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

Nique Clifford
Frame: 6’6″, 200 lbs
Position: Guard
School: Colorado State
2024 Draft Age: 23
Stats via espn.com

Offense

Clifford is a do-it-all scorer, though his biggest struggle is three-point consistency, which has continually fluctuated from 40 percent as a sophomore to 28.8 percent as a junior. He is currently settled at 35 percent on his five-year career on 2.5 attempts per game. Heightening the release point on his jump shot would be a step in the right direction.

Clifford doesn’t get past defenders with elite crossovers, but he can get to the rim by taking advantage of late rotations or slow on-ball defenders and simply accelerating by them. His explosive one-foot jumping abilities and hangtime allow him to finish with an emphatic slam or an acrobatic finish after a mid-air adjustment. 

He thrives as an on-ball scorer through dribble pull-ups, shooting 49.4 percent from “far-two” range (via Barttorvik). He has a knack for knocking down tough shots, such as contested one-legged fadeaways. Most of Clifford’s attempts come after he puts the ball on the floor instead of off the catch. 

What makes Clifford such a quality prospect is his overall offensive IQ. Often, players at the college level damage the flow of the offense by moving at the wrong pace or rotating improperly, but Clifford has an excellent feel for this aspect of the game that will make his transition to the next level much smoother. 

Although he will not run the offense as a point guard, Clifford is a very unselfish player who can consistently find the open man. When he attacks the rim as a ballhandler, he stays aware of his teammates as they cut to the rim on the weak side. He won’t shy away from challenging yet highly accurate skip passes.

Defense

Similarly to his high-IQ offensive movement, he is excellent at rotating defensively. He is timely and active, rarely getting caught late or out of place. He may not use his athleticism to jump passing lanes or protect the rim as often as desired. Still, his relatively reserved defensive style also contributes to his reliability in defensive rotations. 

One of Clifford’s best qualities is his rebounding, specifically on the defensive glass. He currently leads the Mountain West Conference in defensive rebounds and is second in total rebounds. He gets many through proactive positioning. Clifford reads shots well and seems to know where the rebound will be. He also has the welcome habit of boxing out, giving him an immediate advantage when battling for boards.  

On the ball, when he is locked in, he does a solid job of keeping his man in front of him, but he can be taken out of his defensive rhythm quite easily. He tends to panic when faced with screens or get overwhelmed when facing an intense stretch of crossovers. This is another aspect where his athleticism doesn’t stand out, as he can utilize his horizontal athleticism more than he does at times. Clifford’s next step is finding that consistency. 

Looking Ahead 

While Clifford is an older prospect, he is one of the more well-rounded players in this class who could make an immediate impact.

Clifford’s game has no glaring holes, but his most significant area of improvement is consistency on both sides of the court. When taking a chance on older players in the draft, NBA teams want to know precisely who they are getting. While Clifford’s game has many layers, he needs to show that he’ll reliably do the job nightly to stay on the floor. 

Don’t look for Clifford to become a star, but a role player who can impact the game in many ways, similar to Josh Green, as a plug-and-play wing with two-way ability.