NBA Draft scouting report: Vince Williams Jr.

After spending four years stuffing the stat sheet at Virginia Commonwealth University, Vince Williams Jr. has declared for the 2022 NBA Draft, looking to follow in the footsteps of former VCU teammate and current Denver Nuggets guard Bones Hyland. A two-time All-A-10 selection, Williams established himself as one of the premier three-and-D wing defenders on the east coast throughout his college career, and it’s given him a chance to break into the league next season.

Williams averaged 14.1 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.6 blocks per game while shooting 47.7 percent from the field. Few players in the conference were more productive than Williams was during his senior season as he finished in the top-16 in points, assists, steals and blocks per game while making the 11th-most total threes (65) and leading the conference in box plus/minus (9.2).

Measurements from 2022 NBA G League Elite Camp

Height: 6 feet, 5.5 inches

Weight: 202.6 pounds

Wingspan: 7 feet

Standing reach: 8 feet, 7 inches

Standing vertical: 27 inches

Strengths:

defensive event creation/playmaking, three-point shooting, transition passing

With an ideal physical profile for a strong, switchable and scheme-versatile NBA defender, don’t be surprised if Williams carves out an immediate role despite being a second-rounder a la Herbert Jones. He played more of a power forward role at VCU but should be able to play on the wing in the league given his size, speed and nose for the ball.

Though he shot 22% from deep across his first two seasons with the Rams, Williams blossomed into a 41.3% 3-point shooter by his junior season and made 38.7% on 5.6 attempts per game as a senior. Smooth mechanics and a strong lower-body culminate in a nice-looking lefty jumper that seems translatable due to the high release point and Williams’ shot versatility. He steps into transition threes with ease and can spot up in the halfcourt as well.

Playmaking is Williams’ most underrated skill. He’s not athletic or decisive enough as a ball-handler to be a guard, but he can attack a scrambling defense and hit open teammates or make the right play to create opportunities in transition.

Areas to improve:

point of attack defense, ball-handling, shot creation

Defending the offense’s point of attack and being able to contain point guards on a switch isn’t Williams’ biggest weakness, but it would go the furthest towards solidifying him as an NBA player if he were to improve his screen navigation or positioning at the level and/or in drop coverage. He’s not an elite lateral or vertical athlete, which could limit his defensive versatility as a pro and thus limit the impact he can make as a role-player.

Ball-handling and shot creation in the halfcourt are less important for low-usage players that thrive off of spot-up threes and transition finishes, but Williams could stand to tighten these up, which would allow himself to take better advantage of his touch and efficiency inside the arc.

Projected draft range: second round/two-way contract

Unfortunately, Williams is not widely projected to be selected in the NBA Draft, which features only 58 picks due to forfeiture of the 54th and 55th overall selections from the Bucks and Heat. Tankathon.com currently pegs him to Indiana as the last pick of the draft, while other mainstream outlets have omitted him entirely. If Williams goes undrafted, it’s highly likely he gets a two-way contract, Exhibit 10 or training camp deal for his first shot at cracking an NBA roster.