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

Taylor Hendricks
Frame: 6’9″, 210 lbs
Position: Forward
School: UCF
Year: Freshman
2023 Draft Age: 19
Stats via sports-reference.com

Offense

Hendricks exploded onto the scene this year as an under-the-radar freshman. His commitment to UCF made few waves as a high school senior ranked outside the national top 50. Now he may be on the cusp of hearing his name called in the lottery on draft night.

Hendricks’s offensive efficiency has been off the charts this season. His shooting splits on the season were just a shade under 50 percent from the field, 40 percent from the three-point line, and 80 percent from the free-throw line. Hendricks displayed patience with his shot selection and the ability to work within the offense without needing the ball in his hands.

His strength is his versatility. He uses his height and length to get shots over defenders and to finish lob dunks. Hendricks is extremely diligent and efficient with his shot selection.

His shot mechanics look effortless, compact, fluid in motion and repeatable. Hendricks’ high release point is difficult to defend against. He rarely forces bad attempts and relocates to areas on the court where he can be impactful without having plays called for him, moving well off the ball. Hendricks e is just scratching the surface of his full range of abilities.

From long range, Hendricks has found comfortable spots on the left wing, where he shot 56 percent, and the top of the key connected on 44 percent. Later in UCFs season, as well as at the conference tournament and NIT, he found shots in the heart of zone defenses as he flashed below the free throw line and hit at a clip of 52 percent. As Hendricks has grown this season, he has continued to showcase a new understanding of the game and how to use his skills to help his team.

With a more wide-open game at the NBA level, Hendricks should find more operating room. He may start more as a 3-and-D specialist, but with development and commitment, he should be able to grow other facets of his offensive game to complement first and second options. Hendricks was the only player in the nation this season to amass 60+ made three-pointers and 35+ dunks.

 

Defense

Hendrick’s defensive skills stand out for a player that has received so many accolades on the offensive side. He has an innate understanding of spacing and help defense. If beaten off the dribble, he can chase and disrupt the shot, tallying 1.7 blocks per game this season.

He’s an active disruptor. He moves his feet well to guard multiple positions. His high IQ enables him to help, block shots, and stay out of foul trouble.

An overlooked part of Hendrick’s game so far is his rebounding ability. He reached double-digit rebounding numbers six times but had another ten games within one or two rebounds of breaking double figures. He has a knack for positioning himself in the right place and, on the offensive side, follows his own shot very well.

Hendricks has the length and lateral speed to be successful defensively. He must continue to develop those components while adding some muscle mass to become an even more menacing defensive threat at the rim.

Looking Ahead

Hendricks has shot up draft boards and appears to be a late lottery pick after outperforming his status coming into the season. He has the base skills but needs to improve his own shot creation to be more of an offensive threat at the next level. His ball handling could use some tightening, especially when he does decide to drive.

He could show more of a killer instinct as most of his time at UCF was spent finding his role and mastering what he needed to succeed. He didn’t take over games or have many plays called for him, yet he still showed the talent and ability to get him to lottery status.

Hendricks must gain strength and work on his first-step separation and dribble skills. His high IQ and ability to defend quick wings and larger power players bode well for his future.

He may have similarities to Antawn Jamison and Jeff Green. He’s switchable defensively and can knock down shots and be that glue guy that teams always desire.