Ron Holland II Full Scouting Report

School: G League Ignite

Nationality: USA

Age: 18

Position: SF

Size: 6'8", 206 lbs

Ron Holland II started the year as a popular preseason No. 1 pick. He came to the G League Ignite with an excellent track record for USA Basketball that includes two gold medals and a strong performance for NBA executives at the Nike Hoop Summit.

He continued to produce this year in the G League, averaging 19.5 points at just 18 years old.

However, the No. 1 option role exposed some weaknesses in Holland's game. Despite scoring more points per game than previous top-three picks Scoot Henderson and Jalen Green did for Ignite, his draft stock has taken a hit.

Holland is still near the top of many scouts' boards. He just may require the right team and a roster that will value his physical/athletic strengths and mask some of the flaws in his skill set.

NBA Role and Pro Comparisons

Projected role: Attacking wing

Pro comparisons: Cam Whitmore, RJ Barrett

Holland's role will change moving from the G League to the NBA. His usage will drop, and he'll play more to his strengths in an off-ball role that calls for transition finishing, driving off dribble hand-offs, spot-ups and cutting.

If he winds up coming off the bench early in his NBA career, he could see more on-ball reps as a second-unit scorer. Though creating isn't a strength of Holland's, he did show improvements to his handle, separating into step-backs or getting to spots while penetrating.

Holland isn't the same level of shooter that Cam Whitmore was entering last year's draft, but their playing styles are similar. Holland's game will revolve around attacking the rim using explosion and strength. He also has shown confidence in his perimeter shotmaking, despite his underwhelming 24.0 percent shooting from deep this season.

Holland could also look something like RJ Barrett, who isn't as athletic but similarly relies on fast breaks and slashing for scoring.

Draft Projection

Draft ceiling: Top five

Draft floor: Late lottery

Holland entered the 2023-24 season as the most popular answer for the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft. That's no longer the case, although he's still mentioned in the conversation with the other perceived top prospects in this year's draft class.

There is an expectation that Holland has a high floor propped up by athleticism, quickness, motor and some micro-finishing skills. Without any surefire stars in this year's draft, some team in the lottery will feel comfortable drafting a high-energy, two-way wing.

Holland's poor shooting and scary assist-to-turnover ratio will make it difficult for whichever team wins the lottery to select him. But given his age, production in the G League, physical tools and athleticism and signs of growth, he likely won't slip too far.

Physical Tools and Athleticism

At 6'8" and 206 pounds, Holland has the right size for an NBA wing, and he plays with enough physicality for some power forward matchups.

Speed and explosiveness are still his most distinguishable, advantageous athletic strengths. Even without the sharpest skill level, he averaged 19.5 points in the G League, leaning heavily on transition offense, spot-up drives and getting downhill in ball-screen situations.

He shows no fear initiating and taking contact around the basket.

Defensively, he's flashed exciting potential tied to his length, quickness and stretches of intensity.

Signature Strengths

Transition offense

Holland becomes a threat whenever he grabs a defensive rebound or a fast break starts. He's fast without the ball, but he's equally dangerous with it using his long strides, footwork in the open floor, burst around the paint, nose for the rim and vertical explosion.

Driving/slashing

In the half court, Holland puts pressure on the defense and rim with his first step. He's sharp with the ball once downhill, finding space with side-steps and body control.

He's able to adjust with a deep layup package below the rim and bounce to elevate above it.

Defensive/energizer potential

Holland has textbook size, length and foot speed and the versatility to defend ball-handlers, big guard, wings and some small-ball 4s. While his intensity wasn't at 100 percent on every possession this year, Holland showed he can engage, play with a high motor and make hustle plays at both ends of the floor.

Weaknesses

Shot-creation

Holland relies more on transition opportunities and straight-line slashing rather than self creation for scoring. Aside from drives, the shots he does create for himself are low-percentage, and he isn't an advanced enough shot-maker right now to convert them at an efficient rate.

His ball-handling is improving, though, so this weakness could potentially turn into a threat over time.

Shooting

Holland finished the season shooting 24.0 percent on 3.3 three-point attempts per game. He was highly streaky, with far more cold nights than hot ones.

He also shot 28.6 percent in the mid-range and 72.8 percent from the free-throw line, both of which are underwhelming numbers for a perimeter player.

Decision-making

Holland was turnover-prone with Ignite, which has something to do with his heavy usage and lack of polish in that role. He won't have as much decision-making responsibility early in his NBA career, although teams thinking about Holland with a top pick may want to draft a player who looks more comfortable as a top option.