Marial Shayok
Selected by the Sixers with the 54th pick in this year’s draft, Shayok, who was recently rewarded with a two-way deal, was a pleasant surprise in Summer League action, ending up as the squad’s leading scorer.
Obviously what stood out most was the confidence he had in his scoring ability. Boasting a pretty quick release, he was able to get buckets in a variety of ways: off the dribble, off screens, spotting up, etc. Shooting was essentially what got Shayok drafted, and his shooting 40 percent from 3 in Summer League action clearly proved that.
His ball handling was pretty clean as well. Shayok saw some time at the point in the last few games and surprisingly played pretty well. He can run pick-and-rolls and he can distribute the ball without turning it over.
Shayok additionally showed the potential to be physical on defense. Although he may lack the quickness to hang with quicker players, with some refining, his 6-foot-6, 205-pound build could provide a framework for him developing into, at the very least, a tough defender.
I would expect Shayok to spend most of this upcoming season with the Blue Coats to hone in on his skills. He in all likelihood won’t earn a great deal of playing time with the Sixers right away. But he’s a guy I would buy stock in if you haven’t already. Shooting comes at a premium nowadays, and being that it’s Shayok’s main selling point, don’t be surprised if he ends up fighting for some minutes down the road.
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