Iverson Molinar — NBADraft: 2nd Rd/UDFA Gems
CBB INTERNATIONAL PICKS 2022— CBB Global
Combo-Guard / 6’3–190lbs / 12.03 1999 Panama City / HS: Veritas Prep, CA
Junior Year Statline at Missisippi State, SEC: 17.5pts, 3.6 ast, 3.1rbs, 1.2 Stl / 45.4 FG%, 25.2 3P%, 86.8 FT% / 1.50 ATO
Talk about Iverson Molinar as a 2nd Round guy might seem something normal, particularly since he’s performed consistently at Power-5 level for some time now, and Jon Rothstein put the national focus on him last January. On a personal pov, I’ve always tought of Molinar as a top tier prospect since he made his debut with the Panama in the FIBA Americup aged 18. That feeling came to realization on the awe of his athletic traits during his frosh season. Iverson’s lead-guard profile was brewing at Mississippi State for a while, first alongside fellow scoring combo DJ Stewart, and then working with productive big men like the emergent Tolu Smith and Garrison Brooks.
So much to like about the Panamanian, whether he runs the point, impressive growth to 3.6 this season, or perform as the silky and explosive three-level scorer that his shooting chart indicates. Molinar has shiftiness in abundance, and a thing for high-picks and change of pace dribble, creating angles to break into the lane and being equally effective and agile finishing with either hand. His pull up game is also intuitive and first order weaponry, built upon balance, strong legs and a jumper that holds for the split of a second to find the rim over defenders. It remains to be seen if Iverson’s two-motion form can adjust to an off screens-sniper role when his usage goes down at a higher level. But that’s a gamble worth taken. Being the Bulldogs first option, Molinar is also battle hardened facing all type of gritty defenses, usually playing against bigger matchups, doubles or even box-and-ones adjustments. On the other end, his physicality, toughness, agility and reactivity help him cover ground and stay with his man. Those are ready-made tools to become net positive defensively and make a bet on him as a future two-way guard that works hard for the team and fits in several lineups.
Why should you bank him as a pro? Come for Molinar’s athletic tools and swaggy ways, stay for his pull-up jumper, ability to run the point through ball-screens and power in the crunch. To me, Iverson is certainly a draftable prospect and one that can get a place in the league, or at the very least play at a high level overseas as stasher.
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Role: Iverson Molinar would get fit as a second-unit high-usage lead-guard in charge of the basketball that can create shots all by himself and bring others into the play, while also being important in D.
