Adou Thiero Scouting Deepdive
Arkansas' Adou Thiero is one of the best development stories in the 2025 NBA Draft, but how much more will he need to improve to make an impact in the league?
It’s difficult to deny that the John Calipari NBA pipeline is very real. Throughout his time as a college basketball coach, especially during his tenure with Kentucky, he has seen countless future NBA players come under his tutelage. That said, I would argue that he has done little to actually develop most of these players (at least relative to other highly regarded coaches, as I’m willing to admit that most great players would be great no matter their coach) and would further argue that he’s hindered a lot of his players by pushing them into the draft too early or by using them incorrectly throughout their time playing for him (namely players like Chris Livingston, Kahlil Whitney, Marquis Teague, and many more). However, Adou Thiero is perhaps his most obvious development success story; a player who began his college career as an incredibly raw three-star recruit and is now, three years later, likely to be selected in the first-round of the NBA Draft. So, what did that development process look like, what does his game look like today, and how much development is still needed from him if he wishes to stick in the best league in the world?
Player Profile:
Adou Thiero is a 6’8” and 220lb forward/wing from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania who played his high school career at Quaker Valley High School in Leetsdale, Pennsylvania. Despite a successful high school career and enticing averages, Thiero was only a three-star recruit when he committed to the Kentucky Wildcats and head coach John Calipari. His father, Almamy Thiero, was coached by Calipari at Memphis in the early 2000s, which is likely why Adou was on his radar despite him typically not recruiting players ranked outside of the top 50. Following his commitment, recruiting services elevated him to four-star status, and he finished just outside of his graduating class’s top 100 recruits.
He played very little during his freshman season with Kentucky, averaging less than 10 minutes per game over the course of 20 games. He took a major jump for his sophomore campaign, clearly making major physical developments during the offseason. He was one of the best players for one of the best teams in the SEC and cemented himself as one of the most athletic forwards in the nation in the process. He posted averages of 7.2 points per game, 5 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.1 blocks, and .7 steals on shooting splits of 49.2% from the field, 31.8% from the three-point line, and 80% from the free-throw line. He did deal with injury issues throughout the season, including in the NCAA tournament, when the Wildcats were upset by 14-seed Oakland in the first-round. Following the season, Calipari would accept a job at the University of Arkansas, and Thiero would enter the transfer portal.
Despite fielding interest from blue blood programs (most notably, North Carolina) Thiero would end up following Calipari and joining the Arkansas Razorbacks. Once the season began, it didn’t take long for him to cement himself as the best player on the team, and it would eventually become clear that he was one of the best players in the nation. During his junior season, he averaged 15.1 points per game, 5.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists, .7 blocks, and 1.6 steals on splits of 54.5% from the field, 25.6% from beyond the arc, and 68.6% from the charity stripe. His season was cut short due to a hamstring injury, and he was only able to play a few minutes in Arkansas’ Sweet 16 loss to Texas Tech. Following the season, Thiero decided to leave school and enter his name into the 2025 NBA Draft pool.
Interior Scoring:
Thiero’s offensive game is entirely structured around his ability to score around the rim. More specifically, his offensive (and defensive) game is entirely structured around his athletic abilities, which just so happen to make him an incredibly effective scorer around the rim. Last year, during his sophomore season with Kentucky, he operated almost exclusively as a play finisher, attacking the rim off-the-ball and playing clean-up crew on missed shots. However, he was asked to do far more this season, working along the perimeter applying rim pressure off-the-dribble and penetrating off-the-catch. While he does still have a lot of work to do before he’s an effective on-ball driver at the professional level, it’s certainly more likely he will further develop this element of his game rather than his scoring from other levels.
What makes him such a special play finisher is his versatility in these scenarios. Not only is he an elite lob finisher, but he’s also capable of utilizing his strength and stature to overpower interior defenders on the floor. I must admit that his finishing feel is inconsistent, something that does leave me slightly weary of his non-dunk finishing once he reaches the league. That said, he makes up for the occasional missed look by drawing more fouls than just about any non-big I’ve ever evaluated at the collegiate level. Does that mean he converts on his trips to the stripe? No...no it does not, but he gets there, and that’s a start. All in all, I’m fairly confident he will remain effective in this area once inserted into an NBA system, especially if he plays alongside a pass-first lead guard, something he hasn’t done up to this point in his career.
The obvious next step for his development as an at-the-rim scorer is growing as a driver from the perimeter. He’s already solid off-the-catch via stampede actions but could still use quite a bit of work off-the-dribble. His first step acceleration is solid but not elite, as he’s not nearly the lateral athlete that he is a vertical one. He’s certainly capable of accelerating past opponents along the perimeter, but I don’t see him being able to consistently use his burst to his advantage against professional defenders. This is why his competency as an off-the-catch driver is pivotal, as it bolsters his burst and allows him to get to his spots more consistently. His handle isn’t horrid, but it probably won’t be overly effective at the next level, so mastering as many off-ball scoring methods as possible is his most promising path forward.
Allowing Thiero to operate within the arc, specifically from the elbows, helps to mask his flaws while still permitting him to attack the rim off-the-dribble. His mid-range jump shot and floater are significantly more dangerous than his outside shot, meaning he’s able to attack in these scenarios how most players attack closeouts. Arkansas did not use him in this way enough this season, but it’s a strategy I could see an NBA staff using to attack the zone. For the time being, it bridges the gap between his elite off-ball play finishing and average off-the-dribble driving. Finally, it serves as an indicator for future development, as this was not something he was capable of during his time at Kentucky.
Where he truly shines is in the open court, where he racks up highlight slams and where he is nearly impossible to stop. His timing on leak outs is fantastic, as he’s constantly looking for opportunities to get loose in transition. Throughout his career, his guards have done an excellent job of finding him on the fast break, something that would be an easy ask for NBA-caliber point guards. This is a part of his game that I am certain will translate to the league, as there’s no level where his athleticism won’t work against a weakened defense. We’ll talk more about this element of his game when we cover his defense and ability to turn steals into easy points.
Mid-Range Scoring:
While I’m (obviously) not as hopeful concerning his mid-range outlook as I am his at-the-rim scoring, I must admit that his development from this range has been a sight to behold. While he was at Kentucky, this was not a level where he found much success, but this year at Arkansas, he really fell back on his ability to convert on in-between looks. His mid-range jump shooting came a long way, but it was his floater and push-shot game that really stood out as a potential building block for his professional game. Not only does this diversify an offensive arsenal that desperately needed to add depth, but it also strengthens his bread and butter at-the-rim offense in the process.
Thiero’s growth as an in-between scorer has quelled some of my doubts regarding his at-the-rim finishing, because it allows him to avoid tougher looks in the interior. He’s very good at decelerating on his drives to create open looks from this range. If a defender doesn’t coast off when he does this, he’s gotten better at using his strength via his shoulder to artificially create the space he needs. His touch on these attempts, in my opinion, is far more reliable than his touch on non-dunk interior looks, something you probably wouldn’t expect from a guy who projects to be a slashing play finisher (I’ll let you decide if that’s a bad thing or not). He’s good at coming to a complete stop and squaring up before he goes up for the shot, but this isn’t necessary, and he impressed me with his ability to knock these down while still on the move.
A big reason why he’s found so much success on these attempts is his ability to get off the floor quicker and jump higher than defenders. Not only is his elevation fantastic, but he simply reaches his peak before opponents are able to offer a solid contest. This probably won’t be as significant an advantage once he reaches the professional level, but I imagine he will still have the athletic upper hand on most players. He also has a good wingspan and is great at going straight up on these looks, ensuring that his length supports his leaping ability. Finally, he has shown signs of being able to knock these down with both hands, which is pivotal for ensuring unpredictability, something that is critical against NBA defenses.
This is where things begin to become theoretical, as while I do believe in Thiero’s at-the-rim and in-between scoring, I’m far less confident regarding his jump shooting from the mid-range and beyond the arc. Throughout his career, he has certainly been more willing to attempt mid-range jumpers than three-pointers, but it’s still an aspect of his game that has a very long way to go. That said, I actually do like how he looks in these scenarios, and I can’t put my finger on why he isn’t better in this area than he is. His mechanics look good, he gets strong lift, and he seems comfortable attempting them. He simply doesn’t attempt them often, and almost always prefers to search for position for interior looks, even if they’re the more difficult option. While this part of his game is certainly far away from being usable in an NBA system, I do think a positive foundation has been laid.
Outside Shooting:
Evaluators seem to universally agree that Thiero’s swing skill is his outside shooting. If he could become a consistently effective operative from beyond the arc, he would immediately cement himself as a functional NBA role player. Perhaps he could even become something more than that considering that his interior scoring and defense will almost certainly translate at an above-average level. He showed flashes of outside shooting upside during his sophomore season at Kentucky, but didn’t take the leap that some expected during his junior campaign. While he did increase his volume from long range, his three-point percentage dropped from 31.8% to 25.6%. This on exclusively catch-and-shoot attempts, most of which were unguarded.
I’m not a shooting coach, and I must admit I’m not equipped to pick apart a player’s mechanics/shooting motion. For that reason, I give my opinions on the subject based on what I see from a distance, so take this with a grain of salt. In my opinion, Thiero’s mechanics look solid, certainly better than his abysmal percentages would suggest. Sure, his shot motion is on the slower side, but everything looks fluid and comfortable. Obviously, he suffers from confidence issues on these attempts, but who wouldn’t when you’ve spent three years being such a poor shooter. The hope is that once he reaches the NBA, he’ll be surrounded by a more competent coaching and training staff that will be able to figure out where the issues lie. I think he has a real opportunity to become an average long-range shooter based solely on his mechanics passing my personal eye test, for what that's worth.
Passing & Playmaking:
Passing is probably the least important aspect of Thiero’s game based on what he projects to be at the NBA level. Assuming he operates primarily as an off-ball play finisher, he simply won’t see a ton of opportunities to showcase his passing abilities. That said, I was pleasantly surprised by the improvements he made in this department this year, and I feel relatively confident projecting him to be a competent passer in the league. He learned how to utilize his scoring gravity to the benefit of his teammates, and his vision and timing actively improved as the season progressed. While he will never be a lead guard in the NBA (obviously), his ability to slot in as a strong connective passer and advantage creator suggests he could rise above his limited play finisher label.
A lot of players who have a similar scoring arsenal to Thiero are praised when they’re willing and able to throw accurate kickout passes to open shooters. Not only does Thiero fit into this category, but I’d argue he’s actually far better at this than most of his contemporaries. His ability to throw accurate cross-court passes in addition to traditional kick outs from the post makes him all the more dangerous on his drives. His comfort passing from under and behind the basket is another layer he’s added to this part of his game, which is something that makes his off ball cutting more unpredictable. His success in these scenarios bolsters his overall offensive acumen, and I’m hopeful that he will continue to use these skills to give defenses trouble at the next level.
Even though his kickout passing is more important, I believe we were able to get a better feel for his processing through his ability to find teammates inside. This is where I was more impressed with the manipulation of his scoring gravity, as he showcased a strong understanding of not only how defenses would react to his scoring pressure, but also how his teammates operated around him. His transition passing was also a promising development, as it adds an additional layer to his already very strong game in the open court. He proved he’s capable of making smart decisions in fast-paced situations, which is a skill he’ll need if he wants to serve as a tertiary decision maker against NBA-level defenders. I found that most of his turnovers were because of his below-average handle and not because of bad passes. Because of this, I am high on his outlook as a connective passer.
Defense:
Many evaluators would tell you that his defensive ceiling is the most intriguing element of his profile at this point in the process. His athleticism, strength, and size suggest an elite defensive upside, and the IQ that he has showcased on both ends of the floor should ensure he’s more than a theoretical stopper on the defensive end. He drew the primary defensive assignment for most of Arkansas’ season and wasn’t given much leeway in that department until he started dealing with injuries late in the year. That said, I found him to be more effective playing away from the ball, matched up against forwards and wings and leaving primary initiators for someone else. He’s a legitimate defensive playmaker, something that will almost certainly remain the case at upper levels of the sport.
His timing in passing lanes is absolutely fantastic, and his ability to go from standing completely still to leaping in front of an intended recipient is second-to-none. His burst in these situations is, for some reason, far more explosive than his burst when attacking on the offensive end. Perhaps he’s just more comfortable accelerating in situations where the ball isn’t in his hands, which is supported by his success as a play finisher on offense. What really separates him from his peers in this category is his ability to turn steals into easy and emphatic points on the other end. He was probably the most dangerous fast break weapon in the country this year (either he or VJ Edgecombe), which is an even more tangible trait when you’re able to create those fast break opportunities for yourself. I actually think he didn’t take enough of these risks this season, something that I think a professional coaching staff will have to address in the future.
Thiero does have quick hands and gives a legitimate effort most of the time when playing on-ball defense. He’s far more likely to have effort lapses when defending away from the ball, despite that being his bread and butter. That said, I was disappointed with his on-ball defense in the paint this year, as I thought he consistently did a poor job against opponents in the post. Considering he will match up against a ton of forwards who rely on post-ups once he reaches the league, he will have to improve in this department if he doesn’t want to get targeted inside. His on-ball perimeter defense is solid, but I wouldn’t consider him elite in this area. His lateral movement isn’t as good as you’d expect it to be, and he often finds himself having to recover for blocks after getting beat off-the-dribble.
The good thing about Thiero is that even when he does make a mistake on the defensive end, he’s able to make up for it by coming up with blocks at the rim. Not only is he able to make up for his own defensive lapses, but he also consistently makes up for his teammates’ flaws. He’s just as useful in the open court on the defensive end as he is on offense, regularly tracking down streaking opponents for emphatic chase down blocks. However, much like how I didn’t think he jumped passing lanes at the rate he could have, I don’t think he gives a consistent effort in these scenarios either. He should have averaged more than .5 blocks per game this season, and I do worry that motor issues will be far more apparent against professional opponents than it was while in college.
Once he gets to the league, he will be asked to consistently effect the game as a help side rim protector. One could argue that this will be his most consistently important role on the defensive end within a professional system. While he was solid in this department throughout his college career, I think he could have offered more at-the-rim defensive support than he did this season. This lack of consistent defensive effort does worry me, but there are several reasons why this may be the case. Perhaps he was saving his energy for the offensive end, where Arkansas needed him far more than any NBA organization will need him. Perhaps he just had a subpar coach who didn’t ask enough of him here, something that I do subscribe to when it comes to Calipari. Perhaps he thought rim protectors like Zvonimir Ivisic and Jonas Aidoo had things covered. I’m not sure, but he can’t let these issues persist at the next level.
We didn’t see many occasions where he found himself serving as an impromptu primary rim protector, but let it be known that he can certainly fill this role for short periods of time. He gets just as high off the ground as many elite rim protectors do, and as long as his timing is on point, he can come up with blocks in these situations. That said, another area where I think he could have been better this season was when offering contests on outside shots. His closeouts were inconsistent, and he didn’t come up with nearly as many blocks in these scenarios as you would expect. There’s no reason why he can’t come up with the occasional blocked three considering his athleticism and ability to accelerate towards the perimeter. However, I saw very few of these examples throughout the year. Not that this is a make-or-break trait, but it’s another negative sign concerning his motor. All in all, as of today I’m far more enticed by his defensive ceiling than I am trusting in his defensive floor. That said, I think an NBA staff can get enough out of him to raise that floor to a point where we don’t have to worry about his defense.
Summary:
Before I summarize Thiero’s game, I want to list any and all of his weaknesses and flaws in order to garner a better understanding of his game in its entirety. I include this disclaimer in all of my scouting deepdives, but it’s important to remember that weaknesses are typically not set in stone and can almost always be improved upon. What makes great players great is not only their ability to maximize their strengths but also their ability to improve upon their weaknesses.
His at-the-rim touch isn’t great, and he tends to put too much on a lot of close-range attempts. This habit is even worse when he faces physicality inside, which he certainly does not try to avoid.
His handle is weak to say the least, something that I expect to haunt him throughout his professional career. I actually feel less confident in him developing a consistently effective handle than I am him developing an average outside shot, if that means anything to you.
I’m not sure why this is, but his first-step acceleration off-the-dribble is significantly less explosive than his acceleration without the ball. This does severely limit his on-ball upside, especially as a driver.
He lacks a traditional floater, but this isn’t the biggest deal considering how effective he proved to be on push-shots, which serve the same purpose.
His mid-range jump shooting has a long way to go, as not only does he not convert on a ton of these looks, but he really doesn’t attempt them all that often. His mechanics seem fine, but it appears he lacks confidence and touch when attempting them.
To put it simply, he was a bad three-point shooter this season and has been well below average throughout the entirety of his college career. Not only that, but he was bad while taking exclusively catch-and-shoot attempts, which tends to result in a better percentage.
To build on that, his complete lack of off-the-dribble creation from beyond the arc further suggests that he seriously lacks confidence in not only his shot, but also his ability to create looks with his handle.
Despite drawing fouls at an advanced rate, he had a really poor free-throw shooting season. I will say, Calipari teams are notorious for being bad free-throw shooting teams, which could suggest that his efficiency from the stripe was deflated during college.
His on-ball defense, while okay, is far weaker than his off-ball defense. This, in my opinion, isn’t the biggest deal in the world considering how he’ll be asked to defend in the league. That said, he will still have to defend ball handlers, especially when matched up against teams who rely on ball handling forwards/wings.
I have serious concerns regarding his motor, especially on the defensive end. I found that he had consistent lapses in effort in basically every scenario. Considering how important defense is for his long-term outlook, this isn’t something that can persist going forward.
I have questions regarding his endurance and stamina. He only played 27.5 minutes per game this season despite clearly being his team's best player (arguably on both sides of the floor). Now, this could have been due to bad rotation decisions by Calipari, but you would think he’d lean on Thiero more as the team seriously struggled in the regular season. He didn’t do this, and I worry it was because Thiero wasn’t capable of it.
He has faced injury issues throughout his college career, something that does not bode well for a highly athletic, highly physical player. His body will face serious strain throughout his professional career, and he’s already showing signs of not being able to withstand that physical pressure.
To summarize Adou Thiero’s game; he’s an elite athlete who has consistently improved throughout his three-year college career. First, he was a glue guy who structured his game around strong defense and gritty play finishing. Then he emerged as an offensive juggernaut, capable of putting immense interior pressure on opponents not only via his scoring but also because of his ability to draw fouls. He remained solid on the defensive end, using his athleticism and newfound strength to his advantage both on- and off-the-ball. While his game was wildly effective against college opponents, certain elements leave much to be desired as he makes the professional transition.
His offensive game doesn’t extend far beyond the paint. His mid-range jump shooting is greatly limited, and his outside shooting is nearly nonexistent. His below average handle limits even the strongest parts of his game, significantly lowering his ceiling as an offensive agent. While skills such as passing and rebounding are solid, they don’t necessarily stand out. He has all the tools to succeed defensively but still struggles to maintain a consistent level of effort. Finally, not only does he already have an injury history, but I suspect he also struggles with endurance issues. All in all, I actually found him to have far more flaws than some evaluators would lead you to believe. While I am hopeful that Thiero becomes a strong role player at the NBA level, he’s certainly far from a sure thing in a modern ecosystem where every weakness is magnified to the extreme.