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

Brandin Podziemski
Frame: 6’5″ 200 lbs
Position: Guard
Team: Santa Clara
2023 Draft Age: 20
Stats via www.sports-reference.com

Offense

Podziemski possesses some of the best touch in this class. He is an exceptional shooter from behind the arc, as he shot 44.7 percent on 179 attempts while being assisted on 57.5 percent of these shots this past season, according to www.barttorvik.com. He can shoot both on and off the dribble due to his pace and change of direction. His form is technically sound and has a high release, which allows him to shoot over bigger players. 

Floaters are a large part of Podziemski’s arsenal, especially with his left hand. He relies on it when he cannot get to the rim when driving. It is a high-arching shot that defenders have difficulty contesting, including forwards and centers. He excels at putting defenders on his back after ball screens to create and operate in space to get off these shots. He shot 42.5 percent on 146 attempts while being assisted only 21.0 percent on those shots.

Due to his limitations as an athlete, Podziemski isn’t great at contested finishes around the rim. He depends on head fakes and stop-and-goes to open up driving lanes for himself. He will rely on backhand or inside finishes with his left hand when he has to finish around defenders. He shot 62.0 percent on 121 attempts at the rim while being assisted on 26.7 percent.

While not best suited as a full-time lead guard, Podziemski is capable of operating an offense from time to time. He is a patient pick-and-roll ball handler who thrives at keeping his dribble alive and waiting for open windows to the roll man or open shooters. In addition, he is excellent at threading needles in transition and finding cutters from the wing. 

Despite his efficiency as a scorer and ball handler, Podziemski’s lack of burst off the dribble may get him in trouble against larger, more athletic players. He has trouble relying on his shiftiness and can struggle to create separation for jump shots and to process hard traps. Both will be worth monitoring as he transitions to the NBA.

Defense

Podziemski is best when he is a strong-sided defender. He swipes at drivers without fouling and rotates back to his man—consequently freezing offensive players for a split second. Podziemski is capable of plucking players’ handles in these situations. He can also create turnovers by jumping passes as the strong side defender, frequently catching opposing players off guard. Podziemski averaged 1.8 steals per game this season. 

Despite his size and athleticism, Podziemski is also a strong defensive rebounder. He has a high motor and uses excellent positioning, digging into larger players’ waists and shooting out to grab rebounds that fly over big men inside. He averaged an astounding 7.0 defensive rebounders per game this past season. 

Podziemski has struggled as a weak-side defender. He needs help to get through off-ball screens, especially ones set by larger wings. He can also get caught ball-watching, leading to his man getting an open look via a skip pass, or cut around the basket. 

On-ball defense is where Podziemski struggles the most; his athletic profile hinders him from consistently staying in front of quicker guards. He is susceptible to post-ups by opposing big men as well. Overall, he projects to be an off-ball defender at the next level.

Looking Ahead

Podziemski is one of the best all-around scorers in this draft class. The pace and touch he possesses are almost unmatched by his peers. This is complemented by efficient secondary playmaking, with specific strengths on the defensive end but apparent weaknesses.

He currently projects to be a late first to early second-round pick. Profiling as an efficient offensive-minded guard off the bench for a team. His upside will be determined by how much his physical profile hinders him on both sides of the floor.