Draft Notebook: Ziaire Williams, Tre Mann, Jared Butler, and More

As our Babcock Hoops staff sets out to cover ground watching live basketball in person and gathering pertinent information on NBA prospects, we’ll keep you updated on our evaluations through this draft notebook series. Here are some of the players that we’ve seen recently that have stood out to us:

Ziaire Williams

Height: 6’8”

Weight: 185

Position: SF/SG

Class: Freshman

School: Stanford

Game: Stanford @ Colorado

Date: 1/16/21

Game Stats: 17 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals

Comments: "Although this was the first time I had a chance to see Ziaire Williams in a Stanford uniform, I had seen him at various high school events prior and I’ve been impressed. A long, smooth shooter and scorer, Williams came into this season with lofty expectations. In this specific game against Colorado, he was able to show why so many people are excited about him. Although he has an extremely thin and frail physical build, he compensates for his lack of physical strength with aggressiveness. I was happy to see how assertive he was on offense — he hunted for shots in a healthy manner. I don’t necessarily trust his ball skills completely and he did have 6 turnovers in this game, but from a long-term outlook, I think he has a high enough basketball IQ to pick and choose his spots of when to put the ball on the floor. His bread and butter is certainly the mid-range, as he has a knack for creating his own shot using minimal dribbles. He is a good outside shooter as well, however, considering how the game is played in the NBA today, I think he will need to adapt and adjust to become more of an outside shooter first, and a mid-range scorer second. He reminds me of a slightly longer version of Rip Hamilton, who was a three-time NBA All-Star. He is considered a likely lottery selection, and for good reason in my opinion." - Matt Babcock, NBA Draft Analyst

Tre Mann

Height: 6’5”

Weight: 190

Position: SG/PG

Class: Sophomore

School: Florida

Game: Florida @ Mississippi State

Date: 1/16/21

Game Stats: 14 points, 6 assists, 4 turnovers, and 3 steals

Comments: “With his two best teammates out (Keyontae Johnson and Scottie Lewis), Tre Mann could have exhibited more of an alpha mentality and spearheaded his team. However, he was still relatively passive and did not look to attack often. Mann’s stat line is misleading, as he scored 7 points in the final minute when Florida was in desperation mode. Nonetheless, he did flash some nice passes throughout the game. Mann is definitely better than he played today. His touch, positional size, and smarts as a defender can help him become a nice role player at the next level. Still, his lack of high-level athleticism and aggression attacking the rim will likely cap his upside. He reminds me of a poor man’s Tyrese Haliburton, operating as a combo guard who can function on and off the ball. I didn’t see a bonafide NBA translatable skill in this game, but it was a poor game all the way around.” - Jeremy Berman, Director of Research and Analysis

Jared Butler

Height: 6’3”

Weight: 195

Position: PG/SG

Class: Junior

School: Baylor

Game: Baylor @ Oklahoma State

Date: 1/23/21

Game Stats: 22 points, 6 assists, 1 steal, and 2 turnovers

Comments: “After testing the NBA draft waters last season, Butler returned to Baylor and has proven to be one of the best shooters in the country thus far. He has shot the lights out, hitting 49.4% of his attempts from deep on 5.8 attempts per game, including 6-for-7 in this game against Oklahoma State. Known for being a terrific ball handler and passer, Butler has also shown flashes of being a solid scorer in both isolation and the pick-and-roll, displaying a nice combination of patience and wiggle. He’s mature, intelligent, and handles pressure well with the ball in his hands, rarely appearing rushed or hurried into poor decisions. The ability to hit open shots and remain clean in decision-making are key traits of backup point guards in the NBA. The 2021 point guard crop isn’t incredibly deep, so Butler has a real opportunity to solidify himself as one of the best options.” - Derek Murray, Director of Scouting

Davion Mitchell

Height: 6’2”

Weight: 205

Position: PG

Class: Junior

School: Baylor

Game: Baylor @ Oklahoma State

Date: 1/23/21

Game Stats: 8 points, 9 assists, 3 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block

Comments: “Davion Mitchell has really come into his own this season, solidifying himself as a viable option in the 2021 NBA Draft. At 6’2”, 205 pounds, and shooting 42.1% from deep, he’s caught the attention of scouts across the country. At first glance, I noticed how strong and physical he is in both his upper and lower body strength. Mitchell uses his strength and tremendous feet to create advantages on both ends on the floor. On offense, he’s very difficult to stay in front of, as he’s crafty and gets downhill quickly. On defense, he uses his lateral quickness and upper body strength to stop drives and hold position against opponents. He has the ability to create plays for both himself and his teammates and is certainly a guy to keep an eye on.” - Derek Murray, Director of Scouting

Isaac Likekele

Height: 6’5”

Weight: 215

Position: PG/SG

Class: Junior

School: Oklahoma State

Game: Baylor @ Oklahoma State

Date: 1/23/21

Game Stats: 9 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds, and 2 turnovers

Comments: “An underrated defender, Likekele continues to impress on that side of the floor. With long arms and a powerful frame, he’s a menace on and off the ball, causing problems for opponents regularly. He’s averaging 11.8 points and 3.9 assists per game this season, but his potential NBA role on offense is still unclear. Likekele has a tendency to pass up open shots, appearing uncomfortable taking open threes and instead of driving the lane or yielding to teammates to score. A willingness and ability to shoot will be cardinal in raising his floor as a prospect, as he’s proven he can provide value in multiple other facets of the game. Regarded as an incredibly hard worker and great teammate, he’s garnered attention from multiple front offices and is one to watch as we get closer to the 2021 NBA Draft.” - Derek Murray, Director of Scouting

Landers Nolley II

Height: 6’7”

Weight: 220

Position: SF

Class: Sophomore

School: Memphis

Game: Memphis @ Tulsa

Date: 1/17/21

Game Stats: 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 steals

Comments: “Nolley II has legitimate NBA potential and is worth tracking for the 2021 Draft, but I think declaring in 2022 would be better for him. Another full year in Memphis’ system to gain trust and possibly have the reins in his hands would do him a lot of good and would allow him to fully display his skill set. His potential NBA role will likely revolve around perimeter shooting, which he’s demonstrated to be a strength. Now hitting 38.5% of shots from deep, he’s a strong off-movement shooter who does well without the ball and has a really quick release. His shot selection isn’t always the greatest, but he has the tools and shot-making ability to be a viable prospect, no matter which year he does indeed enter his name in the draft.” - Derek Murray, Director of Scouting

D.J. Stewart Jr.

Height: 6’6”

Weight: 205

Position: SF

Class: Sophomore

School: Mississippi State

Game: Florida @ Mississippi State

Date: 1/16/21

Game Stats: 11 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals

Comments: “D.J. Stewart played alright in this game. His presence was felt on the defensive end, but on offense, he disappeared for stretches. He’s essentially a slasher on the offensive end with the potential to be a high-level defender due to his athleticism and length. He will need to correct a lot of fundamental issues on his jumper to stick in the NBA. If he does continue to improve, I could see him serving in a Torrey Craig-type role as a pro, but he’s not there yet.” - Jeremy Berman, Director of Research and Analysis

Moussa Cisse

Height: 6’10”

Weight: 220

Position: C

Class: Freshman

School: Memphis

Game: Memphis @ Tulsa

Date: 1/16/21

Game Stats: 10 minutes, 0 points, 2 rebounds, 0 blocks, and 3 personal fouls

Comments: “After seeing many of his highlights from high school, I was excited to see Moussa Cisse play in person for the first time. Immediately upon walking onto the floor, it was apparent that Cisse is physically imposing. Already 6’10” and 220 pounds, he's incredibly athletic and has a frame that looks like it can handle much more strength as he grows. While he is an impressive athlete and still young after re-classifying to the 2020 high school class, I believe Cisse would benefit from a second year at Memphis. His rebounding and shot-blocking abilities should translate nicely once he gets to the next level, but he needs to improve his feel for the game and scoring in the immediate future. Often looking out of sorts on the defensive end and raw on offense, there is plenty to improve on, but I think the future is bright for him.” - Derek Murray, Director of Scouting

Other players worth mentioning: Oscar da Silva (Stanford), D.J. Jeffries (Memphis), Matt Mitchell (San Diego State), Iverson Molinar (Mississippi State), Brandon Rachal (Tulsa), DeAndre Williams (Memphis), Marcus Williams (Wyoming), and McKinley Wright IV (Colorado).

Notable DNP’s: Cade Cunningham (Oklahoma State), Keyontae Johnson (Florida), and Scottie Lewis (Florida).