http://www.espn.com/nba/insider/sto...draft-sleepers-best-underrated-wing-prospects
Kevin Hervey | UT Arlington | Senior
Player type: Skilled combo forward
Physical profile: 6-foot-9, 230 pounds, 7-foot-3 wingspan
A 6-foot-1, one-dimensional shooter as a freshman at Arlington Bowie High School, Hervey didn't start to garner national attention on the recruiting trail until his junior season. UT Arlington identified him and eventually offered him early due to his local status, but it wasn't until late in his high school career that he was seen as a high-major talent, sprouting closer to 6-foot-7 and expanding his game on both ends of the floor. Just as his stock was peaking heading into his senior season, Hervey tore his right ACL on a noncontact play in an AAU game, which caused him to miss all but two games of his senior year. High-major programs still showed interest but wanted Hervey to redshirt as a freshman, so he opted to stay loyal to UTA. After a so-so freshman season, Hervey exploded as a sophomore, averaging 18.4 points, 10.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game through the first 15 contests before tearing his left ACL midway through the season.
"I had already been through it before, but at the time I was playing really well," Hervey said. "Our team was doing really well. We were 13-3. It was a heartbreaker more than anything, it was a very, very tough uphill battle to come back, but thankfully from God and the people who helped me get to this point, I'm back."
Hervey admitted that he might have rushed his return last season as a junior, but he played in 33 of 34 games, posted a 26.7 PER and won Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year. Now fully healthy and standing 6-foot-9, 230 pounds with a 7-foot-3 wingspan, Hervey has been outstanding through 11 games, averaging 29.2 points, 11.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 2.2 steals per 40 minutes on 56.9 percent from 2 and a career-best 38.0 percent from 3. Hervey has already had big games against Alabama and Creighton, and he appears on track for another conference player of the year honor.
Strengths
- Excellent size and great measurements for a modern 4. Smooth catch-and-shoot stroke. Making 3.4 3s per 40 minutes. Can shoot on the move. Runs off screens. Can rhythm dribble into pull-ups. Has step backs.
- Can attack a closeout with long strides. Capable of pushing in transition. Able to score over smaller wings in the post when he plays with physicality.
- Has vision as a facilitator. Sees the floor well on the move.
- Instinctual rebounder. Uses his tools to attack the glass. Allows him to play power forward comfortably at the next level.
- Has the length and natural size to be a sound defender of modern 4s. Decent feet in switch situations. Good instincts in the passing lanes.
Improvement areas
- Not the most explosive athlete. Will he get flagged medically, given his ACL history?
- Can stand to play with more toughness on both ends of the floor. Not the most physical guy. Struggles a bit to finish in a crowd. Is he willing to battle more gritty bigs on the interior?
- How good of a shooter is he? Mechanics look good, but Hervey is a lifetime 31.4 percent from 3 on 465 attempts.
- A little too casual at times. Not the most in-tune off-ball defender. Tends to relax in his stance too often. Can he check NBA wings?
- Can improve as a decision-maker. Will fire up contested jumpers early in the clock. Lives off of tough jump shots.
Outlook
Health has long been Hervey's biggest roadblock, but he's finally at 100 percent, and it's clearly showing in his play thus far. It's not easy to find players with Hervey's size, length, shot-making ability and feel for the game, and he's a perfect fit in the modern NBA as a skilled stretch forward. If the Arlington native can continue to stay on the floor, play efficient basketball and ramp up his energy and grit, it isn't hard to envision hearing his name called in June.
