Prospect Overview
Rangy freshman forward with very good athleticism who contributed with terrific efficiency and showed budding talent in a limited role at Memphis.
About Josh Minott
Josh Minott is an rangy, athletic forward who has considerable room to grow as a jump shooter but nonetheless emerged as a very efficient contributor in limited action for Memphis as a true freshman. Following a somewhat unique trajectory, Minott was born in Florida but eligible to play for Jamaica internationally. Putting together a massive showing at the 2019 FIBA Centrobasket U17 Championship averaging 26 points, 9 rebounds, 4.6 steals, and 2 assists over 34.4 minutes per game, he emerged on the NBA radar, but did not begin to gain steam in recruiting circles until the beginning of his senior year at St. Andrew’s School (FL).
Nonetheless, the Boca Raton native finished his prep career regarded as a consensus top-40 prospect in the high school class of 2021. Heading to play for head coach Penny Hardaway at Memphis, the 19-year-old forward averaged 6.6 points and 3.8 rebounds per game over 14.7 minutes per game, but flashed significant upside in his lone collegiate season.
• Measured standing 6-foot-8.75 in shoes with a promising 197-pound frame and a 6-foot-11.75 wingspan at the 2022 NBA Draft Combine, Minott grew in-season, has solid size for a forward, and impressed with his combination of energy and athleticism last season.
• Filling a minor role offensively at the collegiate level, Minott played significantly more minutes some nights than others. Though his playing time varied, he scored efficiently within his role making steady contributions running the floor, crashing the glass, and staying active off the ball. Flashing some ability to drive closeouts and finish emphatically above the rim or acrobatically with either hand, he made some highlight-reel plays on top of the substance he provided in limited action. Though he made a couple jumpers as a freshman, he has significant room to improve his mechanics to keep opposing defenders honest on the perimeter.
• Lacking a degree of polish but bringing great energy to the defensive end, Minott has upside as a playmaker and multi-positional defender on that end of the floor as his body and game mature.
Advanced Stats
• Playing a role that had him seeing dramatically more minutes some nights than others, Minott nonetheless had an efficient year as his athleticism, energy, and glimpses of ability with the ball still stood out in limited action.
• Doing much of his scoring around the basket cutting to the rim, crashing the glass, and filling lanes in transition, Minott scored 1.27 points per shot around the rim [73rd percentile]. A very good leaper with a head of steam and a capable lob threat when given a step to load up, the easy looks he earned off his activity level compensated for his tendency to force some shots when sped up and try some ambitious dunks over defenders.
• While he did not do a lot of damage off the dribble, he showed the ability to attack closeouts and finish with either hand–sometimes acrobatically. He still has room to pick and choose his spots better inside, but made some truly spectacular plays for the point he is at in his development.
• The biggest question-mark Minott faces at this stage is whether he can develop into a capable jump shooter. Scoring 0.60 points per jump shot [11th percentile] but making foul shots at a solid rate, he has some extra motion in his mechanics that he’ll need to address to reach his potential on the offensive end.
Defensive Analysis
• With the tools to be a multi-positional defensive playmaker, Minott had some impressive moments moving his feet containing the ball on the perimeter, covering ground to block shots, and not giving up on plays.
• While he was impactful in spurts, he still has a lot of room to improve his technique and consistency as an on and off ball defender.
— Profile by Synergy Sports
