ERIC PASCHALL SCOUTING REPORT

Position: Forward

Height: 6’7”

Weight: 255 lbs.

Wingspan: 6’10”

After starting his career with a strong freshman season at Fordham, Eric Paschall transferred to Villanova and watched as the team ran through the 2015-16 season to capture their first national championship in 30 years. It would not take 30 more years before the next championship. In perhaps his most memorable game with the Wildcats, Paschall shot 10-11 from the field to become just the sixth player in NCAA history to shoot 90% or better from the field in a Final Four game. The second championship led to the early departures of Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Donte DiVincenzo, and Omari Spellman. Suddenly, Paschall was shifted from complimentary piece to second scoring option for the 2018-19 Wildcats behind Phil Booth. Paschall didn’t disappoint in his senior season, finishing eighth in the Big East in scoring at 16.5 points per game and nabbing First Team All-Big East honors.

With all that in mind, let’s take a look at what Paschall could bring to the table for an NBA team.

POSITIVES

Size

Paschall has a big body that can fill space on both ends of the court in the NBA, especially in the right system. If he goes to an already-established roster like Milwaukee or Philadelphia, where many mock drafts have him, he could be a nightmarish rotational piece and could lead to some fun sets alongside Joel Embiid or Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Intangibles

Paschall didn’t lead the Big East in scoring or rebounding at any point during his time in the conference, but he was always near the top 10 in both categories. Additionally, he played the second-most minutes in the Big East and 13th-most in the NCAA, so he knows how to play smart and stay on the court.

The fact that he was around both of Villanova’s title teams helps, as he has had a lot of fellow NBA players on his teams to learn from, not to mention head coach Jay Wright.

NEGATIVES

Shooting Consistency

An alarming trend for Paschall over the past two seasons with his inconsistent three-point shooting, particularly to start the season. He made just four percent of his three-point shots in nonconference play in the 2017-18 season before finding his stroke in conference play and finishing with a .356 percentage. The 2018-19 season was a better as Paschall shot 37% from deep in nonconference play, but 10 of his 23 makes came in two games (Oklahoma State, UConn). With the NBA becoming more and more offensive oriented, you need to have a consistent three point shot in order to survive.

Age

In today’s NBA, being a 22 year old four-year college player isn’t exactly an advantage, as most of the first round picks will still be 18 or 19 years old. It’s certainly not a dealbreaker, as players like Malcolm Brogdon played four years and then went on to win Rookie of the Year. It can happen, but it’s generally a disadvantage.