Charlotte Hornets NBA Draft Profile: Scottie Barnes

The Charlotte Hornets own their own first-round pick and are owed second-round picks from the Brooklyn Nets and the Los Angeles Clippers. Over the next couple of months, leading up to the 2021 NBA Draft, Swarm & Sting will take a look at prospects hoping to hear their name called on draft night.

Age: 19

Height: 6′ 9″

Weight: 227 lbs

College Stats/Awards

Scottie Barnes enters the 2021 NBA Draft after one season playing for Leonard Hamilton and the Florida State Seminoles. Barnes played in 24 games, starting seven, and averaged 10.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.5 steals while shooting 50.3% from the field.

Primary Strengths

Barnes has the size of a combo forward but plays most of his minutes at the point guard position.

Barnes has a great feel for the game, has good vision, and exceptional passing skills. He’s a competitor and plays with great energy; makes a lot of hustle plays. Barnes is agile, has quick hands and feet, and has a good vertical jump.

Barnes can defend four positions, and could also guard the center position depending on the size of the opposing team’s big. He has good footwork and attacks the basket really well, with the ability to make the good decision to kick the ball out to a teammate.

Primary Weaknesses

The big weakness in Barnes’ game is his outside shooting from the mid-range and three. He shot over 50% last season for Florida State, but most of those shots connected on the inside. Barnes needs to concentrate on becoming a consistent outside shooter. He was atrocious from three with the Seminoles (27.5%); if he develops a three-point shot, opposing teams will go crazy trying to defend him.

Barnes also needs to improve his free-throw shooting. Last season, he averaged 62.1% from the charity stripe.

Draft Projection

Barnes definitely will be off the draft board after the top 10 draft picks. Barnes has all of the intangibles to be a solid contributor on any NBA team. He can step right in and defend multiple positions, as well as handle the ball and make plays for teammates. You can expect NBA teams to take the driving lanes away from him so it will be essential that Barnes develops an outside shot.

The NBA announced on February 26 that for this draft only, all college players must declare their eligibility, regardless of class, if they wish to enter the draft. The NBA Draft Combine will be held on June 21–27. NCAA players have 10 days after the end of the combine to withdraw from the draft.

The draft lottery will be held on Tuesday, June 22 on ESPN. The 2021 NBA Draft will be held on Thursday, July 29 from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The draft will be televised on ABC (first-round only) and ESPN.