[The following scouting report is part of a series on potential 2024 draft prospects from Sports Business Classroom alumni.]

Yves Missi
Frame: 6’11”, 235 lbs
Position: Forward/Center
Team: Baylor Bears
2024 Draft Age: 20
Stats via www.basketball-reference.com

Offense

Though Missi is still a raw talent, he has shown flashes of elite skills as a prospect this year in Waco. He has all the physical tools to excel at the NBA level in a modern, fast-paced offense. Missi brings a rim-runner mentality and has excellent hands on the catch. He’s also a significant lob threat in transition or half-court sets. His springiness off the floor allows for vertical spacing as well. Shooting a blistering 65 percent in attempts around the rim, Missi finishes strong through contact and, with added muscle, can become even more consistent with these shots.

Missi has only played basketball for a few years, so he still has much to learn and develop. He also more recently shot up to his taller frame. As he continues to fill out his body, he’ll be able to continue to battle on the offensive glass for putbacks during the flow of a game. Expanding his footwork will be another major component of his growing offensive skill set. Getting further away from the basket, Missi may have a developing jumper as well. Though he won’t be a stretch big taking three-pointers, he can create enough space to get his jumper off in the mid-range.

Measuring in with a 7’2″ wingspan, Missi has a wide catch radius paired with impressive hand-eye coordination and soft hands. He is similar to a young Clint Capela, as a solid screen with a good feel on when to roll and do it quickly to draw the defense or catch around the rim. His growing IQ and ability to recognize and utilize his skills in the dunker spot or slicing to the rim were shown more frequently as the season wore on, and he became more comfortable with Baylor’s offense.

 

Defense

Missi is already a very competent rim protector at this stage of his short career and projects to improve with added weight and muscle. He is a rugged defender who uses his instincts and timing when sizing up an assignment. His ability to bounce off the floor to contest shots and his athleticism are above average. Missi already has these defensive building blocks in his game. He is a defensive disruptor that will quickly get him on an NBA floor to continue developing.

With his measured wingspan, Missi is always a threat to block the offensive player’s shot. Instinctually, he frequently makes the correct read and displays a high-level understanding of defensive schemes and spacing. Missi’s defensive energy and defensive engagement are also impressive for a young player. He rarely takes possessions off and always remains connected to the task in front of him. Missi also seemed to step up his level of competitiveness when Baylor took on more quality opponents during the season.

Looking Ahead

After his freshman year at Baylor and getting more comfortable as the season wore on, Missi has solidified himself as a first-round selection this year. There could be some more offensive skills to unlock for him, like finding consistency on a mid-range jumper and growing his range, but the defensive end of the floor will get Missi early minutes. At the end of his lone year in Waco, Missi looked like a totally different player at the end of the season compared to how things started. The expectation at the NBA level will be the same. Showing continued growth and understanding new schemes on both ends of the court may make Missi one of the better players out of this draft.

As the league continues to adapt and change, the forward and center positions also will fall under that fluidity, and Missi displays a combination of both old-school power from the pivot, throwing down thunderous dunks while having the lateral quickness and footspeed to keep the offense in front of him and on lockdown. As his body catches up, he should be able to defend two or three positions. His 37-inch vertical, budding frame and athleticism will only help further his development in the league.