Khem Birch

Strengths

Right-handed… The Canadian-product is an intriguing combination of size, length and elite athleticism that makes him a force on both ends of the game. He moves well and runs the floor with long strides, effectively getting up the court in transition, where he can throw down some powerful dunks. Birch moves well in the half court setting, often cutting from the high-post to the rim or taking one dribble and going straight up with the ball. Otherwise, most of his offense at the moment comes by way of tip-ins at the rim, but he has shown some development in his mid-range jumper, hitting out from 12-15 feet… He has the ability to make an immediate impact defensively with again, the way he moves. He covers ground quickly coming from the weak side or using his length and quick leaping to block and alter shots…

Weaknesses

When Birch's offensive game catches up to him, then he will be ready for the next level, but until then, it's underwhelming in terms of development for an top prospect. The first thing he needs to do is add strength to his long frame. He lacks the muscle to create space in the low-post or finish with contact around the rim. If he can develop a back-to-the-basket game, his explosive athleticism will make him one of the top power forward prospects moving forward. Continuing on the theme of offensive development, he must hone his perimeter skills- working on his mid-range jumper and fine-tuning his handle to put the ball on the floor for more than a dribble.