Arkansas Razorback’s guard Moses Moody spent his lone year in college basketball proving himself in preparation for the 2021 NBA Draft. The volatile college basketball season was rough on many freshmen, but the best landed on their feet and proved their worth to NBA scouts. Moody spent his single-season learning under Head Coach Eric Musselman and was a big part of a successful Razorback team. Most freshmen had an up and down season, but Moody proved why he could be an NBA Lottery selection this year. There are plenty of talented guards in this draft and Moddy will try and showcase why he is among those names.
The one. The only.
Moses Moody. SEC Freshman of the Year. pic.twitter.com/CleT09KT6V
— Arkansas Razorback Basketball ? (@RazorbackMBB) March 9, 2021
Shooting
The first thing that jumps off the page for Moody is his elite shooting ability. He is easily one of the best shooters in the 2021 NBA Draft Class. He is much more than a spot-up shooter and has showcased some potential when it comes to creating his own shot off the dribble. That being said his catch and shoot ability sets him apart from other guards in this year’s class. The NBA has evolved into a league that demands good shooters on their rosters. Players like Moody will always have a roster spot if they continue to knock down shots at an elite level.
Moody’s jump shot is smooth and has the mechanics that NBA teams look for in their next great shooters. His single-season at Arkansas saw him average 16.8 points per game with a field goal percentage of 42.7 percent. He also paired those numbers with a three-point percentage of 35.8 percent. Moody’s ability to shoot from three and from the mid-range should easily keep him in the NBA for years. That shooting ability will give him the chance to work on weaker aspects of his game.
Size
Shooting is important in the NBA and so is size. When you pair them both together you get a deadly combination on the wing. Moody plays shooting guard but is listed at an impressive six foot and six inches paired with a 205-pound frame. Putting a player like Moody in the backcourt creates a unique mismatch on many NBA shooting guards. When paired with his shooting ability it makes him much harder to guard. The Arkansas shooting guard also pairs his height and weight with an impressive wingspan of about seven feet. As the old saying goes, “you can’t teach size”. A 6’6″ shooting guard isn’t unheard of, but it is unique enough to where NBA teams will take several looks at the former Razorback freshman.
20 in the first half for Moses Moody. Barely dribbled. pic.twitter.com/FllMeWlLCH
— Jonathan Wasserman (@NBADraftWass) March 13, 2021
Defense
Moody’s shooting and size already make him a unique prospect in the 2021 NBA Draft class. His defensive ability will just add to the attention he will receive from NBA lottery teams and borderline lottery teams. Moody’s height and wingspan pair well with his instincts on the defensive side of the ball. He has shown the ability to guard opponents on and off the ball at an NBA level. His box score numbers on defense weren’t stellar, but he did average one steal and .7 blocks per game at Arkansas. Moody’s defensive ability doesn’t show up quite as well on the box score, but his impact is noticeable on the floor. Size is helpful, but his instincts are something that can’t be easily developed by such a young prospect. Moody looks like a future talented “Three and D” player in the NBA.
Weaknesses
The immediate issue that comes to mind with Moody is his assist numbers as a guard. A two-guard isn’t expected to be amazing at passing, but with the Razorback’s he only averaged 1.6 assists per game. His ball-handling is fine and he only averages 1.6 turnovers per game. The turnover number isn’t great but paired with his assists it is troubling. If he wants to maximize his NBA potential he should look to become a better passer and limit those turnover numbers. While his ball-handling isn’t a massive issue he doesn’t take his defender off the dribble as well as he probably could. He did average 5.8 rebounds per game in college but doesn’t project as a great NBA rebounder at guard. Finally, the NBA team that drafts him will want to work on his strength as soon as possible.
NBA Comparison: Joe Johnson
This is an NBA comparison that sets high expectations for the Arkansas guard. Johnson has a considerably larger frame than Moody, but the right weight room could close the gap. “Iso Joe” is a prototype for NBA scoring. His spot-up shooting and off-dribble scoring made him a deadly player for two decades. Like Moody, his size and shooting made him a deadly weapon on the wing of an NBA court. He was also more than capable on the defensive side of the ball in his NBA tenure. It is possible the Arkansas guard doesn’t reach the lofty expectations set for him, but the playstyle is a solid match to Johnson. While Joe was capable of assists and rebounds they were not considered major assets of his in the NBA. Moody is a more than capable prospect and should carve out a great NBA career. A key starter or bench roleplayer that has Moody’s ability should do well in the NBA for years.
