2019 NBA Draft Profile: North Carolina Wing Nassir Little

Nassir Little
Nassir Little (Phantom Designs for Def Pen Sports)

Nassir Little had an up and down year under head coach Roy Willimas at North Carolina, but the NBA could prove to be the right fit for him to unleash his full potential. The Tar Heels do not often have “one and done” players like the forward. This prospect has some interesting things to offer at the next level. Coby White stole the show at North Carolina last season, but people shouldn’t forget that the Carolina forward is also in this year’s draft.

Athleticism

The North Carolina forward has a ridiculous level of athleticism that would make NBA coaches salivate. NBA teams love athletic wings and this one is budding with potential all over the court. His vertical at the NBA Combine was measured at 38.5 inches which put him at sixth out of 64 during the Combine. The one year he spent at Carolina highlighted electric dunks and blocks whenever the freshman could grab them.

Size and Length

The UNC forward looks like an NBA forward and his size will help him greatly at the next level. He is listed at 6’6″ and 224 pounds which makes him a perfect fit for the wing in the NBA. The former Tar Heel could also slide into a shooting guard role or even as a “small ball” power forward. His size paired with his athleticism could make him very valuable in the NBA.

The 19-year-old forward turned some heads at the NBA Combine with his measurements. One that jumped off the page is the forward’s wingspan checking in at 7 feet and 1 and 1/4th inches and his standing reach checked in at an impressive 8 feet and 8 and 1/2 inches. Size and length aren’t everything, but they can be valuable things to have at any level of basketball.

Potential

There is a case to be made that had he been able to come right out of high school, Little would have been a lock for the top five. Little can be and is a menace on defense with his size and athleticism. His time with the Tar Heels wasn’t perfect, but the potential is absolutely there. He has the ability to do almost anything on offense or defense that he wants or needs to in the NBA.

There was a growing period coming off the bench for Little, but near the end of the season, he was clicking on all cylinders. His time with the Tar Heels saw him average 9.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, half a steal, and half a block per game and he also shot 48 percent from the field in his time with Chapel Hill. The stats may not pop off the page, but they do highlight the potential he posses at the NBA level.

Weaknesses

Little’s weaknesses rotate heavily revolve around consistency and gaining his footing in a new and more competitive league. The forward admitted himself that college was a new experience and he had a serious learning curve in the NCAA. On top of that, his lone season with the Tar Heels saw the forward shoot just 26.9 percent from the three-point line. He shows potential from beyond the arc, but his numbers will need to trend up for him to be a reliable threat in the NBA. He also averaged 1.3 turnovers per game which isn’t terrible, but it is a number to watch especially given the amount of time Little wasn’t controlling the ball in the UNC offense.

Nassir Little’s NBA Comparison

Justise Winslow

Nassir Little
Heat Forward Justise Winslow (Photo: Steve Mitchell, USA TODAY Sports)

Winslow went to the rival North Carolina school, but the comparison is fairly on point. The two have a similar body type with the Miami Heat forward only having an inch of extra height. The two are athletic forwards that have the ability to be a major threat on the defensive end. They can both slash to the rim well and show promise stretching their shot out to the three-point line. The shot is streaky, but it is there. Finally, they both provide the opportunity for coaches too put them at shooting guard, small forward, or even as a “small ball” power forward. The upside for Nassir Little is through the roof, it’s just a matter of where he ends up.

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