Adou Thiero Position: Wing Height: 6'6.25" Weight: 218.4 lbs Wingspan: 7'0" Age: 21.1 Summary: A late-growth-spurt athlete with a chiseled frame and an explosive first step, Thiero brings elite physical tools and defensive versatility. He plays with relentless energy, piles up defensive events, and finishes violently at the rim. His swing skill is his shooting, which remains unproven. Thiero projects as a defense-first, low-usage wing who thrives in transition, cuts, and scramble situations, but must refine his half-court scoring and discipline to unlock a consistent NBA role.

Offense Play Finishing & Athletic Tools Thiero is at his best when finishing plays rather than initiating them. His 63.6% FG at the rim (89/140) with 45 dunks illustrates his ability to explode off two feet and finish through contact in space. He’s a devastating open-court athlete who runs the floor hard, crashes the glass, and thrives on cuts (84 FG% on 39 cutting possessions). His explosiveness is functional and translates in transition (68.8% at-rim in transition), making him ideal for up-tempo teams with multiple creators. He uses his body to create contact and earns trips to the line (6.5 FTA/game, 68.6% FT, 69.2 FTr). He combines hang time and physicality well, embracing bumps mid-air and finishing through size when unimpeded. Half-Court Creation & Finishing Limitations Despite his physical gifts, Thiero’s offensive value plummets in the half-court when defenses are set. His layup conversion drops to just 47.1% (24/51) in those settings. His handle is rudimentary, and he struggles to generate advantages against a loaded defense without a runway. In traffic, he tends to barrel toward the rim without sufficient pace control or craft, leading to wild or off-balance attempts. His 49.4% (43/87) on total layups underscores a lack of soft touch and versatility when he’s unable to dunk. Defenders sag off him due to his poor shooting, further crowding the lane and exposing his limited footwork and lack of a floater package. He can flash a runner (58.6% on 29 attempts), but this isn’t yet a dependable solution. His struggles to score in the half-court, particularly in tight games, can diminish his overall offensive utility. Shooting Concerns Thiero is currently a non-shooter at the NBA level. He made just 28.6% (12/42) of his catch-and-shoot threes this season, including a dismal 21.7% (5/23) when unguarded. He attempted no off-the-dribble threes this season, and his 36.8% FG (7/19) on pull-up twos isn’t encouraging. Mechanically, his shot isn’t broken, he has a consistent base, but issues with balance, flicked releases, and inconsistent follow-through suggest that his rhythm is easily disrupted. There’s long-term optimism due to his background as a guard, but that hasn’t translated to production. He shot 32.3% from three at Kentucky (10/31) over two seasons, indicating only modest growth. Playmaking & Handle Thiero shows flashes of connective passing but remains unproven as a creator. His 1.9 AST to 1.7 TOV, and 14.0 AST%, are modest marks for a wing with his usage (25.9%). He’s comfortable making the next pass but isn’t trusted to initiate actions. His handle is functional for straight-line drives but unsteady under pressure, especially when attempting to change direction or create space. He’s occasionally used as a short-roll operator or DHO trigger, and he does show glimpses of playmaking vision from these situations. However, those reps remain limited. Adding passing reads and composure to his attack will be key to carving out a more dynamic offensive role. Rebounding A standout on the glass, especially offensively. Thiero averaged 5.8 REB (1.8 OREB) per game and consistently leverages his length and strength to create second-chance opportunities. His ability to crash from the wing, tip out misses, and finish putbacks adds real value. He’s aggressive on box-outs and has a knack for sneaking in behind defenders when left unguarded on the perimeter. Defense Tools & Disruption Thiero projects as a plus defender at the NBA level, with the ability to guard 1 through 4. He brings outstanding physical tools: a 7’0” wingspan, broad shoulders, and vertical pop with strong lateral movement and fluid hips. This season, he recorded a 3.4 STL% (1.6 STL/G) and 2.9 BLK% (0.7 BLK/G), regularly making plays in the passing lanes, stunting drivers, and recovering to contest or block shots. He’s disruptive off-ball: able to tag rollers, rotate as the low man, or dart in for deflections with anticipation and quick hands. Thiero’s 3.9 DBPM and all-around defensive impact were among the best in his conference. On-Ball Defense Thiero is capable of guarding opposing initiators and big wings due to his blend of foot speed, strength, and anticipation. He stays low, slides his feet, absorbs contact well, and uses his chest and length to contain drives without fouling. He’s especially effective when engaged, accurately mirroring attackers and forcing tough pull-ups. He still has lapses, especially when his offense isn’t flowing. At times, he stands upright, gets caught flat-footed on closeouts, or fails to anticipate actions off-ball. He’s prone to over-gambling and occasionally trusts his recovery speed too much, resulting in late contests or fouls. Team Defense & Role Versatility Thiero thrives in help situations, whether stepping up as the low man or showing at the nail. He’s rangy enough to help and recover, and his communication appears strong. He has the upside to guard multiple positions in switch-heavy schemes or function as a defensive ace in more structured lineups. That said, his screen navigation remains a work in progress, and he sometimes dies on contact or fails to anticipate re-screens. That limits his impact as a chase defender right now, but it’s an area that can improve with experience. Outlook Adou Thiero projects as a defensive-oriented wing with the potential to become a low-usage 3-and-D contributor, provided his shot develops. His defensive ceiling is real, he’s big, fast, physical, and highly disruptive across multiple schemes. He’s an elite play-finisher in transition and can score on cuts, crashes, and chaos. However, the half-court offensive profile is incomplete. Thiero is currently a non-shooter and struggles to finish at the rim without dunking. His touch, pacing, and self-creation all need refinement. Without improved shooting or an in-between game, defenses will sag off and wall him off from the paint. Even so, his energy, physicality, and defensive flexibility offer a clear path to rotation minutes. If the jumper comes along, he could follow a trajectory similar to OG Anunoby. Without it, he still projects as a Torrey Craig style disruptor who swings games with hustle, defense, and athleticism.