G: Donovan Atwell (JR)
Height/Weight: 6’5”/190 lbs.
Previous School: UNC Greensboro
2024-25 Stats: 13.3 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 0.8 APG
Offensive Impact
Atwell can be best described as a perimeter reliant 2-guard who excels in the catch and shoot department. Can provide secondary ball handling if need be, but Atwell is more of a floor spacing presence.
92nd percentile in spot up scoring efficiency last season on high volume (173 shot attempts). Quick and consistent release off the catch, so defenders need to be in his grill at all times to bother his shot.
52nd percentile shooting off screens. Not great on the surface, but Atwell is a solid 35.3% from 3 off screens. Reads defenders well when coming off screens and gets his feet set quick. Struggles when forced off the 3pt line in this action.
Atwell was used as a pick and roll handler at times with UNCG, but his game is sort of limited in this area. 39th percentile in frequency, 83rd percentile in efficiency last season.
Can be used as a scorer in P&R vs drop coverage. Efficient off the bounce from 3 and in the mid range. Gets to his dribble pull up quickly as well.
Makes the correct read more often than not as a passer out of P&R, but he doesn’t do a great job of creating any sort of advantage on his own. 5.9% assist rate last season.
Atwell is only useful as a P&R handler vs drop coverage, as he doesn’t have the handle/creativity to score in many other ways off the bounce.
Because of Atwell’s below average primary creation skills, he struggles to score around the rim. 44% FG at the rim last season (4th percentile).
Doesn’t have the burst or handle to get all the way to the rim with any sort of consistency. Will often settle for a step back 3 or in the mid range after 1 or 2 dribbles.
Atwell’s game translating will clearly be dependent on how efficient he is from 3, not just in the spot up game, but off screens and off the bounce at times. The Red Raiders offense looks to be more inside-out with Watts and Toppin running the show in the frontcourt, so if they can attract a 2nd defender more often than not, guys like Atwell and Bryan will have many opportunities to make defenses pay from deep.
Defensive Impact
Outside of having what looks to be an above average wingspan, Atwell isn’t very imposing from an athletic standpoint.
His thinner frame allows size to bother Atwell, and he often allows drivers to get into the lane because of this.
Doesn’t have plus lateral movement to offset his lack of strength.
Seems to be engaged on defense but lacks the physical tools.
Graded out as the worst defender in the UNCG rotation last season, according to Torvik’s DBPM metric. Wouldn’t expect Atwell to provide much value on this end of the floor.
1.3% steal rate and 8.6% DREB rate are not encouraging numbers either.