After a strong freshman year at Georgia, dynamic 6-foot-11 forward Asa Newell has declared for the NBA Draft. Known for his elite athleticism, the Bulldogs’ star will be a hot commodity in this year’s NBA Draft and will likely be a lottery pick. Let’s dive into Newell’s skill set and place within this year’s draft.
Asa Newell 2025 NBA Draft Profile
College Career
Newell had a short college career. He was a five-star recruit out of high school and a member of the undefeated national champion Montverde Academy team that had other high-level college basketball players like Cooper Flagg and Derik Queen. Newell was the top scorer on a Georgia team that made the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2015.
He averaged 15.4 points per game in the difficult SEC and had a few outstanding games, including a 20-point game on the road against top-ranked Auburn and 20 points against Gonzaga in the first round of the NCAA tournament. His performance in Athens led to him being an SEC All-Freshmen selection.
Strengths
Newell’s biggest strength is the ability to score. He is great at creating his own shot and getting to the rim. Once there, he is an excellent finisher, either above or below the rim. He is also an excellent athlete. Although he did not test extremely well at the combine, his film shows his ability to jump out of the gym. He would excel in an offense that plays high tempo and pushes on fastbreaks.
Newell is also a quality rim protector, as evidenced by his one block per game. Furthermore, he is comfortable switching onto perimeter players if needed and averaged a steal per game. This combination of rim protection and versatility makes him a highly impactful defender. Overall, Newell’s ability to catch lobs and protect the rim gives him a clear role at the NBA level.
Weaknesses
A big weakness is shooting, especially from three. He shot 29% from three this season and 74% from the line. These are both numbers that NBA execs would love to see improve. However, many are optimistic he will be able to improve this. He has a good-looking shot and should be able to improve with better coaching and spacing in the league.
Additionally, he could improve his playmaking ability. Although he is big, he averaged under an assist per game, which is a very low number regardless of position. An easy fix for Newell is strength. He is a bit on the smaller side for his frame. If he can build some more muscle, it may help him be a bit more versatile and make him a better defender in the NBA. A professional routine should be able to fix this easily.
NBA Comparison
A good comparison for Newell would be Johnathan Isaac with a higher scoring upside. Both are lengthy athletes who can finish at the rim. However, Newell has shown a more promising ability to score. If he can play similarly to Isaac on the defensive front and be a threat on offense, then Newell will be a very good player in the NBA.
2025 Draft Projection
Newell will likely go late in the lottery to the middle of the first round.
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