2024 NBA Draft: Aday Mara Prospect Profile
Aday Mara
Big | 7’3 | 240lb
Freshman @ UCLA
Last played at Casademont Zaragoza (From Zaragoza, Spain)
D.O.B: 4/7/2005
Not Ranked on major NCAAM Recruiting boards (due to INTL play)
Lottery prospect in 2024 NBA Draft per my first-glance evaluation
2022-23 season at Casademont Zaragoza (ACB)
22 GP
11.8 MIN
5.3 PTS
0.6 AST
3.2 REB
0.8 TOV
0.2 STL
0.9 BLK
2/2 on 3’s
17/29 on FT’s (58.6%)
Note: Statistics are per game
Instant Advantages
He’s massive yet moves pretty well. He moves well in transition and will get plenty of dunks on the break
Seems to have good if not great court awareness, actively used as a facilitator in several spots inside the paint
Has decent hands and footwork to finish around the rim when he isn’t close enough for a dunk
Swing Skills
His passing is solid and very intriguing, but can he be a dominant enough scorer from the high post to open up those passing opportunities?
Can he be agile enough to constantly deter shots at the rim without getting exposed by perimeter scorers?
Can he score efficiently at the line, allowing him to maximize his size by consistently drawing fouls?
Potential Kryptonite
While he moves well for his height, he’s still going to be predominantly limited to drop coverage, with an occasional switch on a slower wing/forward
His scoring is currently limited to assisted rim attempts or post creation; if he is unable to space out on offense, he might struggle to close for some teams
Has struggled to play heavy minutes, even in youth competitions. Can he develop the stamina and focus required to be a full-time starter in the NBA?
Needs to get a stronger core and lower body; his balance is questionable, and at times he looks downright clumsy
NBA Team Fit
Best Fit - Volume 3pt shooting offense, drop-heavy defense
Charlotte Hornets
Atlanta Hawks
Phoenix Suns
Worst Fit - Team that expects 3pt shooting and switching from their 5
Golden State Warriors
Dallas Mavericks
Detroit Pistons
Ideal Teammates
PG | Explosive athlete that wins PnR reps
SG | 3pt specialist w/ defensive skill
SF | Scorer/ball-handler + transition beast
PF | Switchable wing defender + lob finisher
C | -
Key Traits
Immense Radius - This player fundamentally shrinks passing angles and deters rim drives due to their exceptional length & ability to be anywhere inside the 3pt line in just a couple of steps
Elite Pedigree - This player’s reputation speaks for itself. A known commodity from a young age, this prospect often has all the tools to succeed, but an avalanche of pressure to go with them
Walking Mismatch - Opposing teams are forced to scheme around this prospect due to some combination of elite outlier skills that allow the player to dominate if not properly countered
Board Man Gets Paid - This prospect has the ability to excel as a rebounder, allowing their team to end defensive possessions after one shot and revive their own offensive possessions out of nowhere
Player Scales
Perimeter Focused
Perimeter Flex
Balanced
Interior Flex
Interior Focused
Pure Potential
Consistent Flashes
Productive w/ Upside
Consistent Production
Highly Productive
Crafty Navigator
Sneakily Shifty
Competent Athlete
Light-Footed
Explosively Powerful
Compact King
Mid-Sized Sedan
Well-Built
Sizable Opponent
Big Ol’ Boy