This breakout forward could wreck game plans if Spurs grab him at 14

As the Spurs hunt for Victor Wembanyama's running mate in the frontcourt, a monster waits in the background for San Antonio to select with the 14th overall pick.

Allow me to acquaint you with Rasheer Fleming, the 6'9" power forward from St. Joseph's University. This beast of a prospect broke onto the scene last season, elevating himself into a surefire lottery pick in the upcoming draft. Taking the A-10 by storm, he put up striking numbers of 14.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game. Now he's ready to do it in the NBA.

Fleming is an unreal shooter for his size

What has drawn scouts most to Fleming is the monumental step up he took as a shooter. It is rare to see a 6'8" forward who can shoot the lights out, but that is precisely what he can do. Fleming has worked on his craft and perfected it, earning himself a spot in the NBA for what he has done.

Shooting a measly 29.7% on 2.4 attempts per game from deep as a freshman, the flamethrower finished his junior year shooting a whopping 39% on 4.5 attempts from beyond the arc. This kind of improvement is unfathomable. It's a testament to his work ethic and mastery of his shot.

As a shooter, Fleming thrives off the catch, spotting up for a clean shot. With a smooth, silky, and high elevation jumper, he was extremely consistent, knocking down looks when his teammates called his name.

While he doesn't create much for himself, when he gets open, you can almost always count on him to knock it down. On unguarded three-point tries last season, the sniper shot a staggering 43.1%, a number that will translate well to the NBA.

As the numerous Spurs playmakers draw the attention of defenders, Fleming will be the perfect kick-out option to capitalize on collapsing defenses. When De'Aaron Fox, Stepon Castle, and Victor Wembanyama work their magic inside, Fleming will be waiting on the outskirts, ready to pounce in an instant.

The big man knows how to slam it down

Not only is Fleming a great shooter, but he is magnificent at finishing down low. With his monstrous size, he has elite athleticism and loves to show it off with thunderous dunks. He creates these opportunities by cutting on the baseline, leaking out into the paint, and running hurriedly in transition.

As we know, Fox and Castle cherish the transition game and would be ecstatic to have another rim-running partner. Fleming can step out for a quick pull-up three, sprint to the rim for a shattering dunk, or finish an alley-oop. No matter what you need him to do, he can do it.

When he's not a part of the play, the big man knows how to create space and get open for an easy put-back. He uses his massive size to bully the opponent and prepare himself for a big-time dunk.

Fleming wreaks havoc on defense too

The St. Joseph's product is an animal on offense but where he truly shines is on defense. This is where his immense stature comes into play.

Fleming possesses an absurd wingspan of 7'5" that he uses to advantage. With this, he is a
profoundly versatile defender, able to match up against various players. In particular, he loves to roam around the court and help where needed. In this role, he often jumps into passing lanes, using his length to snatch balls out of mid-air.

In the paint, Fleming flourishes as a rim protector. The forward put up 1.5 blocks per game last season and displayed his skill with highlight deflections. However, there is still room for improvement here. With extra work put in by head coach Mitch Johnson and assistance from Wembanyama, Fleming could become one of the better rim defenders in the league.

Pairing the lengthy prospect with Wembanyama will be devastating for opposing offenses. Combining Wembanyama's insane defensive tools with another player with defensive chops in the frontcourt will be a horror for anyone that comes their way. There will be a block party in San Antonio every night.

Was last season a fluke?

Although Fleming has rare NBA-desired traits, he didn't perform at an elite level until three years into his college career. It is hard to trust a player after just one great season. He was inconsistent as a shooter before then, and if he can't replicate his previous showing in the NBA, he won't be living up to his lottery pick potential.

Not to mention, his breakout year was in a much weaker A-10 conference, which raises questions about whether he can do it in the NBA.

Nonetheless, the idea of what Fleming can do will have general manager Brian Wright salivating. If the Spurs can acquire him, he will be the perfect pairing next to Wembanyama and revolutionize the Alamo City defense.