DeAndre Pinckney

INTRODUCTION

DeAndre Pinckney began his career at Broward Junior College and was recruited by the Golden Eagles, where over the years he carved out a role as a key player. His growth has seen him become one of the starters and most responsible players on Coach Ladner’s roster. In the running for a spot on the ideal lineup of the Sun Belt Conference, he has already accumulated 5 double-doubles at the start of the season.

PHYSICAL

DeAndre Pinckney is a bundle of energy, not very tall but with a combination of speed and explosiveness that makes him particularly effective around the basket. He lacks a bit of lateral mobility and timing in elevation, he’s not a great rim-protector. Moreover, he touches many rebounds but doesn’t secure them, but he compensates with a predisposition for physical contact that makes him an impactful player on both ends of the court.

OFFENSIVE PHASE

DeAndre Pinckney is very skilled at moving without the ball; his cuts from the weak side are usually finished with a highlight dunk. After setting a screen, he can pop out and shoot from beyond the arc with relative ease (36% on 3.7 attempts this year), although his shooting mechanics are not very fluid and his release is not particularly quick. On the kickouts, he can take a mid-range shot or go into the low post in mismatch situations. He does not have a particular natural talent, but over time he has developed an entire arsenal for a modern big man, being very active on the offensive boards, where he averages 2.9 per game.

DEFENSIVE PHASE

DeAndre Pinckney has a gladiatorial attitude but still possesses many details that he will need to discipline. In switches on the perimeter, he tends to attack opponents with too much force, aware that he lacks the lateral mobility necessary to keep up, but it is rare to find tolerant officiating in these situations, and he risks seeing his playing time decrease. He has a decent rebounding presence and proves to be quite solid in terms of how to oppose in the post, and as mentioned, contact does not scare him.

IMPROVED AREAS

DeAndre Pinckney’s development during his college career clearly shows his work ethic. He can substantially improve in every aspect of his offensive game, where the only certainty seems to be the energy with which he attacks the rim. He is present on the boards, but with his athleticism, better numbers could be expected; similarly, as an rim-protector, overall he is a big man who can be utilized immediately in mid-level leagues with a rather interesting upside.