The 2014 Draft Combine Numbers Breakdown (Guards)
By Mike Garcia
Mar 5, 2014; Winston-Salem, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Rodney Hood (5) goes up for a dunk during the second half against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Wake defeated Duke 82-72. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Rodney Hood isn’t the usual NBA-wing prospect. He doesn’t have a tremendous wingspan, but he does have great height. He’s listed at 6’7.25″ at the combine, but with a wingspan just 1.25″ longer. NBA draft prospects usually have wingspans roughly 4″ longer compared to height. While he’s also a slim 206lbs., he only has 7.5% body fat. One measurement that sounds out for him is standing reach, listed at 8’7″. That is comparable to all shooting guards and small forwards alike, and is considered a great measurement.
In regards to size and athletic ability, his results are very similar to Chase Budinger’s. Rodney Hood has the advantage in terms of height and wingspan by an inch or so, but both players also weigh similarly at the time of each player’s combine and have the same no-step vertical result. Rodney Hood has a better standing reach by just 2″, yet there are times when he’s shown great explosion for a dunk. Keep in mind here, that Dwyane Wade, Dante Exum, and Marcus Smart have longer wingspans, despite playing point guard or combo-guard roles. Still, it wouldn’t be fair to Rodney Hood that he would be ranked higher as a prospect if he was listed at 6’4″ with a 6’8.5″ wingspan, instead of 6’7.25″. His average wingspan isn’t a detriment to him at the offensive end. It doesn’t affect his ball-handling, nor his aggression attacking the basket.
I think Rodney Hood helped himself by playing here. Shown a very high skill level. Probably moves ahead of few guys that decided not to play
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 16, 2014
What can’t be said from the numbers, is how well Rodney Hood did at the combine overall. Across the board, he did well with the perimeter shooting drills, whether it was the NBA 3-point line, NCAA line, off-the-dribble, or timed shots from midrange. Drills like that have Rodney Hood passing the eye-test, even if scouts may frown on his wingspan.