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Wisconsin basketball scouting report: Ethan Happ

By Brian Sampson

MADISON, WI - MARCH 02: Ethan Happ #22 of the Wisconsin Badgers shoots a free throw during the first half of a game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at the Kohl Center on March 2, 2017 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MADISON, WI - MARCH 02: Ethan Happ #22 of the Wisconsin Badgers shoots a free throw during the first half of a game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at the Kohl Center on March 2, 2017 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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Ethan Happ is one of the best players to ever suit up for the Wisconsin basketball team. What does he look like as an NBA Draft prospect?

Even though Ethan Happ didn’t experience the team success he hoped for late in his career, he still finished as one of the best Wisconsin basketball players ever. He was a four-year starter who finished his career averaging 15.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.1 blocks per game. Those are very impressive all-around numbers.

Of course, Happs’ lack of athleticism and shooting ability really limit his prospects as an NBA player. In order to get a better glance at how he projects at the next level, let’s break down his scouting report.

Strengths

The biggest thing that jumps off the tape at you is Happ’s basketball intelligence and his advanced fundamentals. You won’t find many players as smart as Happ in this year’s class and it shows on a regular basis. He always seems to be a step ahead of the opposition on both ends of the court and uses this to his advantage.

Fundamentally, he’s as sound as they come. His footwork in the post is a masterpiece and he’ll hit his man with a plethora of spins and counters. He’s able to take advantage of the smallest crack and is able to finish with either hand around the rim.

He also combines this footwork with his smooth ball-handling skills when on the perimeter. Even though he doesn’t have a quickness advantage over his man, he’s often able to get into the paint thanks to his polished skills with the ball. He’s a great passer as well.

Defensively, he displays extremely active hands. If you fall asleep with the ball for one second, Happ will take it from you. He can also slide his feet decently well, as long as he’s defending a big. He should be okay in the pick-and-roll.

Weaknesses

Shooting, shooting, shooting. Happ’s defender rarely had to leave the lane in college and that will continue in the NBA. He only knocked down 53.3 percent of his career free throw attempts as well which doesn’t give much hope for the future. This will be a red mark on his career and severely limit any chance he has at becoming an NBA role player.

He also plays below the rim and lacks any form of athleticism. This will make it much more difficult for him to score around the basket as he did in college.

He also doesn’t have a true position. At 6-foot-9, he should be a 4, but lacks the physical traits and abilities to match up well with others. If teams move him to the 5, his lack of height and strength will also become an issue.

Draft Projection

Happ’s game is much more suited for the 1990s when teams didn’t value shooting as much as they do today. With that being said, he still has some marketable skills, a team would just have to use him in a very specific way.

A best-case scenario for Happ is that he’s drafted at the end of the second round. A more likely one is that he ends up signing a two-way deal with a team this summer and begins his journey in the G-League.

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