Where will Donte DiVincenzo go in the draft? The Crossover’s Front Office breaks down his strengths, weaknesses and more in its in-depth scouting report. A breakout performance in the national championship game accelerated Donte DiVincenzo’s NBA trajectory exponentially. A broken foot limited him to just nine games as a true freshman and a medical redshirt. He thrived all season as a spark-plug off the Wildcats’ bench as a sophomore, and played his way into the first-round conversation with a strong showing at the draft combine. The Crossover’s Front Office breaks down DiVincenzo's strengths, weaknesses, NBA comparison and more in its in-depth scouting report. Strengths • DiVincenzo is a deadly shooter, making 40.1% of attempts from deep last season and shooting 44% off the dribble according to Synergy Sports. • Has enough playmaking and passing ability to spend time as a lead ballhandler. Villanova scored 1.106 points per possession when using DiVincenzo as a pick-and-roll ballhandler, per Synergy. • Explosive athleticism, quickness and toughness should make him a capable perimeter defender. He’s a ballhawk in the passing lanes with terrific instincts. 2018 NBA Mock Draft 9.0: Trade Speculation Heats Up Weaknesses • DiVincenzo’s shooting, while potent, can be a little too erratic. He’ll have big performances but can also shoot himself out of games when he goes cold. Room for improvement. • He’s old for a sophomore, which naturally brings questions about his upward trajectory. How much stronger can he get physically? Can he defend bigger wings? • Spent most of his college career coming off the bench and not as a priority on opposing teams’ scouting reports. Will face an adjustment to tougher defenses. Highlights Read More Villanova’s dominance proves the power of a well-built program (April 2018) Comparison: Antonio Daniels DiVincenzo projects as a hard-nosed rotation guy who plays both ends, with potential to take on more ballhandling responsibilities down the line.<doc-sep>The 2018 Final Four was a relatively easy process for the Villanova Wildcats. In the two games which Jay Wright’s team played in San Antonio, they won by double digits and did so handedly. They cruised through Kansas in the semi-final and held off Michigan in the title game. From an overall process it looked like an easy walkthrough for ‘Nova but there was a moment where the title run seemed in danger, as crazy as it seems. It was the beginning of the title game and the Wolverines were sticking with Villanova, determined not to let the same mistakes which sunk Kansas beat them. Michigan made it a clear effort to run the Wildcats off the three-point line and force them into long two’s. Stopping Nova from finding success from three-point land is near impossible but Michigan showed they can be slowed down and made uncomfortable. That’s where Donte DiVincenzo came in. Dubbed “Delaware’s Michael Jordan”, DiVincenzo came off the bench with an inspiring 31-point performance. He led all scorers in the title game and the hype couldn’t get bigger. Now he’s testing his NBA draft stock so let’s take a look at what he can bring to the table. Positives: The one thing which you can tell about DiVincenzo right off the bat is how hard he works along with his confidence. He’s shown it this whole season, especially in the National Championship game. DiVincenzo was pulling up all over the court and just knocking down shot after shot. It was stunning to watch but what was even more impressive was how he was able to provide some leadership to get Villanova’s offense cooking again. Early on in the first half, he took the ball and made plays on his own to get Nova back on track. He also showed no fear in driving to the rim or going up to block shots, especially when he rose up to the summit and blocked Chris Matthews dunk attempt. DiVincenzo was Villanova’s spark off the bench and a big part of it was how cool and collected he was. He never seemed shook and let’s the game come to him. Nothing is forced and out of rhythm. Part of it can be chalked up to the Jay Wright system but you saw there were multiple instances were DiVicenzo made the extra play and looked cool as an ice cube when doing so. When it comes to DiVincenzo’s game on the court, his biggest strength is three-point shooting. He’s a real threat from downtown, shooting 40.1 percent from downtown on 5.3 attempts per game. His shot from NBA range was slightly worse at 35 percent (via the Stepien) but this is still a decent enough percent to show his shot will translate to the next level. DiVincenzo can provide any team which drafts him with a solid three-point shooting process. He will be able to stretch the floor and every team needs more three-point shooting. It would best be served in a complementary role as he could be a very good kick-out option. Shooting off the dribble is a skill he showed off in the title game but it’s hard to tell how it will translate to the NBA game. He might not get the same separation in the college that he will in the pros. But he is very well set in catch and shoot situations. With the need for multiple ball handlers on the court at the same time, DiVincenzo fits the mold. He can handle the ball and be a semi-facilitator for his teammates. He averaged 3.5 assists per game and showed the ability to be a playmaker at times. This opens up his game offensively and makes him a more complete player. It’s one thing to have just shooting but the ability to put the ball on the floor and make plays adds another dimension. DiVincenzo will be a solid guard for any team which drafts him. He will bring swagger to any team and gives 100% every night. The will aid him defensively if anything and in terms of offense, he can shoot well from 3 and be a playmaker at times. Negatives: There are a ton of questions about his size. At 6’5, he’s average size and should comfortably be a 1 guard and maybe a 2 in the NBA. But the real question is where teams will put him on the floor defensively and who will he guard. More importantly, can he handle the guard matchups in the NBA considering both positions bring in questions about his defense. Will he be able to shooting guards who are bigger than him? DiVincenzo was ok on defense for Villanova, posting a 2.9 defensive box plus/minus for the National champs. he showed he can be somewhat of a good perimeter defender but in the NBA he could be asked to guys bigger than him. He should be fine against point guards as his foot speed is fast enough and he’s big enough to stay in front of his man. This is the real concern for DiVincenzo. We are seeing bigger and bigger wing players and DiVincenzo could be forced to guard them. Teams could be inclined to isolate him in one on one situations and one big thing he will have to learn is how to learn to defend in space. He doesn’t improve this, it could hinder his ability to play in crunch time situations, where teams are more inclined to play iso ball. Offensively there are questions of how he will fit in the offense of the team which drafts him. He played a limited role at Villanova and it’s reasonable to ask if he can handle a bigger workload for an NBA team. Can still be so productive when he’s playing more minutes than he has in college? That includes the jumpsuit as well. He was given free range to be himself offensively at Villanova. A lot had to with him coming off the bench and being more fresh than other players along with playing against other bench guys. He won’t be given the same freedom in the NBA. Remaining cool and patient are two different things so DiVincenzo will have to learn how to be both. He doesn’t let things get to him but could be inclined to take some shots when he’s not feeling himself offensively. If DiVincenzo is able to remain patient to find his shots in an NBA offense, he will be fine. Overall, Donte DiVincenzo is a solid NBA prospect. Other than Mikal Bridges, he’s expected to be another Nova player taken in the first round. His draft stock has never been higher and credit to him for taking advantage of it. He can be a solid three-point threat and a 3rd option on an NBA team. There is a good chance he will find himself in the same role he was at Nova, being a big spark off the bench. He’s an exceptional athlete and will be a very good energy at the very least. Yes, there are questions about his game. Most of which are on defense. But there is a lot of good he can offer a team in the range he will be taken in (late first round).<doc-sep>Jessica Hill/Associated Press The Milwaukee Bucks have selected Donte DiVincenzo in the 2018 NBA draft with the No. 17 overall pick. He earned the nation's attention with a 31-point explosion for Villanova in the national title game. Since then, DiVincenzo has become one of the most sought-after prospects in the field, admired for his signature energy and versatility that seemingly went overlooked during the regular season. Quick hitters Size: 6'4 ½" Weight: 201 pounds Wingspan: 6'6" Reach: 8'1 ½" Pro-player comparison: Tyler Johnson Offensive strengths An impact role player for Villanova, DiVincenzo made his presence felt with not only his motor and bounce but also combo-guard skills. One of the most efficient ball-screen weapons in the country, he ranked in the 97th percentile in points per possession as a pick-and-roll ball-handler, thriving both as a scorer and facilitator. He converted 44.0 percent of his dribble jumpers. But he played off the ball more frequently, and though he only shot 36.4 percent on catch-and-shoot chances, he averaged 2.1 threes per game on 40.1 percent. Otherwise, DiVincenzo made effort plays, resulting in 26 field goals that were considered miscellaneous, a relatively high number. Offensive weaknesses DiVincenzo isn't an advanced shot-creator, particularly for himself. He was just 5-of-18 out of isolation. He's also missing a floater from his repertoire, having hit two all season. DiVincenzo doesn't always play under control—his 2.7 turnovers per 40 minutes is high for a player who was only used in 22.4 percent of Villanova's possessions when on the floor. Video Play Button Videos you might like Defensive outlook DiVincenzo should be used mostly to pester opposing point guards. He'll need to bulk up to guard more 2s. He has the quickness, athleticism and anticipation to make plays on the ball (1.4 steals per 40 minutes). DiVincenzo shows the willingness to get low, pressure and make life uncomfortable for his assignment. His reputation as a spark ultimately applies at both ends of the floor. Rookie-year projection DiVincenzo wasn't one of the first picks in the draft, but he'll earn time as a rookie, and his impact will be felt at different points throughout the season. He'll have the same role he had at Villanova, which asked him to play to his strengths as a shot-maker, secondary playmaker and energizer. DiVincenzo may not put up huge numbers, but he'll give the rotation spurts of offense and two-way activity. Projected role: Role player DiVincenzo isn't a dangerous enough one-on-one scorer or full-time point guard. Depending on the opportunity, he could eventually start as a 2, but his skill set, athleticism and liveliness should be best suited as a sixth man or jack-of-all-trades role player. He comes off as a high-floor, low-ceiling prospect who won't hurt his team often while he's on the floor, even when his shot isn't falling. Stats courtesy of Sports Reference and Synergy Sports. Measurements courtesy of the 2018 NBA Draft Combine.<doc-sep>
Donte DiVincenzo is bound for Milwaukee. Check out his strengths and weaknesses. The Bucks selected Villanova guard Donte DiVincenzo with the No. 17 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. The junior was named Final Four Most Oustanding Player after his 31-point outburst in the National Championship game helped Villanova capture its second national title in three years. For the season, DiVincenzo averaged 13.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists while shooting over 40 percent from downtown. At the NBA Combine, he helped his draft stock with the highest vertical leap of any participant and several standout shooting performances. Now, after a terrific college career, the Michael Jordan of Delaware will look to provide outside shooting and athleticism on the wing in the NBA. SI.com's Jeremy Woo graded the pick. This is a pretty nice fit for Milwaukee, who have preferred to surround Giannis Antetokounmpo with combo guards that can shoot the three. DiVincenzo is a terrific athlete and tough-minded player who will be able to supply their lineups with a little bit of everything, whether it’s on or off the ball. While DiVincenzo’s value may be somewhat inflated by recency bias, there’s a sense among evaluators that he can offer a level of safety given his skill set. Grade: B+ SI.com's Jake Fischer broke down DiVincenzo's strengths and weaknesses: Strengths • DiVincenzo is a deadly shooter, making 40.1% of attempts from deep last season and shooting 44% off the dribble according to Synergy Sports. • Has enough playmaking and passing ability to spend time as a lead ballhandler. Villanova scored 1.106 points per possession when using DiVincenzo as a pick-and-roll ballhandler, per Synergy. • Explosive athleticism, quickness and toughness should make him a capable perimeter defender. He’s a ballhawk in the passing lanes with terrific instincts. Weaknesses • DiVincenzo’s shooting, while potent, can be a little too erratic. He’ll have big performances but can also shoot himself out of games when he goes cold. Room for improvement. • He’s old for a sophomore, which naturally brings questions about his upward trajectory. How much stronger can he get physically? Can he defend bigger wings? • Spent most of his college career coming off the bench and not as a priority on opposing teams’ scouting reports. Will face an adjustment to tougher defenses.