Atlanta Hawks 2017 NBA Draft Film Breakdown: Michigan’s D.J. Wilson vs UCLA’s T.J. Leaf
By Nile Goodwyn
Good: T.J. Leaf’s Rebounding
Over UCLA’s season, T.J. Leaf grabbed just over eight rebounds per game, which ranked second on the roster. The team’s leading rebounder, Thomas Welsh, was inactive during the Bruins’ matchup with Michigan’s frontline, due to a knee injury.
D.J. Wilson and Moritz Wagner, arguably Michigan’s two best players, had both jumped onto the scene as potential draft picks in the 2017 or 2018 drafts. Without his frontcourt partner to aid him on the boards, Leaf was left with Gyorgy Goloman and Ike Anigbogu to grab rebounds. Leaf went on to grab a game-high eight rebounds, and held Wilson to an embarrassing one rebound performance on a big stage.
Leaf grabbed only two rebounds in the first half. His first rebound, which came around 2:31 in the game video. Leaf grabbed an uncontested board after Goloman boxed Wagner out. His next board was much more impressive: at 8:56, Leaf missed a hook shot in the paint. Michigan had three players in rebounding position, but Leaf capitalized when D.J. Wilson tipped the ball out of Zak Irvin’s grasp.
None of Leaf’s rebounds were overly contested, but his nose for the ball en route to a game-high eight boards is worthwhile.