featured-image

2015 Draft Prospect Profile: Karl-Anthony Towns

Karl-Anthony Towns (Kentucky | Freshman | Forward/Center)

HT: 7'0" | WT: 248 lbs. | Wingspan: 7'3.25" | 19 years old

2014-15 NCAA Stats: 10.3 PPG | 6.7 RPG | 56.8 FG%

The University of Kentucky featured an unprecedented collection of talent this past season that included nine McDonalds High School All-Americans. Head Coach John Calipari asked his players to make individual sacrifices for the good of the group as the Wildcats reeled off an undefeated regular season before falling to Wisconsin in the Final Four.

As a result, potential first-round picks logged fewer minutes and posted more pedestrian statistics than they might have under normal circumstances. This is how Towns, the 2014 Gatorade National Player of the Year, averages just 10.3 points and 6.7 rebounds during his freshman season in Lexington.

But as the year went on and Calipari went away from the “platoon” system (substituting five players at a time), Towns established himself as one of the premier prospects in a draft class full of promising big men. His playing time increased in each of the final four months of the season, and by March, he’d become UK’s focal point on both ends of the floor. 

Standing 6-foot-11 with a 7-foot-3 wingspan, Towns is really the complete package; a standout in the classroom and relentless worker on the court, he battles for position in the paint, gobbles up rebounds and is equally comfortable scoring and setting up his teammates.

In guiding St. Joseph to three consecutive New Jersey state titles, Towns frequently stepped behind the 3-point line, burying 127 treys during his illustrious career. The face-up game wasn’t a big part of his repertoire at Kentucky, but those who have watched him since high school know it’s there – his touch from the free throw line (81.3 percent) is further proof.

Instead, Calipari asked him to anchor the paint and Towns shot 57.7 percent on 2-pointers for the year. By Tournament time, he was such a force down low that opponents had to leave talented teammates open and send double teams.

His post dominance was on full display in the Elite Eight against Notre Dame, when Towns almost singlehandedly carried his team to victory with 25 points on 10-of-13 shooting.

Knicks Fit

Thanks to his unique blend of size, skill and leadership ability, it’s not hard to envision Towns donning the orange and blue for years to come.

For most Knicks fans, that dream begins with the immediate impact he could have on defense. Towns teamed with national Defensive Player of the Year Willie Cauley-Stein to form the most imposing front line in recent NCAA history -- both bigs stifled opponents with their ability to switch onto guards in pick-and-rolls or protect the rim with uncanny shot-blocking instincts.

Towns’ elite block rate (11.4 percent of all shots) suggests he has the potential to play either power forward or center at the next level. He also added considerable strength over the course of the year, and at just 19 years old, there’s no reason to believe he can’t continue to build muscle and improve athleticism.

His offensive game is still developing, but he’s unselfish and his progress throughout the season is encouraging; as his minutes increased and his team relied on him more and more, so did his scoring efficiency.

Already a gifted post passer, you could easily see him sliding into the Triangle. With the size to see over the defense, he loves to find open teammates spotting up and has the patience to kick it out and re-post. When faced with single coverage, he’ll go to work with a deadly right hook over his left shoulder.

He never stops working for position, and once his man is sealed, Towns shifts into attack mode – just ask Notre Dame. He’s not a prototypical, back-to-the-basket “center,” but his combination of physical attributes and competitive instincts make the New Jersey product an intriguing possibility at the top of the Draft.