PLAYER: Casper Ware

Long Beach State's Casper Ware, right, chases UCSB's Kyle Boswell on defense in a game in January. (Presidio Sports File Photo)

SCHOOL: Long Beach State
CLASS: Senior
HEIGHT: 5’10”
WEIGHT: 175
POSITION: Point Guard
DATE: March 8, 2012
OPPONENENT: UC Davis, Big West Tournament

INTRODUCTION: This report was provided by John Slavin and Net Scouts Basketball, a professional scouting service for NBA and International teams. This report was produced after a quarterfinal game at the Big West Tournament currently being played at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.

BODY/ATHLETICISM:

Above average quickness, and jumping ability, and athletic enough to attack the rim aggressively and finish which is pretty impressive for a 5’10” player. He is a very disruptive player to opposing teams both offensively & defensively.

SHOOTING:

In his earlier years at LBSU, Ware looked to be a driver first rather than an outside shooter, but his overall shooting percentage increased to 42.2% last year (40.2% this year) from 37.2% as a sophomore. He was 4-10 in this game (2-6 from 3 point line), and 1-2 from the free throw line and scored 11 points. He has a very effective runner in the lane lofting the ball up over the shot blockers. His 3-point shooting percentage has improved from 29.4% as a sophomore to 35.3% this year. He has improved his free throw shooting from 73.7% as a sophomore to 78.6% this year. In summary, he has a pure fundamentally sound shooting stroke.

POSITION OFFENSE:

Ware is an above average Division One point guard, with career average of 3.2 assists per game, and 1.3 assist to turnover ratio. He did have three assists and no turnovers in this game. He improved his scoring average playing 34 minutes per game. He has increased his scoring average to 16.9 points per game, leading the team. He usually tries to create simply for himself rather than creating for his teammates, passing off only when he cannot shoot the ball himself. He has become even more of a “shoot-first” point guard both last year and this year.

DEFENSE/REBOUNDING:

He is an excellent very active “on ball” defender, and was effective in helping his team prevent penetration as a “help” defender. He averages 2.4 rebounds. This average is good for a point guard, especially at his size. He seems to have an ability to know where the long rebounds will be coming off the boards. With his quickness he also gets 1.5 steals per game.

MISCELLANEOUS:

In 2008-2009 season, he was named to the Big West Conference All-Freshman Team, was first team All Conference in 2009-2010, both Big West Conference Player of the year & Defensive Player of the year as well as honorable mention All American in the 2011-2012 season. He played his high school basketball at Gahr High School in Cerritos, California, leading his team to 20-10 & 24-5 records in his junior and senior years.

OVERALL RATING:

With his quickness Ware could help an NBA team as a combo guard coming off the bench. Because of his size, I would not expect him to be drafted until the second round if at all, and he could go the free agent/Developmental League route. He has not as yet exhibited the ability to become a pure point guard. He could play overseas right now at a very high level