Although Rob Dillingham did not start when he was at Kentucky, he was a vital addition to a squad that already had leading scorer Reed Sheppard because he could get a bucket whenever he came off the bench.
With a season average of 15.2 points, Dillingham proved he could score with the best of them at all three levels of the game, which is why he was named the SEC Sixth-Man of the Year. At six feet one inch, Dillingham may be short, but he has the skills to transform that weakness into an advantage, making it difficult for opponents to contain him.
Dillingham’s ability to construct shots for himself in a variety of ways is one of his strongest suit. The guard is skilled at keeping the opponent off balance with a variety of moves, including pull-up shots, sidestep threes, steps back, and driving to the lane. His ability to manipulate the ball and his shiftiness enabled him to generate space for simple shots. Because of his ability to observe the game at both a slow and rapid tempo, defenders find it difficult to keep up with him. He not only has a high degree of self-creation ability, but he was also quite effective, particularly from three, where he shot 44%.
Dillingham was good at applying pressure to the rim, but given his stature and build, he should do more in that area as well. He did occasionally demonstrate his willingness to make contact at the rim, which was a strength of his game. Dillingham would use his floater, a talent most tiny guards have in their toolkit, to evade the contact.
What Dillingham is capable of in the pick-and-roll is another asset to his game. The guard can score a lot, so he and his teammates may get more shots when they go into a pick-and-roll. Since Dillingham is not a guard who looks to pass the ball first, he usually looks to create for himself in certain circumstances, but he is capable of making the pass when necessary.
Naturally, Dillingham’s defense will need to be improved the most in his game. Because of his little size, rival teams will probably want to take advantage of him whenever possible, making it difficult to use him in some circumstances. The best course of action will be to surround him with many defenders, and it could be ideal for him to play next to a powerful center. Since he isn’t renowned for being a passer, putting him next to a guard who creates opportunities for him and others might also help him grow offensively.
Dillingham may be selected in the first round, either in the early or mid-round, by a club that needs a starting guard or wants to add additional offensive punch off the bench. He is a real microwave who can shoot from anywhere on the court and bring you a bucket if you need one.
