You don't have to watch Tyler Kolek for long to figure out that he is a terrific college basketball player. His feel, passing savvy and shooting touch have led Marquette to a deep run in the 2024 NCAA Tournament.
How does that translate to the NBA, though?
Kolek is being mocked somewhere around the end of the first round by outlets such as The Athletic, ESPN and The Ringer. Here's why he's projected in that range.
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Tyler Kolek stats
| Stat | Average |
| Points | 15.3 |
| Assists | 7.9 |
| Rebounds | 4.8 |
| Steals | 1.6 |
| Field goal % | 49.7 |
| 3-point % | 39.7 |
| Free throw % | 85.4 |
Tyler Kolek height, weight
Kolek has mediocre measurements for an NBA guard.
- Height: 6-foot-3
- Weight: 195 pounds
- Wingspan: unknown
Tyler Kolek strengths
Kolek is a brilliant passer, averaging 7.9 assists per game this season. The lefty set a school record with 18 assists earlier in the year in a blowout win against DePaul.
What makes Kolek such an elite distributor is his creativity and the unique angles he delivers the ball. He has every pass in the book, whipping it with either hand to anywhere on the floor.
Kolek controls the game, playing fast but not sped up. He pushes Marquette into its early offense, where he is a master of manipulation in pick-and-rolls.
He's a good finisher despite his below-the-rim game, using craft to throw off the timing of big men.
He's also a proven 3-point shooter, hitting 39.7 percent from deep over his past two seasons.
It's become cliche to say that a player has that dog in him, but Kolek has a 100-pound doberman where his heart should be. He is tough as nails and a tenacious defender who doesn't back down from anyone.
He's not afraid of the moment, as he showed in hitting a huge clutch shot to send Marquette to the Sweet 16. He had one of the quotes of the tournament after that game, showcasing the natural swagger that he plays with.
"I told them [in the huddle] this is what's been in our nightmares. We just gotta go after and attack it. We are not running from our nightmares anymore."
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) March 24, 2024
—@MarquetteMBB's Tyler Kolek pic.twitter.com/bwqQ2typWR
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Tyler Kolek weaknesses
Life in the NBA can be difficult for a 6-3 point guard without elite athleticism. There aren't many of those players around.
Kolek isn't a super-explosive guard who blows by defenders off drives. That will limit how much offense he can create for himself and others. He will need to use ball screens to generate most of his looks. He also hasn't shown much of an in-between game, generally shooting from 3 or at the rim. That may be an important shot for him to use against drop coverages in the NBA.
While he is a good 3-point shooter, Kolek has a somewhat slow release and hasn't let enough of them fly at the college level.
Kolek will probably be targeted defensively. He doesn't have terrible size, but he will usually be the smallest guy on the court. He's tough enough to battle in those matchups.
None of these weaknesses are enough to prevent him from becoming an NBA player. But add them up, and it's tough to see him ever cracking the top 30 players in the league.
MORE: Why Zach Edey is now viewed as a potential first-round pick
Tyler Kolek NBA Mock Draft projection
Mock Draft projection: Late first round
Kolek, 22, is an older prospect who doesn't have the natural athleticism that usually accompanies high upside. He still has a high chance of hitting as a reliable backup guard with the potential to start if everything goes right.
This isn't a great draft, so getting a player a team can plug in right away for 15 minutes is a good win in this range.
Tyler Kolek NBA player comparison
Plays like: Kirk Hinrich
While Hinrich didn't take a huge volume of 3s, he was a good shooter. He always made the right pass and he competed hard on defense. He didn't have an elite skill, but he also didn't take anything off the table. He started for some competitive Bulls teams and found ways to make them win.
Kolek has those same floor general qualities that made Hinrich a beloved figure in Chicago and gave him a lengthy NBA career. He's going to set up teammates in their favorite spots. He's not going to gun up a ton of 3s, but he will make the ones that the defense gives him. He's going to give his team whatever they need from him on any given night.
Intangibles are impossible to measure, but Kolek and Hinrich have them in spades.
