Aminu Mohammed Scouting Report
We know about the significance of Aminu Mohammed's commitment for the Hoyas off the court, but what does he bring on the court?
In securing the commitment of five-star recruit Aminu Mohammed on Monday night, the Georgetown Hoyas secured the final piece to their 2021 puzzle, a versatile wing who is a fierce competitor and an incredibly talented individual.
At 6-foot-5, Mohammed is an elite two-way player, one who can finish through contact with ease, or stop on a dime and pull up from three, all while providing a strong defensive and rebounding presence on the other end for his team.
Mohammed will come in next year as Georgetownβs best player from Day Oneβ thatβs how talented and well-rounded of a player he is. Despite being new to basketball in the U.S., having come over from Lagos, Nigeria in 2016, Mohammed already has few flaws to his game, and will be able to contribute in every facet of the game for the Hoyas.
Here is a complete breakdown of what Mohammed has to offer on the court for Georgetown, starting in 2021.
Shooting
Known by most as a slasher who uses his large frame to get to the basket, Mohammed has a rapidly-improving shot, and has been working on extending his range as he prepares for college. He is more than capable of knocking down an open three-pointer, but is becoming a better shooter off the dribble, and also does well to create space to get his shot off.
The following clip was from Mohammedβs 2019 summer circuit with Boo Williams AAU. Already, his shot looks much stronger than other 2021 prospects, but you can notice a slight fade to the left on his follow through.
In this clip, from this past fall, Mohammed looks to have added a stepback three-pointer, one that he looks very capable shooting, albeit against inferior competition. The ability to create space off the dribble, will be huge for Mohammedβs development moving forward, and if he is able to consistently execute this kind of shot, Mohammed will be even more dangerous than he already is.
Mohammedβs shot in the above clip, also from Fall 2020, looks more compact, and his motion is also much quicker. The rate of improvement shown in his game film from last season to this fall is dramatic, and is indicative of a player with an extremely high ceiling.
Shot Creation
As we discussed in the last section, the next part of Mohammedβs growth is creating for himself off the dribble. For him to become an NBA-caliber player as a wing, he will need to create for himself with the ball in his hand.
Playing at Greenwood Laboratory School, where he is head-and-shoulders above his teammates, Mohammed is used to having the ball in his hands and generating offense for himself and his teammates. He already shows a capable crossover dribble move, as well as a stepback three-pointer, shown in the last section. In addition, he also shows veteran savvy in using his frame to move smaller defenders off their spot, in order to open up windows for him to shoot.
Mohammed operates inside the arc here, working on a smaller defender. The threat of Mohammed driving to the rim opens up his stepback jumper here, which he calmly knocks down after creating just enough separation.
Ball-Handling
What makes Mohammed so versatile is his ability to play anywhere on the floor, from point guard to point forward. What unlocks that versatility is Mohammedβs ball-handling ability, as well as his vision and passing, which we will get to in a second.
Mohammed has played some point guard for his Greenwood team in high school, and while his handle could still use some improvement, as it can be a bit high and loose sometimes, itβs advanced for a player of his size and at his position, and bodes well for his college career.
Mohammedβs technique in this video is sparkling. His footwork and handle are both under control and in rhythm as he works around his defender and pulls up for a one-legged stepback jumper, something that his soon-to-be college head coach may or may not likeβ¦
Vision/Passing
While his ball-handling ability is exciting, itβs his vision and passing that really is eye-popping for a player of his size. Mohammed can make every pass in the book already. Itβs a skill he has had to develop, because of how much attention opposing high school teams give to him when he has the ball.
Mohammedβs ability to draw help defenders and dump the ball off to open teammates at the rim is elite, and will make Georgetownβs centers very happy campers. He has a flair for the dramatic too, as seen in the last clip when he hit his teammate with a no-look pass in transition.
Not only does he keep his eyes up when he is the open court, but Mohammed also does well to move the ball when he draws double teams, which, is a lot of the time. His game is mature beyond his years already, and will help make all of his teammates better at Georgetown.
Finishing
One of his best strengths, and what helps unlock other parts of his game, is his ability to finish at the rim. At 6-foot-5, 200 pounds, Mohammed is able to overpower a lot of players with his frame, which is close to being NBA-ready already. But finishing at the rim is more than just having a big body and a lot of muscle. Mohammed plays with poise on the floor, and hardly gets flustered when driving through traffic on his way to the hoop.
While he still appears to prefer finishing with his right hand, Mohammed has shown the ability to finish with his left hand as well, and uses his frame to absorb contact and finish through and around defenders regularly.
This clip encapsulates what Mohammedβs floor is as a player: a physical, downhill player who likes to get a full head of steam and attack the rim. Add in a consistent outside shot, and you have a player who defenders will need to respect both as a perimeter shooter and as a slasher to the rim.
The above play is an impressive blend of perfect footwork and technique on the perimeter to get by his defender, coupled with an aggressive mindset and strong finishing ability, with the euro step into a reverse layup. Georgetown hasnβt had a wing who can execute a move like that in a long damn time.
Rebounding
Simply put, Mohammed is one of the top rebounders in the entire Class of 2021. That speaks a lot about the effort and determination that he plays with from start to finish in a game. Most five-star guys will coast through some games, especially when it comes to rebounding, but Mohammed plays the game the right way, and doesnβt take many plays off. His effort is felt on the boards, where he uses his size and length to swallow up missed shots. The kid simply doesnβt give up on plays.
Defense
Defensively speaking, Mohammed is as talented as he is versatile. He moves very well laterally, which enables him to guard positions 1-3 on defense, and as his body matures in the next few years, itβs not crazy to think he could guard 4s, or maybe even 5s eventually.
On tape, there were a few times where Mohammed would lose his man off ball, or could get caught over-helping on a drive and leaving his man open for a three-point attempt, but those are things that should get cleaned up on defense. Just like he plays with effort and energy when fighting for rebounds, Mohammed shows similar hustle when playing defense too.
While Mohammed is listed as a guard by most recruiting services, his skillset, along with his size and length, should enable him to play several positions for Georgetown next season. His size should allow him to matchup well against smaller guards, or he could slot in on the wing, and use his athleticism and skill to work against bigger wings.
No matter where he plays, his versatility should unlock a lot of fun lineup possibilities for Patrick Ewing to try out. Next to Jordan Riley, either at the 2 or the 3, those two will give Georgetown a dynamic athleticism that will help this team reach a whole new level next year. Itβs going to be thrilling to watch.