Recap of Recent Travels
This week, my travels included a visit to see Hannes Steinbach’s Washington Huskies compete against their Big Ten rival, USC. With both teams expected to have a brief presence in the upcoming Big Ten tournament and likely missing the NCAA Tournament, it was a final opportunity to see Steinbach along with USC’s Alijah Arenas, who are both freshmen.
Performance Overview
Arenas appears to be more of a “next year” prospect as he continues to recover from a serious car accident, finishing the game shooting 5-of-16 for 19 points. Meanwhile, Steinbach impressed with a standout performance, scoring 22 points and grabbing 24 rebounds in Washington’s 91-72 victory against a weakened USC frontcourt. He showcased the skills that could make him a likely first-round pick if he enters the draft.
Rebounding Skills
Steinbach’s impressive 24 rebounds highlight his elite rebounding abilities, showcasing keen instincts for positioning and timing his jumps effectively. He leads the Big Ten with a 19.8% overall rebound rate and a 24.9% defensive rebound rate, while his 14.6% offensive rebound rate stands out in second place.
Transition Game Strengths
Interestingly, in addition to his rebounding prowess, Steinbach’s speed in transition is a significant asset. He quickly covers the court, creating opportunities for dunks and advantages for his teammates. This trait could serve him well at the professional level, especially as he will likely have access to better guards than he currently plays with in college.
Half-Court Play Considerations
In the half-court setting, Steinbach’s offensive skills are a mixed bag. He can exploit smaller defenders in the post and score effectively in the paint, but doesn’t dominate in the post. His ability as a roller off ball screens is competent rather than elite, and while he’s moderately effective as a rim runner, he shines more in transition situations.
Perimeter Shooting Potential
From the perimeter, Steinbach shows promise as a 3-point shooter despite his stats suggesting otherwise. Although he has only made 16 three-pointers this season, he’s shooting 76.7% from the free-throw line. His pre-game shooting displays an easy, repeatable shooting motion that won’t require extensive adjustments at the next level.
Defensive Concerns and Draft Decision
Steinbach’s defensive transition presents some challenges. While he can handle switches well, his rim protection instincts need improvement, evidenced by a modest 3.5% block rate in conference play. He faces an interesting decision looming until the end of May, as his draft stock is projected between the 10th and 30th pick—certainly first-round material, but not a lottery pick. With potential NIL offers that may rival an NBA first-round salary, a return to Seattle is a viable option for him as well.
