NBA Draft 2016 Scouting Report: Pacal Siakam carries a big presence and big numbers into draft night

Power Forward
New Mexico State, Redshirt sophomore
6-9 230 pounds
7'3.25'' wingspan, 36.5'' max vert

2015-16 Season Statistics: 20.4 PPG, 11.8 RPG, 2.2 BPG, 1.6 APG, 2.1 TOPG, 53.6% FG, 68.6% FT

Summary: Pascal Siakam was named WAC Player of the Year and first-team All-WAC in 2015-16. He enters the NBA Draft following a dominant sophomore season for the New Mexico State Aggies that saw him lead the team in points, rebounds and blocks per game en route to a New Mexico State regular season conference title. Born in Cameroon, Siakam came to the United States in 2012 to attend prep school in Texas before heading off to Las Cruces. Siakam comes from a family of athletes as the youngest of four to play NCAA basketball.

Highlights: Siakam is an exceptional athlete with a high motor that never seems to stop. He arrived on campus at 190 pounds and built himself into a 230-pound true power forward during a three-year span. As a freshman, he was first-team All-WAC and conference Rookie of the Year, averaging 12.8 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. His exceptional work ethic allowed him to develop into the conference player of the year in just his second season, which included 25 double-doubles over 31 games. His game has improved so rapidly that you wonder where his ceiling as a player could be. Time will tell as he makes the leap to the pros.

Concerns: Almost all of his 20 points per game came from inside the paint. He's still working to develop a mid-range jump shot, which would make him a more diverse offensive threat in the NBA. Siakam could have used an extra year in college to really develop his game and perhaps could have worked his way much higher up the draft board. Yet at the same time, he's already 22, which some might say is a little old for a serious NBA prospect. There's also concern that his stats may not tell the entire story either, as the competition in the WAC is significantly softer than in the power conferences.

NBA Player Comparison: Bismack Biyombo of the Toronto Raptors.

Draft Projection: Siakam appears to be a very late first-round into the early second-round pick. He’s had pre-draft workouts for a number of teams, including Boston, Philadelphia, Denver, Phoenix, Detroit, New Orleans and Atlanta. He should be able to contribute immediately off the bench and provide defensive help as an energetic guy for a second unit. Siakam would be better suited to play for an established team that only requires him to fulfill a specific role that could allow him to eventually flourish in the NBA.