Mouhamed Gueye
Frame: 6’11”, 210 lbs
Position: Forward
School: Washington State
2023 Draft Age: 20
Stats via sports-reference.com

Offense

Gueye is an active and versatile player on the offensive side of the ball. While his lack of mobility and ballhandling limits him, Gueye has shown the ability to score on every area of the floor. He does most of his work around the rim, working hard off the ball to get open. He doesn’t rush with the ball, attacking around the rim with patience—rarely forcing a tough shot.

Gueye is a proficient offensive rebounder. He led the Pac-12 in offensive rebounding at 3.4 per game. He knows where the ball will bounce before it even hits the rim and frequently finds ways to follow the offensive rebound with a quick putback.

As a shooter, there is potential to grow into a reliable threat. He has a smooth shooting form and is already knocking down elbow jumpers consistently. His release point is also high, making it very tough for smaller defenders to alter his shot. From deep, Gueye only shot 27.5 percent on 1.2 attempts per game, but the shot looks better than the numbers show. Between his freshman and sophomore season, he improved as a free throw shooter by about 18 percent, so there is reason to trust that he can continue this trend everywhere else on the court. 

Gueye has a high IQ on when and where to set screens, constantly working on getting himself or his teammates open effectively. Where he could improve is flashing harder out of pick-and-roll actions. While he can get the necessary space to get the ball and get to the rim, he is susceptible to just going through the motions and not making himself a legitimate option.

Defense

Gueye is a highly effective defender around the rim. He has excellent paint awareness, allowing him to read the attacker and prepare his next move before it even happens—whether to jump up against the offensive player or switch to the man in the dunker’s spot. Further, Gueye is a very hard worker in the post. He puts a lot of effort into ensuring his man does not get the positioning he wants down low.

Outside the paint, Gueye has flashed the ability to hold his own against shiftier guards. While he is quite heavy-footed, his 7’4″ wingspan allows him to cover a lot of ground. However, it’s not a reliable aspect of his game, as his lack of lateral quickness makes him inconsistent as an on-ball defender outside the paint. 

Gueye also struggles on the perimeter with shot contesting. He has difficulty keeping up with speedy ballhandlers, hurting the timing of his contest with their shot. This makes it relatively easy for his opponents to shoot over him and move around his boxout for a chance at the offensive rebound.

Looking Ahead 

Gueye displays similarities to Tristan Thompson and Dwight Powell. His defensive awareness at the rim, nose for offensive rebounding, and potential as a shooter should lead to a heavy second-round interest in the 2023 draft. He will be a welcome addition to a team willing to invest time in his development. 

His athleticism may limit first-round interest. He is slow laterally, lacks explosion, and will not be a threat on the break. Unfortunately, these flaws will be challenging to overcome, but he could contribute to a team that values what he does bring. 

At Washington State, Gueye worked hard consistently. If this transfers to his professional career, he should have no problem earning opportunities to prove himself worthy of a long-term NBA contract.