Quadir Copeland is a right-handed point guard with size, vision, flair, and real defensive playmaking. Copeland averaged 13.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 1.8 steals per game this season at N.C. State. He is one of our favorite players to watch. Copeland has next-level court vision and the rhythm of an elite drummer. At 6'5" with a 6'10.75" wingspan and 205 pounds, Copeland has NBA positional size, and then some, for a point guard. He uses his left hand extremely well, gets to the free throw line often, and can finish above the rim. Copeland also gets steals at a high rate because of his anticipation. His size, creativity, and defensive instincts check a bunch of important boxes. Copeland brings flash and spice to the game, which could make him a crowd favorite. He played his first two NCAA seasons at Syracuse, then spent one season at McNeese before finishing with one year at N.C. State. His coach, Will Wade, called Copeland the “DAWG” of their team. Copeland had a 16-assist, zero-turnover game this season, showing the type of high-end playmaking he is capable of when everything is clicking.
The shooting accuracy will be questioned. Copeland really improved his numbers as a senior, making 23 of 58 three-point attempts for 39.7%. He also shot 77.5% from the free throw line. However, his career three-point percentage is just 28.5%, so NBA teams will have to decide how much they trust the late improvement. Intel indicates that Copeland has matured but may have had some issues early in his NCAA career at Syracuse. He may be a prospect that needs some extra attention to be held accountable. That said, we personally saw nothing but joy in the way he plays. We would bank on the NBA’s level of coaching support getting the best version of Copeland. We believe Copeland is presently being underrated by the consensus. With his size, vision, passing rhythm, defensive activity, free throw pressure, and open-court flair, we think he can potentially become a mid-tier starting point guard in the NBA.
