Ryan Dunn just finished his second season at Virginia. Now, it is time to head to the NBA and he will be an intriguing name as a Day 2 pick for the 2024 NBA Draft.
Ryan Dunn 2024 NBA Draft Profile
College Career
Dunn just wrapped up a streaky sophomore season with the Virginia Cavaliers. At multiple points in the season, he was listed as a likely first-round pick and possible lottery selection. However, as the season continued his stock continued to slide. It did not help that Virginia had a lot of issues offensively.
Ryan Dunn averaged 8.1 points and 6.9 rebounds per game to go with 1.3 steals and 2.3 blocks. Dunn had shooting splits of 61.8/20.0/53.2. Clearly, he had a rough go on the offensive end especially on a team that could not space the floor for him.
Strengths
Defense, defense, defense. Ryan Dunn is a lockdown defender. He has great size at 6’8 208 pounds paired with excellent athleticism which allows him to easily guard forwards, wings, and guards. This season, Dunn earned ACC All-Defense honors. Every team is looking for a defender that is switchable and that can guard NBA wings. Dunn checks those boxes with ease so that makes him a commodity.
Dunn also has athleticism that is elite. The amount of posters he had in limited minutes in college is insane. He will probably break the charts at the NBA Combine with his leaping ability. He also has great quickness and explosion. Testing well at the Combine will definitely increase his chances of being a first-round pick.
RYAN DUNN WITH THE POSTER 😱
(via @UVAMensHoops)pic.twitter.com/AXt39wIbPW
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) November 17, 2023
Weaknesses
The complete lack of shooting ability is problematic. His three-point shooting is essentially non-existent and there is no clear path to figuring it out. Shooting 52% from the free throw line which included multiple airballs this year means that there is a clear flaw in mechanics and confidence. That has to be solved because there is really no spot in the NBA for non-shooters that aren’t centers now.
Dunn also does not appear to be confident off the bounce. Most of his buckets come from transition, lobs, or one-dribble finishes. That makes it so the defense really never has to guard him besides keeping him off the boards. If that is the case, he has to be comfortable as a playmaker and he has not been. An assist rate of 6% with a usage rate of 17% as a very negative shooter is never going to cut it.
NBA Player Comparison
Ryan Dunn has a lot of work to do. He is possibly the best defender in the 2024 NBA Draft. However, he also is one of the worst offensive players in the draft. Teams that draft him will hope he turns into Aaron Gordon. However, his most likely comparison is Andre Roberson.
This is not to pile on Dunn by any means. He is the type of player that can actually create a role for himself. However, he is tough to draft in the first round when there is such an uphill battle for offensive productivity.
2024 NBA Draft Projection
Late second round.
