Players like Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Durant, and more, changed the way young big men would play basketball, forever. Instead of practicing their post-moves, young bigs stepped outside and developed their perimeter shooting.
Perhaps that is why someone like Diamond Stone stands out so much in the high school ranks. Sure, he can step outside and knock down a set jumper if needed, but it’s far from his strong suit. Stone is a classic post-scorer, and has chosen to take his talents to College Park, and play for Maryland next season.
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Name: Diamond Stone
Height: 6’11
Position: Center
Ranking: Five-star, No. 5 overall
Strengths: Stone is, in every sense of the word, a load. He establishes great position in the post, and is both wide and strong enough to pick his spot. Once fed the ball, he can turn over either shoulder and use his wingspan to get shots over opponents. For reference, he has nearly the same measurements as Kentucky’s Karl-Anthony Towns did at the same age. Stone can also run the floor and pick up transition buckets. Defensively, he’s a capable shot blocker and high-level rebounder.
Areas to Improve: Offensively, we’d like to see Stone become a bit more consistent with his off-hand. That will open up both sides of the post for his baseline hook, as right now, he very much prefers the right side. Stone also needs to get in better shape, something he’s very well aware of and has talked about often. A college training program should do him wonders in this regard.
