Name: Cassius Winston

School: Michigan State

Year: Sophomore

Height/Weight: 6’0, 185 lbs

Strengths: 

In limited time last season, Cassius Winston showed that he will be key for the next three years as a potential elite floor general for Tom Izzo and the Michigan State Spartans.

Winston was under the radar, averaging only 6.7 points per game on 42% shooting from the field including a healthy 38% from long range. With increased playing time this year (averaged 21 min/game off the bench) we should see these numbers both improve in production and efficiency.

Where Cassius stands out from the crowd is his play-making ability. Though he may not be a star quite yet, his name has been thrown around with the likes of former elite Michigan State point guards Scott Skiles and Magic Johnson. At 5.2 assists per game, Winston lead the entire country with a 47% assist percentage this past season.

Scoring wise, Winston is a crafty finisher that uses angles well to finish on both sides around the basket. As with most small guards, Cassius uses a variety of floaters and deceptive speed changing moves to get decent looks around the rim. The Spartans will need him to capitalize on the flashes he showed last year and hit his open looks as he will have more opportunities this year to provide support for Miles Bridges who will be the star.

Weaknesses: 

Cassius Winston has a decent frame for college basketball but will largely be undersized as a pro prospect. His limitations physically are most visible on the defensive end where he was not a very productive player last season.

In watching his defense, Winson could easily be a more active and pesky on-ball defender and should look to be much more disruptive this upcoming season. Being a smaller defender, he is going to have to make up for his lack of size with early, energetic defense.

At times, Cassius’s greatest asset is also his downfall. He can be prone to making high-risk plays which have lead to turnovers at inopportune times. I am sure the Michigan State coaching staff wants him to continue to push the envelope and be creative with his game. However, as he develops mentally I look for Winston to learn when to reign things in and use his wizardry more situationally.

Future Outlook: 

Cassius Winston projects as the key holding floor general for the Michigan State Spartans for the next 3 years. Winston has the potential to develop into one of the best play-makers in the nation and will be behind the wheel for a team many consider to be the favorite to win it all this year. Michigan State returns star Miles Bridges and big man Nick Ward to form one of the more formidable big 3s in the nation.

While Bridges and possible Ward will declare for the draft after the conclusion of the season, Winston figures to be a 4 year player for the Spartans. Physically he is not yet ready for the NBA and will likely take the full time for his body and mind to develop. This will only continue to allow his game to mature and showcase his talent for NBA scouts as he makes a run at the 2020 draft.

Potential Draft Position: 

2020 NBA Draft Prospect