Hawks Draft Profiles: Donte DiVincenzo

Here is a fellow that made bank during Villanova’s most recent national championship run. While Divincenzo was never the focal point for the Wildcats, he sort of played the Andre Iguadola role that made last year’s Villanova team one of the most dominant in recent history. Coming off the bench, Divincenzo brought a little bit of everything, and most noticeably, energy. A high-energy player that brings it on both sides of the ball has become envied around the league, and it’s made Divincenzo, originally an afterthought as an NBA prospect, almost guaranteed to go in the first-round.

It is hard to find a spot where Divincenzo struggles. At first glance, you could point to his frame and how he does not really look like much of an athlete. However, he put that idea to rest at the NBA combine when he tied for the highest vertical leap at 42 inches, and if you just take a look at last year’s national championship contest against Michigan, you can see just how underrated his athleticism is.

As you can see, his high-flying ability makes him a threat without the ball in his hands. He rebounds terrifically for a guard and can put it back with emphasis. Defensively, his athleticism allows him to swat shots, but it is his instincts that seem to always have him in the right position. There is a high basketball-IQ that comes with Divincenzo and most of the players that play under Jay Wright at Villanova. That is something you cannot take for granted, and when paired with spectacular athleticism, can lead to a quality player at the next level.

Even though he was rarely the main scoring option for the Wildcats, his all-around offensive game is as polished as you will see in this year’s draft class. He has sure handles which allow him to get by defenders off the dribble, and the ability to finish around the rim comes with his aforementioned athleticism. His shooting stroke has gotten better each year since he has been at Villanova. He can pull up off the dribble and finish with a nice mid-range game or really stroke it from long distance. He shot just over 40% from three his last year with the Wildcats. As a passer, Divincenzo doubled his assist total from his sophomore year to his junior year even though he averaged less than five minutes more a game. He is a player that really seemed to come into his own during the latter part of his junior season and is ready to take his game to the next level.

With the Hawks currently holding both the 19th and 30th picks in the draft, they are right at both ends of the draft where Divincenzo might be selected. At 19, some might view him as a bit of a reach, and at 30, he would be considered a steal. He may not have as high of a ceiling as some of the other prospects the Hawks could consider at 19, but it is hard imaging this guy not carving a role out for himself in the NBA. An improving sharpshooter, with A+ athleticism and the ability to play both sides of the ball: Divincenzo might turn out to be a steal, even at pick #19.

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