Kiir Kiir Chol Deng | Scouting Report
I’m Kuzey, 19. I’ve been writing about basketball since I was 9. I have been working in Eurosport Turkey for the last 1,5 years. I have written on various sites and magazines before. I’ve been working as a freelance scout for three years. I worked as a consultant. I have interviewed dozens of prospects such as Theo Maledon, Deni Avdija, Henri Drell, Aleksej Pokusevski, Arturs Kurucs, Yves Pons, and dozens of notable basketball people such as Luis Scola, Xavi Pascual, Jonathan Givony, Dimitris Itoudis, Sasa Obradovic, Joan Plaza, Sarunas Jasikevicius, Derrick Williams. I write an article every day. I live in Turkey, I go to all the Euroleague and Youth League games. My main areas are all of age group in Africa and from U12 to U20 European and NCAA. MY BIGGEST GOAL IS SCOUTING! Anyway, don’t forget to follow me on Twitter and feel free to DM!
Born: 14 Feb 2004
Nationality: South Sudan
Height: 6–8
Wingspan: 6–foot-11
Position: F
NBA Academy
Physical
Standing 6-foot-8 with a 6-foot-11 wingspan and well-developer frame, the lefty, Kiir Kiir Chol Deng has room to get stronger but very promising on this in my opinion. Because Kiir Kiir was physically much worse when he came to the NBA Academy from South Sudan in 2019, but he made significant progress in this regard in a short time, especially at the NBA Academy camp in Brooklyn. Wide, very wide and already stiff shoulders, long arms, quick hips, and footwork. KKCD needs strength in every part of his body, he has to gain weight, so, he must both add weight and gain muscles. From the athleticism perspective, Kiir Kiir has an interesting versatility. The South Sudan prospect can go around the basket fluently, move fluently around the post after taking the ball, but can also play above the rim with good two-foot jump, vertical pop, second jump timing if he needs, and solid first step. However, due to lack of elite strength and experience, he can’t play through to contact, can’t finish in traffic. Also, he can’t create a shield around the ball, so has a good potential to be a versatility athlete but needs time and has room to get stronger.
Offense
A huge BBIQ player, Kiir Kiir Chol Deng is doing a bit of everything on the offensive end. He makes his best contributions offensively as a slasher. After take the ball as a secondary handler or scorer, he can dribble well from the wings (better right than left), can change direction both on the ground and in the air, can finish positions well with soft touch, good timing, good kneecap angle (I mean, he can drop his left leg, load his right leg to spacing), and has an inside hand finishing skill-set. Kiir Kiir lacks a degree of consistency but shows potential as a self-creator, jump shooter, catch-and-shooter, he ability to create separation off the dribble, and drive-and-dish player. I think 3-pointers shots are the most important things in his future. Because Kiir Kiir already showed good things as a slasher and off the ball motions player with great cut tricks (spins, burst fakes, lateral moves) but if he can shots from the 3-point line consistently, works changes seriously. I mean, he has the potential to be next Kevin Durant but shooting (yup, early to say that but one day, another KD will come to the NBA, why not?) is my biggest question mark on him besides size&frame. Kiir Kiir showed some things as a spot-up shooter and self-creator, has good release, timing, and mentality knows when and how to shot. But lack of strength and more importantly, his right-hand angle hurt him here. I mean, Kiir Kiir is left-handed, but his right-hand doesn’t at the ideal angle when shooting, causing a loss of momentum in the shot pocket. I think KKCD should improve in this regard. He is a really good pick-and-roll player in my opinion. Deng is 6-foot-9 but his quick hips, mobility, lateral moves, and screen angle (not just flare or stagger screener, knows to do one-and-one stiff screen) make him a good screener and roller in my opinion. As a post-up player, has a lot of room. Also, has to improve on his dribble, passing, and handling package. As I said, he showed good things as a drive-and-dish role but not consistent. From the dribbling and handling package, ha a lot of room to get better. Has to learn how to play balanced, calm, and be reliable. Also, if he adds catch-and-finish scoring ability to his offensive arsenal, it will be good because he is a really good off the ball motions player and slashes. So, sometimes can find spacing around the baseline. And in these positions at the high-level, he will need more things than using to rim in my opinion. Especially, against the physical defenders. So yes, he also has to learn advanced or defensive dribble pack.
Defense
As I mentioned two times, Kiir Kiir Chol Deng needs experience but he already showed good things on the offensive end. However, works change on the defensive end. I mean, Kiir Kiir is just a good shot blocker and promising rim protector. He did a great job to rotate his body for domination blocks, so, he can create a fear effects against his opponents. As a rim protector, he showed good things on sliding, changing speed-body, and timing. However, that’s it. Of course, his length and predictable frame may make him a versatile defender but needs a lot of things. Has to learn using his footwork and mobility in the pick-and-roll situations, needs awarenesses as an off the ball motions defender, showed somethings being a factor in the passing lanes but not consistent, has to learn covering cutters, not a pesky or even average intense things on shooter, can’t switch for now. So yes, Kiir Kiir Chol Deng is a very promising all-round defender but at the end of the day, I think he needs time to label him as a worthy defender. A decent rebounding wing with quick lateral footwork, impressive second jump, and good hands.
Summary
I think Kiir Kiir Chol Deng has the potential to be the next Kevin Durant. Because he is a great slasher, can take responsibility, promising shooter, promising versatility defender. However, he has to improve on his frame, shooting (average), fundamental basketball things, and defensive consistency. If he can improve all these things, well, he is a clearly top-three pick in my opinion.