[The following scouting report is part of a series on potential 2025 draft prospects from Sports Business Classroom alumni.]

Dink Pate
Frame: 6’8″ 210 lbs
Position: Guard
Team: Mexico City Capitanes, G League
2025 Draft Age: 19
Stats via Basketball Reference and Synergy Sports

Offense

A five-star recruit out of Dallas, Pate chose to take the G League Ignite path and is currently playing for the Mexico City Capitanes. He has shown flashes as a quick-twitch microwave scorer who can knock down shots from three. Pate pushes the ball well in transition and utilizes mid-range jump shots off the pick-and-roll or quick dribble moves to create space. However, he lacks efficiency, shooting 48 percent from inside the arc and 35 percent from three. To his credit, this is an improvement from his first season with Ignite (40 and 21 percent, respectively).

A big reason for his shooting inefficiency is his ability to finish at the rim. Pate doesn’t absorb contact well and takes unfavorable shots when being contested. He loves to shoot with his right hand, even when going to the left side of the basket and will very rarely put the ball in his left hand. Pate isn’t a strong facilitator, averaging 1.3 assists per game, below his 3.6 with the Ignite in 2023-24. His assist-to-turnover ratio has dropped significantly (1.42 to 0.56). Most of his assists come within the flow of the offense, where he was able to make the correct read and pass the ball to a teammate for an open shot. He isn’t afraid to make a play in transition, as he will fly right to the rim for an open layup, dunk, or make the simple pass in two-on-one situations. 

Like most young players, he struggles with unnecessary turnovers. He tends to force passes through tight spaces or gets stuck in the paint and attempts to pass back outside to the perimeter, where defenders are ready to intercept in the passing lanes. His ball-handling is also a work in progress, as high-IQ defenders easily pick his pocket and are able to take the layup on the other end of the floor.

Defense

Pate must improve on the defensive side of the ball, though he has the build to become an NBA-caliber defender. He has the length to stick with forwards and enough quickness to stick with guards. Pate shows effort to contest shots well, but he is undisciplined. He plays defense with his hands by his sides and isn’t consistently in an active position to make a play. 

At times, Pate is late contesting open threes or sinks too far into the paint, making it easier for the offense to read the defense. He also tends to take bad fouls, as he doesn’t stay grounded when he falls for pump fakes or jab steps, forcing him to catch up to his man and create contact. Pate plays too much with his hands, allowing the officials to make easy calls. 

Pate hasn’t shown much as a rebounder. He will crash the glass on free throws from the perimeter, but most of his rebounds are “right place, right time” scenarios or rebounds without a contest from the opposition. 

Looking Ahead

Pate’s game resembles Caris LeVert. He has the potential to become a secondary, high-volume scorer. However, there are some questions about whether he can impact other areas of the game. He also needs to improve his efficiency.

Pate projects to be a second-round pick with the upside of becoming a rotation player. He is a young, raw prospect with the height and length to become a decent defender and the tools to become a more polished scorer at the pro level. His best situation would be with an organization where he can continue developing in the G League and earn NBA minutes.