Height: 6’11
Weight: 216
Year: Sophomore
Position: Power Forward
2014-2015 NCAA Statistics:
15.7 PTS 10.0 REB 1.3 AST 2.7 BLK 49.7 FG% 28.4 3PT% 73.6 FT%
Draft Projection: Late 1st Round/Early 2nd Round
NBA Player Comparison: Terrence Jones
UNLV had two players who could carry the load last year, Rashad Vaughn and Christian Wood. Wood was the last line of defense and the player the team went to in the post. He also proved that he had the capability to knock down some threes if need be. Christian was asked to do so much for UNLV and thrived in almost every situation.
While I did say that Wood hit his threes if he was asked of it, he wasn’t very efficient from deep. He shot under 30% for the year and would only be able to knock them down if he got into a rhythm. He won’t have the opportunity to have as many shots from there in the NBA if he can’t hit it consistently. What’s good for Wood is that he’s a great offensive rebounder and can impact the game even if his shot is not on. He has said that he is working on both his 3-point shot and his dribbling skills, the two aspects of his game I would call the weakest. I want to see him in the Summer League before I can say for sure that those weaknesses will turn to strengths in the NBA one day.
Christian Wood has the capability to be a starting PF for a team that contributes well behind the more dominant center, just like Terrence Jones. If Christian Wood can be drafted by the right team, like Brooklyn late in the 1st or Miami in the middle of the 2nd, he could have a very rewarding NBA career. Terrence Jones, like Christian Wood, has a solid 3-point shot but doesn’t rely on it, good post-play, a good mid-range shot, and solid defensive capabilities. I do believe Wood has to put on 5 or 10 pounds of muscle and turn those weaknesses I mentioned into strengths before he can reach his full NBA potential.
Future Professional Potential: Starter
