Coming into this season, most evaluators and fans expected the NC State Wolfpack to compete in a revitalized ACC behind preseason conference player of the Year Darrion Williams and star head coach Will Wade. Through eleven games (as of the writing of this article), the Wolfpack has, for the most part, lived up to those expectations, but not entirely because of the aforementioned tandem. Up to this point, many would argue that the team’s best player has been McNeese State transfer Quadir Copeland, a unique big guard who’s leading the team in assists and steals while being their second leading scorer on very efficient splits. While this has likely come as a surprise to some, for those of us who have been following Copeland since his days with IMG Academy, his production this season was a long-time coming. The question is no longer whether or not he’s capable of playing winning basketball at the collegiate level; it’s whether or not he’s ready to take the professional leap.

Player Profile:

Quadir Copeland is a 6’6” and 220lb combo guard/ball handling wing from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He began his high school career with Gettysburg Area High School, who he helped lead to an IAA title. He finished his prep career with IMG Academy, where he earned a three-star designation and offers from programs such as Maryland, Oregon, Miami, and many more. He eventually committed to Syracuse, where he would spend the first two seasons of his college career.

He struggled during his freshman season, appearing in twenty games and playing only 9.2 minutes per contest. Head coach Red Autry placed more trust in Copeland for his sophomore season, as he played in thirty-two games and saw statistical improvements across the board. In his final season with the Orange, he posted averages of 9.6 points per game, 2.8 assists, 4.6 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and .2 blocks on shooting splits of 47.8% from the field, 15.4% from beyond the arc, and 68.1% from the free-throw line. Following his sophomore season he decided to enter the transfer portal, taking his talents to mid-major powerhouse McNeese State and head coach Will Wade.

Copeland picked an excellent time to join the Cowboys, who would go on to have a spectacular season with him playing a major role. Although his numbers didn’t drastically improve during his junior season with McNeese, he cemented himself as a winning player on both ends of the court. When Wade accepted the NC State job following the season, Copeland went with him. Through eleven games it’s looking like he made the right decision, as he’s averaging 14.5 points per game, 5.2 assists, 3.3 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and .1 blocks on splits of 58% from the field, 52.6% from beyond the arc, and 75% from the charity stripe. He has looked like a legitimate NBA prospect for the first time in his college career, and if he can maintain this production, NC State has a chance to make major waves this season.

Interior Scoring:

As you could infer from the statistical growth throughout his collegiate career, Copeland’s game has evolved tremendously. One area that hasn’t seen much change (relative to the rest of his game) is his at-the-rim scoring. He has always been an impressive interior scorer, a trait that allowed him to remain somewhat efficient offensively while other skills were still developing. That said, his interior scoring has improved, and now he’s playing a role that promotes excess productivity in this department, allowing him to finally showcase the entirety of his arsenal from this scoring level.

Copeland is one of the most creative downhill drivers I’ve ever evaluated, which is made more impressive because of his non-traditional size and stature as a primary ball handler. He’s an incredibly twitchy accelerator with a unique arsenal of dribble moves. He’s also excellent at maintaining his balance and composure on the drive. These skills allow him to penetrate the paint and get to his spots, but he’s also a fantastic finisher once he reaches the rim. He’s a creative finisher, and his size allows him to absorb a ton of contact. He’s able to release the ball low or high, and strange finishing angles don’t seem to bother him. We’ll cover his foul drawing skills later in this article, but it’s important to note that his willingness to create and absorb contact, as well as his gravity in these situations, allows him to draw a ton of fouls. His biggest weakness as a downhill driver is getting sped up, as he’s a significantly worse finisher when moving with a ton of pace rather than remaining calm and collected. If he can get a defender on his back and take a calculated approach to the rest of his drive, he’s very difficult to stop at the rim.

From an NBA draft perspective, the biggest question concerning Copeland’s interior scoring is probably his ability to play without the ball in his hands. Almost none of his at-the-rim points are generated by someone else, despite the fact that there are other capable ball handlers on NC State’s roster. While I do think Copeland will be a ball handler at the next level, I doubt he’ll be his teams’ primary ball handler unless he’s in a full-time bench role, which is possible. Because of this, he will have to get used to cutting without the ball and finishing without dribbling. So far with the Wolfpack, this hasn’t been something we’ve seen from him. He did find some success in this department during his sophomore season with Syracuse, but I’m not sure we can use that sample to make decisions regarding his professional viability.

To bridge the gap between his on- and off-ball interior scoring, I think Copeland should incorporate more hybrid offense, where he doesn’t necessarily need to create his own gaps but where he can maintain his finishing creativity. He has found some success with his back to the basket, but not because he’s prone to finishing inside in these situations, but because he’s comfortable passing out of them. If he were more willing to spin off defenders, which he’s proven he’s capable of doing, and finish at the rim, he could further diversify an already incredibly varied aspect of his offensive game.

Mid-Range Scoring:

Copeland is a strong mid-range scorer, something that could not be said about him when he began his college career. Even then, he doesn’t utilize this scoring level at the rate he probably should, and I hope to see further growth as his senior season progresses. Much like his interior scoring, he’s a creative finisher from this level, a trait that doesn’t hinder his effectiveness as it does for most players. Most of the skills that make him such an intriguing at-the-rim scorer translate to this level as well; he simply opts to continue his drives all the way to the hoop on most occasions.

While he does occasionally attempt the traditional floater, most of his push shots are something entirely different. No two of these shots are identical, which makes him incredibly difficult to predict and defend. Sure, he’s capable of converting traditional floaters, but he’s just as capable of driving to the side of the rim before attempting and converting a strange-angled push shot off the glass. He’s also liable to drive all the way to the rim, the same way he would on his at-the-rim attempts, but release the ball mid-drive instead of once he reaches the hoop. In fact, a lot of his self-creation from this level is mirrored in possessions in which he finishes at the rim. By maintaining a level of uniformity within such a unique game, he makes prediction nearly impossible for defenders, bolstering his effectiveness from both the interior and the mid-range in the process.

Copeland has already shown further developments from the beginning of this season to now. When the season began, he was not interested in pulling up for mid-range jumpers, instead opting for looks from inside or the short mid-range. Since then, he’s attempted a handful of traditional jumpers, and he has looked competent taking them. Much like other elements of his scoring arsenal, he takes a unique approach to these shots, relying on pump fakes and contact rather than sudden deceleration to create space. He also prefers to get deeper in the paint than most of his contemporaries, who attempt many of their looks at or just inside the elbows. I hope he continues to incorporate these shots into his game, even increasing their volume. If he could cement himself as a high-level mid-range scorer in the same way he already has from the interior, he would have very few blemishes as an operative within the arc.

Three-Point Shooting:

What has made Copeland appear more like an NBA draft prospect and less like just a solid college contributor is his growth in two areas: playmaking and three-point shooting. While he is only attempting 1.7 long-range attempts per game; his 52.6% from beyond the arc suggests that growth from this level could continue throughout his senior season. The only other season where he was even somewhat competent from long-range was his sophomore year, when he attempted 1.4 threes per game at a less-than-stellar 25%. For that reason, I’m very excited about his improvements from beyond the arc, even if that staggering 52.6% is a result of a small sample size. If he could near three attempts per game while sitting in the high-30s by the end of the season, I’d be willing to bet on future growth. Why? Because all he’s done throughout his career is adapt, grow, and improve, so why couldn’t he continue doing so within the professional ranks?

The first thing you’ll notice when watching Copeland’s outside shooting reel is just how different his approach is compared to the rest of his offensive game. He only attempts catch-and-shoot threes, which is probably a major reason why his volume is as low as it is; he simply doesn’t spend that much time off the ball. That said, this isn’t a bad thing, as attempting open catch-and-shoot threes is probably the best way for him to build his shooting confidence in game. His mechanics are solid, smooth, and replicable. If I wanted to nitpick, I’d say he could afford to speed up his shot motion and release, but even then, I don’t think his motion or release is overly slow. His shot always has a good arch, and almost all his makes touch nothing but net; no shooters’ bounce necessary. From what I’ve seen this season; I have no reason not to trust that this development is real besides it coming so late in his career. I can’t come to any definitive conclusions regarding his off-the-dribble shooting, but if he does solidify his off-ball outside shooting I could see him making an effort to incorporate long-range self-creation into his game.

Foul-Drawing:

As mentioned earlier, Copeland is an incredibly talented foul drawer, and his playstyle is naturally conducive to ending up at the free-throw line. He’s unafraid of contact on his drives, even purposefully operating with a pace that attracts a greater effort from defenders on many occasions. His size allows him to absorb said contact better than most ball handlers, allowing him to finish despite fouls more often than his contemporaries. The reel below only shows drawn fouls where he doesn’t finish the play, but if you rewatch the reels in the interior scoring section of this article, you will see several instances of him getting the bucket and the call.

The one problem I have with this part of his game is that he often draws fouls and doesn’t attempt to get into his shooting motion and earn a trip to the charity stripe. His 5.8 free-throws per game is really good, but I think it could increase if he were more intentional about getting to the stripe. He’s not an excellent free-throw shooter, converting only 75% of his attempts, but even that provides a major offensive swing for his team, not to mention the added stress to opponents by getting them into foul trouble. When considering his role within an NBA system, it’s easy to see his foul-drawing abilities being a major advantage in a league that values this skill more than ever before.

Passing & Playmaking:

Through eleven games, Copeland has put together one of the more entertaining passing packages in the country. Just like his scoring from inside the arc, his passing is about as creative as it comes at the college level. His scoring gravity on the drive, in addition to his unorthodox pace of play and size, creates openings for cutting teammates that aren’t always available to other ball handlers. He’s also a talented passer from the perimeter and in transition, making for a well-rounded toolbelt and an enticing profile for professional evaluators. All in all, this is the skill that cements him as a pro-level ball handler and is the trait that I think makes him most viable for the draft come season’s end.

His success passing on the drive is somewhat self-explanatory, as it’s not overly difficult to imagine his driving acumen translating to passing success out of similar positions. For that reason, I want to place a greater focus on his pick-and-roll passing ability, which is probably his most pro-ready playmaking trait. His polished handle and ability to see over most guard defenders allow him to orchestrate the pick-and-roll with the best of them, and luckily, he has been paired with a talented college roller in Ven-Allen Lubin at NC State. He’s capable of throwing traditional passes in these situations, but where he’s at his best is when he lets his creativity shine. He’s very patient and has an advanced understanding of passing angles, and he combines these traits with his elite feel to throw passes that very few other players are capable of replicating. Whether he’s a primary or secondary ball handler at the next level, I fully expect this to remain a major part of his game.

His kickout passing is far more traditional, but that doesn’t make it any less effective. This is where his patience really shines, as he’s willing to put himself in awkward positions as his teammates adjust along the perimeter before throwing the pass. This is also where his gravity is most evident, as his drives almost always collapse the defense, giving his teammates a ton of time and space to attempt open threes. If he had more competent targets along the perimeter (star shooter Paul McNeil has been just okay this season, while players like Tre Holloman and Darrion Williams create a lot of their own offense), he’d probably average a few more assists on the year. Much like foul-drawing, high-end kickout passing is a skill held at a premium among modern professional organizations and is something that could push him over the hump as an older prospect.

Defense:

Copeland hung his hat on the defensive end to start his college career, averaging .5 steals per game during a freshman season where he barely saw the floor. Since then, he has averaged either 1.4 or 1.5 steals per game every season, finishing ninth in steals in the ACC at the end of his sophomore season. I doubt this comes as a shock considering he’s a big bodied guard with great hands who has proven to be a solid mover. That said, I haven’t been as impressed with his defense this season, and I think his increased offensive responsibilities have caused him to lessen his defensive energy. If he wants to hear his name called on draft night, he’ll have to get back to his old ways, and if he wants to succeed at the professional level, he has no choice but to polish his defensive game.

The two traits most important to his defensive game are his hands, which are very good, and his understanding of the game, which is elite. When he’s engaged on defense, he causes a ton of havoc both on and off the ball. He’s probably better away from the ball, defending lesser ball handlers who are more prone to a loose handle, but he’s a solid lateral mover on guards as well. He’s great at jumping passing lanes, a skill I think is a direct result of his passing abilities on the other end of the court. He’s always one step ahead of both the passer and the recipient, and his elite timing is evident. He doesn’t take a ton of risks, but his success rate when he does is standout. His defensive issues stem from motor and energy lapses, as he’s prone to falling asleep away from the ball or moving too lackadaisically on the ball. I theorize that because he has the ball in his hands on almost every offensive possession, he feels he has to take breathers on the defensive end. This has obvious negative consequences and is something he’ll have to work on as the season progresses.

Summary:

Before I summarize Copeland’s game, I want to list out any and all of his weaknesses and flaws. I include this disclaimer in all my scouting deepdives, but it’s important to remember that every player has flaws. What makes great players great is their ability to take their weaknesses and improve rather than dwell upon them. Copeland plays a unique brand of basketball, which often magnifies weaknesses just as much as it does strengths.

• Despite his evident downhill driving and scoring talents, he does occasionally get sped up, significantly weakening his finishing ability once he reaches the hoop.

• His willingness to absorb contact at the rim isn’t always a positive, as it does negatively affect his finishing (even if it doesn’t to the extent that it would other players). If a foul isn’t called, or if he misses his free-throws, he was probably better off avoiding the contact and finishing the close-range attempt.

• He’s not much of an off-ball operative, at times appearing uncomfortable without the ball in his hands. It’s difficult to project him in a secondary initiator role at the next level because of this.

• Because his short mid-range shot selection is so diverse, it’s difficult to declare his floater as a major part of his offensive game. He has shown aptitude for knocking these shots down, but he needs to increase his volume before I can confidently say they’re a prominent part of his scouting report.

• The same could be said for his traditional mid-range shooting, as he doesn’t attempt a ton of these shots and hasn’t throughout the entirety of his college career. I’d like to see him increase his pull-up jumper volume throughout the rest of the season.

• His weakest scoring level is beyond the arc, but he has improved as a catch-and-shoot threat this season. He has yet to develop any semblance of an off-the-dribble shooting game and isn’t attempting enough catch-and-shoot threes for me to be totally confident in his newfound growth.

• He has yet to prove himself from the free-throw line, finishing below 70% for both his sophomore and junior seasons. If foul drawing continues to be a major part of his game, it would be nice if he made major developments as a free-throw shooter.

• His creative style of play is conducive to turnovers. He is occasionally unprepared for the moves he attempts, and his teammates are often unprepared for the passes he throws. This isn’t always his fault, but it is something that comes with the territory.

• He has struggled on the defensive end this season relative to years past. He falls asleep on too many possessions and is prone to playing lazy point-of-attack defense on smaller guards. Overall, his defensive motor has been lacking all year.

• Because of his struggles, he has resorted to fouling instead of playing legitimate defense. He’s averaging 3.4 fouls per game, fouling out of one game so far and finishing with four fouls in four games. This cuts into his playtime, hurting his team and harming his production.

To summarize Quadir Copeland’s game, I’d use a few adjectives that are probably getting a bit repetitive by this point in the write-up: creative and unique. The 6’6” and 220lb big guard is a true ball handler and advantage creator, and he has emerged as one of the better passers in the country so far this season. His best scoring level is the interior, but he creates most of his looks via the downhill drive, where he controls the pace like the seasoned veteran that he is. That aforementioned creativity is on full display on these drives, as he’s capable of finishing inside, stopping for short mid-range shots, or passing to teammates inside or on the perimeter. Most of his weaknesses feel fixable, such as his defense, which had been solid through the first three years of his career before taking a step back due to effort this season. The biggest question surrounding his game is probably his outside shooting, but even then, he’s shooting over 50% from long-range through the first third of the season.

Copeland is an excellent example of the classic development story. The three-star high school recruit was never given a prominent role during his first two years with Syracuse before cementing himself as a winning player during his junior year with McNeese. He was an atrocious shooter and below-average all-around scorer for the first three years of his career, but now he looks like the real deal inside the arc while showcasing his long-range development. He’s also taken a big leap as a primary ball handler and passer, things that weren’t on his scouting report to start his career. As his role increased so did his confidence, which I believe pushed him to improve in areas very few expected to see him take major leaps in. As he completes his college career and eyes the professional transition, I expect him to continue growing and developing, an enticing proposition for professional franchises who I assume are already somewhat intrigued by his current body of work.