Amani Lyles is a right-handed power forward who was highly efficient at Akron. Lyles averaged 14.9 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.0 steals per game. He finished fourth in the MAC in box score plus/minus and was named to the MAC All-Defensive Team. At 6'8" with a 7'0" wingspan and 238 pounds, Lyles has some frontcourt size and a strong upper body. He is a good rebounder and does most of his scoring near the basket. That worked well in the MAC, but we have doubts about how much of that interior scoring translates to the NBA. Lyles plays below the rim, which adds to the translation question. The shooting improvement is the part that keeps him interesting. Lyles has worked to become a three-point threat, making 37.3% from deep in 2025-26. He shot 71.6% from the free throw line. The three-point percentage is encouraging, but the overall offensive translation still depends on whether he can make enough jumpers to avoid being boxed into a near-basket role. Lyles had one more turnover than assist this season, so the passing profile is not a major selling point. Defensively, however, he posted a plus 3.6 DDiff, which is a strong number. His rebounding, defensive activity, strength, and efficiency cannot be discounted. Lyles will not be drafted.
