Name: Mikal Bridges
School: Villanova
Year: Junior
Height/Weight: 6’7, 205 lbs
Strengths
Bridges’s ability to play both sides of the ball really well stands out to me. His 7’0.5 wingspan makes him a defensive threat everywhere on the court for the Wildcats forcing more turnovers for other teams and grabbing enough rebounds to average 4.6 per contest.
His length and hustle helps his overall defense whether it’s on ball or off ball by deflecting passes and tipping the ball from behind opponents. Putting Bridges at the top of the full court press was a perfect strategy for Jay Wright and the Wildcats. He is a very hands on, active player that has good timing skills when swatting opponents layups and getting his fingertips on their jump shots. He can also finish dunks when driving to the basket whether it’s with contact or not because of his very impressive athleticism.
Weaknesses
The main weakness in Mikal’s game is his jump shot. Last season, though, his shooting percentage turned out to be 54% from the field and 39% from behind the three which is not bad at all. He only averaged 9.8 points per game, which will hopefully improve this season when he gets more opportunities. He has shown he is capable of knocking down open shots, but it needs to be more consistent. Also, an improvement on his first step with his dribble to get by defenders would benefit his inside game and get him to the rim more easily.
Future Outlook
Mikal is returning back to Villanova for his junior year and has big expectations. This is his opportunity to raise his stock for the NBA Draft whether that is after this upcoming season or if he decides to stay for his senior season. The 6’7 forward will give it his all to help his team and Jay Wright compete for another National Championship while also making his claim that he should be drafted.
Draft Projection
2018 2nd Round Pick
