The Philadelphia 76ers built an identity this postseason with their size and shooting. To find an energetic big man that fits the bill, they may not have to look far.
I think its safe to say transferring from Fordham to Villanova was one of the greatest decisions Eric Paschall has ever made. Paschall rose from relative anonymity as a transfer, to a potential first-round pick. When Jay Wright asks you to come to Villanova, you don’t say no.
Paschall’s three seasons at Villanova showed off what he can bring to the NBA. He won a boatload of games and is a skilled, hard-nosed player. His combination of pedigree, talent, and size will intrigue plenty of teams in the 25-40 range. The unanimous first team All-BIG EAST selection looks continue the trend of Wildcats to the NBA.
Fun fact: Four juniors have won Westchester County’s Mr. Basketball. Eric Paschall, Ben Gordon, Jabarie Hinds and Elton Brand.
The Philadelphia 76ers‘ contention may make them cautious to draft a teenager, which could help the case for the 22-year-old forward. The Sixers drafted a Nova product and subsequently traded him last year, could Paschall stay close to the Main Line?
Tale of the tape
Paschall has the frame of a tweener forward. At 6-foot-8 and 255 pounds, he’s well equipped to line up at the three or four. You could argue he was the most physically imposing player in the BIG EAST last season. He was too big for guards and wings to handle, and too skilled for the average big. Paschall’s wingspan is nearly seven-feet, which adds substance to his defensive potential.
Eric Paschall was the second leading scorer on last season’s Villanova team, trailing only Phil Booth. Villanova’s free-flowing offense was kind to Paschall. He shot the second most threes on the team, and converted 34 percent of them. Paschall led the Wildcats in rebounds per game at 6.1 per contest. The former A-10 Rookie of the Year went to the foul line 181 times and finished the year 74 percent from the foul line.
Paschall only had 17 blocks and 26 steals in 36 games, but he had a DRtg of 104.6. He’s a physical presence on defense and on the glass. If you’re going to beat Paschall you need to earn it.
Villanova 94 games won during Paschall’s Villanova tenure may be the most telling stat of them all. He played major minutes for Villanova during three NCAA appearances and a National Championship.
Strengths
So many draft critiques involve players gaining or losing weight, Eric Paschall could play in an NBA game tomorrow and not have to adjust physically. Paschall looks and plays the part of a grown man. He can throw his weight around without doing it recklessly. He doesn’t get moved off his spots and is a load to handle. Finishing through contact
Spot-up shooting will be Paschall’s greatest offensive asset. Villanova famously lived and died by the long-ball, and the same can be mostly said for Paschall. His best games came when he could establish himself from the outside and muscle defenders near the basket. Without his jump shot, Paschall would barely have a discernible role on offense. His size gives him the flexibility to play at either forward position, but that hinges on his ability to be effective from the three point line.
Energy is a huge selling point with Eric Paschall. He never takes plays off and is always active on both sides of the ball. Rebounding is an area that best exemplifies his motor. Paschall has zero issue bumping bodies and seeking contact. He’s eager to box out and attacks the offensive glass with vigor. Paschall always plays with juice.
Defense is where Paschall presents the most upside. Defensive potential is where his Paul Millsap comparisons (not my favorite) most likely generate. He’ll be able to defend both forward positions from the start, and be able to switch onto smaller guards. Paschall has an ideal set of tools to defend in the front court; length, strength, and athleticism. He may not be able to guard traditional centers, but his defensive ceiling is an effective four-position defender.
Weaknesses
His offensive role may not require it, and depending on which team he’s on they may not care, but Paschall doesn’t offer much in the mid-range. He’s shown flashes of turn-around jumpers and pull-ups from long-two range, but not enough to say he could reliably score from the NBA mid-range effectively.
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The lack of mid-range shots was due to Villanova’s immaculate spacing on offense and Paschall’s ability to overwhelm his matchup on his way to the basket. Nearly 47 percent of his field goal attempts last season were threes. Paschall has also shown small doses of dribble-drives but doesn’t currently have the speed to blow by most of his defenders at the next level.
It felt like Paschall shot better than 34 percent from beyond the arc, and Tankathon projects his NBA three-point percentage at nearly 36 percent. I have no idea how or why his legs flare out when he shoots, but that’s something that may need to be addressed moving forward.
His legs flailing could hinder his balance, and makes shooting on the move incredibly hard. Paschall has outstanding upper body strength, so I doubt his lower body mechanics directly influence his release, but a more conventional ascent in his jump shot could make his adjustment to the NBA three-point line easier.
Eric Paschall finished his Villanova career with 189 turnovers and 182 assists. Paschall has shown the ability to find the open teammate (you can’t play for Nova without it), but more turnovers than assists is never good, no matter which position.
Fit with the Sixers
Paschall’s role/fit on the Sixers would look nearly identical to one of last year’s fan favorites: Mike Scott. I wouldn’t expect a few dozen new tattoos and a ninja headband anytime soon, but Paschall has the ability to excel in a similar role.
Mike Scott has a simple role for the Sixers: shoot threes, defend, and provide an edge. Those are the three things that prop up Paschall’s draft stock. Both can be put in lineups rather seamlessly. They’re low maintenance grinders that know how to star in their role. It’s not making every play, it’s about making the right play.
Eric Paschall could be a really interesting piece for the Sixers. His defensive versatility could make him a fit at 3-5 . Assuming the Sixers can retain most of the team, he could be another long athletic forward that can switch on defense and exploit mismatches. Paschall could be a pseudo-center alongside Tobias Harris and Ben Simmons. Inversely, Paschall could be the small forward in a lineup with Jonah Bolden and Joel Embiid. There are plenty of ways and personnel to put Paschall in positions to succeed.
3-and-D tweener forwards usually sound better than they actually are. Much like combo guards, its rare to get equal productions from two positions. Paschall could succeed at either forward position due to his well-rounded game and physicality. If Paschall can routinely knock down threes and become the defender people think he can, he could be a steal in the early second round.
The Sixers traded away a Villanova star last year during the draft, if they want to grab another, Eric Paschall could become a key two-way contributor who knows how to win.