Alabama guard Labaron Philon (0) in the first half of game against Saint Mary’s in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Summary: Philon is a shifty point guard with a buttery floater, advanced pick-and-roll playmaking, and a deceptive handle that lets him control the tempo. His feathery touch teases untapped shooting potential, but he’s got to prove it to become an offensive maestro.
Comparisons: Brandon Roy, Delon Wright
Strengths
Floater: Philon has insanely soft touch on his floaters, and this shot is the best example of his fluid footwork. Late in the season, he even began working in an off-hand (lefty) floater. Though he currently lacks the strength to be a high-level finisher at the rim, his ambidextrous touch bodes well for his long-term ability.
Advertisement
Handle: He’s such a shifty ball-handler who plays at his own pace and uses deceptive moves with hesitations, crossovers, and a nasty euro-step to decelerate and stop before taking floaters and layups.
Pick-and-roll playmaking: Philon is a high-level passer who played a composed style for a freshman. He plays with pace, makes proper reads, and delivers passes with precision whether it’s lobs, interior dishes, or cross-court kickouts to shooters.
Shooting upside: Philon made only 30.1% of his 3s as an Alabama freshman, but he made 41% of his 3s as a high school senior, per Synergy. He seems like a fair bet to at least become a quality shooter due to some factors: His feathery soft touch on floaters and layups, his previous midrange pull-up success in high school, and his consistently high-70% numbers from the line since high school.
Advertisement
Defense: Super competitive player who hustles hard on defense, and has playmaking skill as well whether he’s jumping passing lanes or using his quick hands to swipe at the ball.
Concerns
Athleticism: He lacks an explosive first step and he’s currently a below-the-rim finisher. At only 177 pounds, he also needs to gain a ton of muscle to fill out his 6-foot-4 frame.
Unproven shooting: Despite reasons for optimism for his jumper, he still needs to prove it and his mechanics certainly are a bit rigid.
