Ron Holland
If you look past his shooting struggles, Ron Holland has all the traits you crave in an NBA wing prospect: dynamic athleticism, prototypical wing size, and a relentless motor on both ends. Behind those traits though, Holland has shown more than anticipated as a playmaker and ballhandler. To reach his ceiling, Holland undoubtedly needs a bit of refining; however, it’s important to mention that the Ignite were not an ideal situation for him. Playing alongside a proven playmaker and with NBA spacing should instantly make him more efficient, but teams should continue building upon the flashes of playmaking and self-creation that he showed. Lastly, if he grows into even an average shooter from beyond the arc, Holland could grow into an all-star level player.
SHADES OF:
Smaller Scottie Barnes
Andre Igoudala
Miles Bridges
Big board rankings:
Josh - #6 Overall (63.5)
Liam - #?
Samuel - #2
measurements:
Height: 6’6.5”
Wingspan: 6’10.75”
Weight: 197 lbs
Age: 19.0
Best landing spot:
Charlotte Hornets: Ideally, Ron Holland would land on a team that already has an elite playmaker. This would allow him to not only get easy buckets through lobs, cuts, and in transition, but it would give him an opportunity to refine his playmaking without being forced to carry the offensive load.
His shot creation off the dribble and inconsistent shooting limits his versatility on the offensive end, which accentuates the importance of having a strong lead guard alongside him. On Charlotte, Holland would thrive next to LaMelo and be a potential replacement for Miles Bridges, if they choose to move on from his this offseason.
OFFENSE:
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Holland has above-the-rim athleticism that is combined with surprising finesse and a feathery touch, which makes him a potent scoring threat around the rim. He has the quickness to take defenders off the dribble and attack the rim with ferocity, allowing him to rack up free throw attempts. He is also a lob-threat around the rim, especially on fast breaks as he loves to sprint down the floor using his speed to get easy buckets.
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Because of his quickness, speed, and improving ball handling, Holland is always a threat on-ball; however, as noted in other sections, he has a lack of creativity that is exposed most in the midrange. Diversifying his scoring arsenal and growing more comfortable shooting off the bounce will help him take huge strides as a shooter, but this is an area he needs to work hard to develop.
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Shooting remains one of Holland’s biggest and most glaring weaknesses. In the G-League, he shot 23.7% from beyond the arc on 3.3 attempts per game. His FT% has improved since high school, which is a positive sign, but the bigger underlying issue is his inconsistent shooting form, which needs substantial tightening in order to help him become more consistent going forward.
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Holland’s ball handling skills are improving. While he still lacks effective counters and variety in how he attacks, he is incredibly quick and aggressive. He can change directions rapidly, but he’ll need further refining going forward as his lack of creativity as a ball handler makes Holland easier to corral when guarded by similar level athletes.
His self-creation game will go as far as his handles take him. At times, he can get into the lane with ease and create not only for himself, but for others too. If he can do this more consistently, he’ll blossom as a scorer and as a prospect.
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His energetic playstyle means that he is always active, even without the ball in his hand. He makes smart, decisive cuts towards the basket, showcasing a strong understanding of spacing and off-ball movement. However, due to his shortcomings as a shooter, he doesn’t create much space or draw much gravity without the ball. He’s a menace in transition, even without the ball in his hands.
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While he doesn’t have much gravity off the ball, Holland does force defenses to collapse onto him whenever he attacks the paint. When attacking on fast breaks and in the half court, Holland is incredibly unselfish and has shown promising vision, with the ability to find open shooters on the wing. If he can continue developing his handle, Holland has upside as a secondary playmaker, who can handle the offense for spurts, lead fast breaks
with his blazing speed, and run some half court sets. If he can further tap into his playmaking potential, his ceiling is incredibly high.
DEFENSE:
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6’8” and boasting a 7’1” wingspan, Holland uses his frame and athleticism to disrupt and contest shots extremely well. Gifted with good physical strength, he is able to hang with most 4s in the paint. He is a disciplined paint defender, who should continue to get better as he continues to add mass.
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Blessed with great athleticism and good physical tools that are bolstered by a strong motor, Holland has the makings of a suffocating perimeter defender. He is not only physically and athletically gifted, but can also make quick reads, enabling him to be extremely disruptive in passing lanes. He has the quickness to stick with quicker guards and the size and strength to stymie bigger forwards.
INTANGIBLES:
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Ron Holland is a legitimate high-level NBA athletic prospect, who is also extremely fluid and controlled. He’s got a strong build and frame, but he glides effortlessly around the court. He’s a very well-rounded athlete, who has good verticality, a quick first step, and good burst.
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As mentioned earlier, Holland’s physical gifts are tools that he uses extremely well. He has prototypical size for a wing defender and can slot in as a 3 or 4 on most line-ups due to his wingspan, strength, and height.
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Ron Holland’s motor is relentless. He plays with intensity on both ends of the court, which is bolstered by a short-term memory that prevents him from lingering on poor plays. Holland’s energy will be infectious and inspiring for whichever team drafts him.