Draft Focus: Ryan Buenafe is a project draft pick
Name: Ryan Buenafe
School: Ateneo De Manila University
Instant Analysis: From The Unrealized Potential of Ryan Buenafe: “At this point, Ryan Buenafe is a tough sell to PBA teams as a sure investment. He’s a 6-2 small forward that weighs around 260 pounds (from 280 before the season), and his troubles of keeping his arms from being so jiggly have been well chronicled. His weight, miles away from being ideal for a normal person, let alone for a pro baller, is considered to be at the dangerous end of the ‘obese’ spectrum according to body mass index charts. Two hundred and sixty pounds. That’s LeBron James’s playing weight by the way. He is coming off a college season where he shot 29.8% from the field — his worst percentage ever. And even though he has considerably improved his defense this season, guarding slower teenage power forwards is a totally different animal from staying in front of twentysomething pro small forwards at their athletic peaks. That’s like moving on to Lisa Ann from sleeping with Taylor Swift. Hindi ka talaga makakasabay.
“He’ll probably be a second rounder this year,” shares a PBA assistant coach who requested for anonymity. ‘Mahihirapan talaga siya. He can’t shoot the ball at all. Mahirap asahan kung crunchtime lang nakakashoot. Tapos he’ll probably have the most trouble with the pace of the pro game. If he really wants it, he really needs to put in the extra work talaga,’ he adds.”
The weight issues, the shaky jumper, and the inability to defend quick small forwards should be the cons to drafting Ryan Buenafe. But if he’s still available in the second round, a good team that can afford to stash him and make him a project and revive his old potential should definitely take a good look at him. At worst, you’re getting a four-time champion in college who has pro basketball I.Q. and who’s totally out of shape. Buenafe knows how to play this game and he’ll surely help a team win…IF he gets into shape.
Projection: Mid second round
Best-case scenario: Loses 20 more pounds
Worst-case scenario: Ryan brings his work ethic in college to the pros
Photo by Alvin Lim
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