Note: Gordon transferred from UCLA to New Mexico
Strengths
Right-handed… Off to a new start at New Mexico, Gordon certainly has a chance to reinvent himself as an NBA prospect. He has the size at 6’9”, 235-pounds or so and athleticism to match of 4-man and just needs the post game to match. He possesses some decent length on his frame with long arms and soft hands… He moves well for a man of his size and possesses a great second-leap enabling him to take advantage on the glass and in shot blocking. He is a solid shot-blocker and strong rebounder, especially on the defensive glass, but he can make his presence be known when he crashes the offensive end. This leads to one or two put-back opportunities almost every game…
Weaknesses
One of the biggest knocks on Gordon has been, for the last several years, his undeveloped post game. His skills haven’t developed as much as we would have hoped. He is limited, favoring a short baby hook over his left shoulder whenever he can. He needs to improve his lower body strength which will enable him to keep a firm base underneath him in establishing post positioning. His primary offense comes in the areas of athletic put-backs and mid-range jump shooting. He has put forth a solid half-season with the Lobos, including some strong performances against the athletic frontcourt of San Diego State. He’ll probably need another year to get the reviews that he wants from scouts- you can’t really grade a player like Gordon on a half-season’s worth of work. If he wants to be a second-round pick, he’s got a shot, but no guarantee. If he wants a guarantee, he needs to come back for his senior year…
