 rpg his senior season.

Defensively, Kemp also adds some value as a shot blocker, as his 7.8 percent block rate was rated in the top 100 in the nation according to Ken Pom. Marist was in the lower end of the conference when it came to block percentage (they ranked 9th in conference play), so Kemp did not have a lot of help defensively in the post. (Which also makes sense when you look at their effective height rating, which was below average according to Ken Pom at -0.4)

When you watch Kemp on tape, he's strong and shows good footwork and athleticism in the post. The assumption when you first look at him may be that he's kind of just a banger, but he shows a strong ability to block shots without fouling, and he has the saavy and footwork to get easy dunks and buckets when he's in traffic around the rim. That being said, his game is mostly centered around the paint, as I have not seen him test his game much with the mid-range or 3-point shot.

Overall, Kemp might have a career in the D-League as a Mason Plumlee-like player, though he certainly doesn't have Plumlee's size or physicality. But it's entirely possible to see Kemp be a second or third post option for a D-League team, and a seventh-eighth man type that can give a lot of stability to a team. While he has steadily improved as a player in college, I don't know if he'll progress much at the professional level, but he certainly has the skills to make a D-League team, and his stats look better when you consider that the MAAC was a much better mid-major conference than people would like to think (ranked 13th best in the nation last year according to Ken Pom, better than Conference USA, MAC and CAA).


Justin Simmons, 6-3 guard, Nebraska-Omaha



Simmons may have been the most interesting player to attend the camp, according to Schlosser. Here is what he said about the recently graduated guard in his writeup:

"Just weeks removed from completing his collegiate career, it's safe to say Simmons could have the most potential out anyone in the entire group. A naturally gifted high-flying guard, the young gun has eye-popping athleticism. He runs the floor well, can handle the ball even better, and knows how to finish at the hole. He's not afraid of taking it inside against taller defenders."

If you watch the highlight video above, it's easy to see why one can get excited about Simmons. Physically, he can jump, dunk with authority and his athleticism for his size is quite evident. Whether it was him dunking solo or in-game, its obvious that that Simmons brings a lot of potential to D-League and professional scouts.

But this year was a step back for the D-League prospect. A JuCo transfer from Butler Community College, where he averaged 16.8 points per game and shot 49 percent from the field in his lone season at at BCC, Simmons was a second-team All-Summit player his junior year, when he averaged 16.7 points per game, shot 40.2 percent from the field, and started 30 games for the Mavericks. But as a senior year, his playing time fluctuated, and his ppg average dropped to 10.2 ppg, and he only shot 36.9 percent from the field. It seemed like injury problems did him in during his senior campaign, as he only started 17 games because of injuries (though he did appear in 30). That being said, Simmons finished his career strong, as he scored 14 points in their final CIT game against Murray State, and he finished second in the State Farm Dark Horse Dunker contest.

In terms of efficiency, Simmons seems to be below average on the offensive end. His 90.5 offensive rating according to Ken Pom was a vast regressions from his 99.3 rating a year ago (though that junior year rating is still below average). He also struggled from beyond the 3-point arc his senior season, as he took roughly the same amount of shots beyond the arc, but made far less (dropped from 40.2 to 25.2 percent). If Simmons is going to have a professional career, he has to find a medium in between with his shooting and it'll be interesting to see how he progresses. Was last year just an outlier caused by injury (46.3 percent TS)? Or was his junior year a peak for his shooting ability (55.7 TS percentage junior year). It'll be interesting to see, but with his athleticism, it is possible that Simmons may be given a shot at the D-league level to prove that his injuries are behind him and that he can play back to his junior year form.


Naofall Folahan, 6-11 center, Wagner



Folahan probably has the best shot to make an NBA Summer League team this summer thanks to his size, length and athleticism. Schlosser echoed a lot of these things in his writeup about the big man from Benin:

"Folahan's incredible athleticism on both ends of the floor is second to none. He has natural ability, quite similar to the professional athletes already gracing D-League and even some NBA stages...Such capabilities should help Folahan emerge as a shoe-in for selection come D-League Draft time, but his beautiful potential could also be enough to garner consideration from an NBA team or two heading into Summer League."

From all the guys Schlosser wrote about, Folahan is the one I will most eagerly keeping an eye on this summer. When you watch him on tape, he really has a lot of potential, and he is strong defensively, which could carry him at the professional level as somewhat of a poor man's Desagna Diop. He was a stout defensive presence for Wagner last year, as his 14.2 block percentage was 6th best in the nation. Furthermore, he shows good instincts and presence in the post, as he doesn't always go for blocked shots, and is able to force defenders to make tough shots around him, which leads to defensive rebounds and change of possessions. It was obvious that he was a project when he first came to Wagner, but he has developed a lot as a player, and his ability and skills on defense are what jumps out to you immediately.

But, his offensive game is very unrefined, and raw. He was not much of a presence at all in his time at Wagner on the offensive end, as his usage rate was low last year at 11.4 percent. While his offensive rating at 104.9 in his senior year was a step up from his junior campaign (96.9), it still paled in comparison to his sophomore rating of 116.5. Granted, he did achieve his 104.9 rating with more minutes, but Folahan just struggles to put the ball in the hoop consistently. After putting up a true shooting percentage of 61.6 his sophomore year, it dipped dramatically to 52.6 percent his senior year, alarming considering his usage rate was higher his sophomore season (13.1 percent). Folahan remains mostly a block kind of player, as his game rarely ranges outside the paint. It is similar to what you would see from Samuel Dalembert, raw and unrefined, and mostly scoring thanks to the creation made by his teammates (i.e. dump passes off the drive) or himself (off of offensive boards). But unlike Dalembert, he isn't as proficient on the offensive glass for a man his size (9.7 percent) and he isn't quite a strong either.

It is obvious that Folahan will be a project for any D-League team that picks him up. And after being in college for four years, some teams may not be as patient with him due to his age and stage of development. That being said, his size, defensive ability and potential could be worthwhile for any team and organization that is willing to be patient with him. He could break out in a couple of years for any D-League or professional squad if he makes any progress on the offensive end.