Meleek Thomas — 6’4″, 189 lbs
Freshman • Arkansas • 19 years old
Breaking down the game of Arkansas freshman Meleek Thomas, a talented scorer who can create and make NBA-caliber shots but also has a tendency to play out of control.
Though only 6’4″, Thomas uses quick footwork, long strides, and creative angles to get his shot off against defenders.
He’s skilled and coordinated enough to make difficult shots, but he also plays with a certain wildness that can undermine possessions and make things more difficult than they need to be.
That tendency showed up throughout his freshman season—maybe not through the turnover column (only 1 TOPG), but instead through questionable shot selection and unpredictable movements that can disrupt offensive flow.
We’ll also examine what I believe could ultimately determine whether Thomas earns minutes in the NBA: his defense.
Taking a look at the appealing, the head-scratching, and the potential inflection points of the 19-year-old’s game.
Video Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
1:50 Defense
6:02 Overview of Stats
7:19 The multiple sides of Meleek Thomas within a single possession
10:36 Wild shot attempts
12:11 Misses on layups and drives
13:00 Finishing at the rim
14:37 Shooting
17:24 Free Throws
17:55 Shooting mechanics
18:58 Passing
20:23 Closing thoughts
| MPG | PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | FG% (FGA) | 3PT% (3PA) | FT% (FTA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31.0 | 15.6 | 3.8 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 44% (12.6) | 42% (5.3) | 84% (2.9) |
Shot Type Distribution (% of FGA)
| Jump Shots | At Rim | Runners / Hook Shots |
|---|---|---|
| 58.6% | 23.8% | 17.8% |
Jump Shot Distribution (% of Jump Shots)
| Off-the-Dribble | Catch-and-Shoot |
|---|---|
| 49% | 50% |