drew-neitzel-1.jpg Drew Neitzel - The Draft Review
  • Name: Drew Neitzel
  • Position: Point Guard
  • Height: 6-0 (1.83m)
  • Weight: 180 (82kg)
  • College Team: Michigan State Spartans
  • Nationality: American
  • Birthplace: Grand Rapids, Michigan
  • Birthdate: 5/7/1985
  • Drafted: Automatically eligible for the 2008 NBA Draft but was not selected by an NBA franchise.
nba Drew Neitzel - The Draft Review

Strengths: Fundamentally, there is little that Neitzel does not do by the book … Does an excellent job of moving around without the ball in his hands … Has a tremendous grasp on using screens to create space for catch and shoot opportunities … Neitzel's quick release enables him to convert shots with little time needed to set-up … Makes excellent decisions on the court, which explains why he doesn’t create turnovers … Quality ball handler who has no problem handling the ball against heavy pressure … Has legit NBA three point range that he can make with regularity … Defensively, Neitzel displays good effort, toughness and court awareness … Feel for the game is impressive … Decent finisher in transition where he has the ability to make difficult shots with either hand via a runner or floater … Unselfish player who constantly thinks to involve teammates … Excellent free throw shooter … Solid passer who does a great job of recognizing open players in drive and dish situations … Well conditioned player who never seems to stop moving or tire … A gym rat with a great work ethic to sharpen his skills … Neitzel possesses the basketball IQ to thoroughly think the game through and make in-game adjustments depending how the opposing defense is guarding him … Despite not being able to create space, Neitzel is an excellent mid-range shooter off the dribble …

Weaknesses: Defensively, Neitzel’s lateral quickness makes him vulnerable to being able to effectively guard athletic point guards … Because of this he is rarely able to get good separation from his defender, as he lacks a quick first step … A great passer, but lacks the exceptional court vision many of his fellow peers at the point guard position possess - Neitzel thinks plays before they happen while others see plays develop before they happen … Didn’t have the season many expected, but to his credit he ended his senior season playing well … Lacks the ability to consistently create off the dribble in isolation situations … Neitzel lacks the upside and, in some people minds, the athleticism needed to have much of an upside … At time seems to settle too much for shooting from the perimeter instead of driving to the basket this season … Is often the opposing coaches best chance to exploit the team defense that Michigan State plays by making Neitzel’s assignment play aggressive and attack …. At the NBA level he will be a post up target for the bigger point guards … Seemed to struggle with his confidence level this season …

Matthew Maurer - 05/1/08

Statistics

SEASONS

GP

FG%

3PT%

FT%

SPG

BPG

RPG

APG

PPG

2004-05 Michigan St.

33

38.1

32.7

65.0

0.5

---

0.7

2.9

3.5

2005-06 Michigan St.

34

40.8

40.4

93.2

0.6

0.1

2.0

5.6

8.3

2006-07 Michigan St.

35

42.6

41.2

87.9

0.8

0.3

2.8

4.3

18.1

2007-08 Michigan St.

36

40.5

39.8

86.0

1.0

0.1

2.5

4.0

13.9

DIV I Totals

138

40.5

38.6

83.2

0.7

0.1

2.0

4.2

11.1

 

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