Overview
Nae’qwan Tomlin didn’t play organized basketball until high school, first breaking into the collegiate scene at Monroe Community College in 2019-20 and Chipola College from 2020-22. During the 2021-22 season, he was an Honorable Mention JUCO All-American.
For his junior campaign, Tomlin transferred to Kansas State, where he started 34 of his 36 appearances. He averaged 10.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.0 blocks in 27.2 minutes and earned a Big 12 Newcomer of the Week in December. For his senior season, Tomlin transferred to Memphis. He started 11 of his 21 appearances and averaged 14.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.1 blocks, 0.8 steals and 0.7 assists in 26.7 minutes. He earned an AAC Player of the Week award in February. He attended the Jayson Tatum Elite Camp in 2023 and the NBA G League Elite Camp in 2024.
Analysis
Given the rate at which Tomlin has developed – going from picking up the game in high school to being a recognized AAC starter – he’s an intriguing long-term prospect. He’s a great athlete, but his rebounding and defense don’t match that. He needs work in both aspects, but it wouldn’t be surprising if he could get there. The forward’s shooting was a mixed bag until his senior year at Memphis, where he shot 21-for-53 (40%) from deep and 48-for-62 (77%) from the charity stripe. For his size, he has a good handle and makes decisive moves with impressive footwork. Lobs dunks are part of his arsenal.
Projection
Tomlin has the potential to be drafted in the second round. NBA front offices may view his relative lack of experience as a positive or a negative depending on opinions regarding development, but there’s no doubt he’s grown exponentially as a player.
If his 3-ball becomes potent and he develops more as a playmaker, he could begin to look like a smaller Karl-Anthony Towns. If the shot lacks consistency, Tomlin could mold into someone like Aaron Gordon or Tari Eason – an energy forward who plays with quickness and physicality. Ultimately, he may be asked to play in the G League or be a deep NBA bench player as a rookie, but his trajectory may vault him past that sooner than later.
– Provided by Rotowire