NBA Draft Profile: BYU PG Kyle Collinsworth

Now that the workout portion of the NBA Draft has concluded, it is time to look at and try to project where Kyle Collinsworth may end up at the end of the night on June 23.  Collinsworth is an intriguing prospect because he is capable of putting up huge numbers statistically, yet also has some glaring holes in his game that combined with his age could ultimately keep him from hearing his named called during the draft.

One of the first things mentioned in all of the websites that are trying to project the draft is his size for his position.  As the NBA is moving more towards small ball lineups, a 6-foot-6 point guard becomes extremely valuable.  His obvious skill as a rebounder overall, but especially for a point guard, is also something that is a unique skill.  His size and skill set would allow teams to use different lineups that might be beneficial for the team depending on the personnel. Another elite skill is his passing ability.  He averaged 7.8 assists per 40 minutes last year.  His experience in BYU's pick and roll heavy offense also gives him experience running that type of system that most NBA teams like to play.

The thing mentioned as much as his size for a point guard is his age, shortly followed by the lack of elite athleticism.  Collinsworth is already 24 years old.  The reason age is such a big deal for NBA front offices is that most players are fairly well developed in their game and their body by this point.  Front offices generally draft based on potential and the general theme is that older players don't have as much potential as a 19-year old prospect.  Also, according to DraftExpress, there is a dismal track record when it comes to teams drafting a player that is over 23 years old at the time of the draft.  One way where his age doesn't hurt him as much is that when he enters the league he should be more comparable physically than the younger prospects and that may help his value when it comes to contributing to a team immediately.

Just as much as his age is mentioned his lack of shooting is also mentioned.  Collinsworth only hit 26 three-pointers in his college career.  If he was seven feet tall and played center this wouldn't be as big of a deal, but in a league that is built on shooting this is a huge negative.  Not only is his three-point shooting lacking, but despite getting to the free throw line frequently he only shot 65 percent from the line.

Despite these limitations, there is a chance that Collinsworth could find himself on an NBA roster this fall.  Most likely this will be through the undrafted free agency route and a good summer league performance.

You can watch to see if Collinsworth's name is called in NBA Draft this Thursday, June 23rd at 5 p.m. MT on ESPN.