[The following scouting report is part of a series on potential 2023 draft prospects from Sports Business Classroom alumni.]

Cam Whitmore
Frame: 6’7” 232lbs
Position: Forward
School: Villanova
Year: Freshman
2023 Draft Age: 19
Stats via sports-reference.com, Synergy Sports, and Team USA stats 

Offense

Whitmore is among the more exciting players in the 2023 college prospects pool. He has a versatile offensive game starting with an elite, quick first step. His lateral quickness and the quick first step are the centerpieces of his attack, enabling him to create separation against almost all opponents.

Whitmore is already in elite company. He’s one of five 6’7″- 6’8″ first-year students with a usage rate of 28 with at least five three-point attempts per 100 positions over his first eight games in the last 12 years. The others are RJ Barrett, Jabari Parker, Cade Cunningham, and Jaylen Brown. All four players were not only lottery picks but top-five selections in their respective drafts. 

Whitmore’s best asset offensively is his basketball IQ and off-ball decision-making. He has excellent timing on cuts and makes intelligent plays to set up efficient baskets for himself and his teammates. His ability to attack the basket and space the floor enough to keep the defense guessing are positive indicators of success at the next level.

Whitmore has been very efficient in the open court (shooting 77 percent in transition) and easily gets to his spots. He’s adapted his game to play with a greater emphasis on transition, and 64 percent of Villanova’s transition play this year has been initiated by Whitmore as the ball handler. He has shown the ability to play in the open court well and adapt to a new position or game style. It’s all an excellent sign for NBA teams, given his combination of size and skill.

Whitmore can improve his on-ball decision-making and processing speed. When he initiates the offense, it can take him a few seconds to process the defense, leading to mistakes like throwing passes cross-court and away from his momentum. Taking half a second to dissect the defensive situation before initiating the offense would improve Whitmore’s turnover rate and help him find more efficient shots or lead passes. 

In addition to his transition and shot-creation play, Whitmore has surpassed expectations as a determined rebounder on both ends. He is in the 62nd percentile in the country on offensive rebounding and putback efficiency. His offensive rebounding accounts for  11 percent of his offensive output. Before Villanova, Whitmore was fourth on the Team USA U17 team in total rebounds as the eighth shortest player. However, Whitmore must improve his offensive rebounding IQ and mechanics. Once again, his athleticism and elite body measurements have led him to success on the boards, but he needs to gain more special awareness of where the rebound will be and rarely boxes out.

Whitmore’s shooting form is also an area of improvement. He has consistent balance and a high release, but it seems he has been able to stay consistent because of his athleticism rather than a formal, efficient jump shot. His jump shot must be faster and more constant. Additionally, each time he pulls up for a shot, Whitmore makes sure he touches the ball with his left hand, which may lead him to problems when he plays much smarter and analytics-driven defenders. These intangible fixes are minor weaknesses in an array of pivotal offensive showcases.

Defense

Defensively, Whitmore’s body size and strength are displayed time and time again. He can contain matchups down low and stay in front of any perimeter matchups. His ability to beat matchups to a spot all over the court is elite, allowing him to feast on open passing lanes.

In addition to his body size and athleticism defensively, Whitmore shows an NBA-ready IQ in defensive rotations. Whitmore understands how to play any pick-and-roll coverage and rotate to cover an open man. Most of his pass disruptions or steals occurred when he rotated down low–an excellent sign for Whitmore’s defensive impact on the next level. 

However, Whitmore must improve his tendency to watch the ball when guarding an off-ball guard. Whitmore sometimes goes haywire looking for a steal opportunity which allows his matchup an easy basket, but for the most part, the forward shows good steal timing awareness. 

Looking Ahead

Overall, Whitmore is an exciting prospect determined to succeed on every level of basketball he plays. His size, along with his sheer athletic ability all over the court, is rare. With experience at Villanova under his belt, Whitmore will be an impressive prospect many NBA teams will covet in the draft.

Whitmore can be a three-level scorer at either forward spot in the NBA. His speed, lateral quickness, size, and measurements will be exciting for lottery teams this year. While his processing speed as an offensive initiator needs to speed up, it will with more experience and coaching. It’s a question of “when,” not “if,” and he may prove one of the best players out of this draft class. 

HS Videos: Cam Whitmore Strengths  | Cam Whitmore Weaknesses