Nique Clifford may very well be the newest “tremendous senior” to engulf the NBA within the storm after a profitable NCAA profession.
In trendy instances, a lot of the first picks within the NBA Draft performed solely seasons in school and international leagues earlier than declaring the draft. Latest exceptions embody Derrick White, Dalton Knecht, Cam Johnson and Jalen Brunson.
Nique Clifford has 5 school seasons underneath his belt and may very well be the following “tremendous senior” to tackle the NBA. He performed three seasons on the College of Colorado after which moved to Colorado in Central Colorado for his last two seasons, however he led the Rams to their first NCAA Match victory since this season, within the earlier season (13).
Clifford does not have the potential to be Cooper Flag, Dylan Harper, Ace Bailey or VJ Edge.com’s empty, however he’ll deliver his group’s drafts to any group with a successful observe document.
- Age/Date of Beginning: 23 (February 9, 2002)
- Nationality: America
- Top/Weight: 6ft 6, 200lbs
- Faculty: Colorado Buffalo and the Colorado Statetrams
- fifth yr statistics: 18.9 factors, 9.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.2 metal, 49.6 fg%, 37.7 3pt%
- NCAA Match Statistics (2025): 17.5 factors, 7.5 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 1.0 metal, 33.3 fg%, 0.0 3pt%
- Highs for 5 seasons: 36 factors (vs. Boise State), 17 rebounds (vs. Loyola Melly Mount), 9 assists (vs. Utah)
- NBA comparability: Josh Hart
Take a look at his statistics. He can rating, rebound, cross and defend. Actually, he had his greatest season on the Mountain West Convention. This does not precisely have blue blood and nice powers, however whereas it is most likely probably the most balanced participant within the draft, some children definitely have a excessive ceiling.
Clifford knocks down pictures from all around the courtroom, turns into a secondary defender, and might rebound very nicely for a participant who’s getting smaller, and he can attain the rim with one of the best.
In visitors, he can rise up on high of the defender and hit open pictures from the whole ground, both from dribbling or as a catch-and-shot risk.
He most likely will not be one of the best defender on the group, however he needs to be probably the most versatile. He has the pace and wingspan to get in the way in which of safety guards, and he has the facility to carry himself within the submit. He is all of the gamers and could be the highest choose if he is 4 or 5 years youthful than him and performs in a much bigger program.
Cooper Flag is promoted for the elite work ethic, and all reviews counsel that Clifford is embarrassed about it. He is aware of he belongs to the NBA, however he has no downside proving that.
The competitors at Clifford’s greatest conferences is Boise and Utah, and neither of those groups is predicted to have NBA expertise. Within the NCAA Match, he made a giant play after a giant play and made the Rams the second candy 16 as Michael Jordan was within the league.
Along with the dearth of competitors within the NBA, he may also flip 24 subsequent season. If he hasn’t seen him but, his ceiling is quick approaching.
It is arduous to think about him turning into a star, however it’s additionally arduous to think about him not an impression position participant. On the middle or finish of the primary spherical, it is actually all you may search for.
Welcome to the Japanese Convention! He’s written throughout him in Tom Thibodeau, making the New York Knicks clear. On the protection, he seems to belong to Motor Metropolis together with the Detroit Pistons.
Older, maybe neglected, he additionally seems to be like a super Miami warmth product. In the event that they need to add that gamers are able to make the leap, they’re far much less NBA-enabled than the 23-year-old man.
In fact, groups just like the Indiana Pacers, Orlando Magic and Atlanta Hawks will all profit from his caliber gamers. If his sport is translated into the affiliation, any group will profit from including him.
