Scouts' Take: Miss. St. forward Arnett Moultrie

This is the third in a series of evaluations of players who might be available to the 76ers when they make the 15th overall selection in the NBA draft on June 28. Included are the views of two scouts, who spoke under the condition of anonymity.

Arnett Moultrie, Forward, Mississippi State, 6-11/233

The raw numbers
Moultrie averaged 16.4 points and 10.5 rebounds in his lone season at Mississippi State, on 54.9-percent shooting from the field and 78-percent shooting at the foul line. … He played his first two college seasons at Texas-El Paso, averaging 9.3 points and 7.5 rebounds.

The upside
He is long and springy, and can step out and shoot it a bit. Early in his college career, he even ventured beyond the three-point arc on occasion. The Sixers have said they need to get more athletic along the front line, so he certainly seems like a good fit.

The downside
Moultrie needs to get stronger and improve his passing. And how does an athlete of his pedigree average less than one blocked shot per game, as he did in college?

The scouts’ take
Scout One: “He’s a 4 (power forward). He’s got a lot of (retired Indiana Pacer) Antonio Davis in him. Back in the day he could really rebound the ball and run the floor very well. I think his offensive game is a little bit behind. … NBA body-wise, he’s a very good athlete. He’d be a very good fit for the teams that are looking for a running, rebounding 4. Very good defender.”

Scout Two: “A little different. Longer. Bouncier. Very, very good rebounder. Will rebound out of his area. Improved offensive player. His shot has improved. Much better at the free throw line than he was earlier in his career. Long, big hands – but he’s a little slight. It’s not like he’s 255. He’s a leaner guy. Strictly a 4. People think he can play the 5 (center). I don’t think that. I might be wrong, but I just think he’s too small, physically, to play any 5. But he’s athletic. He can run. Kind of fits the profile of what they like in Philly, to go with all their perimeter guys that can run and are active. Yeah, he could be a player of interest for those guys.”

Previous scouts' takes: Austin Rivers | Tyler Zeller

Gordie Jones is an award-winning journalist who has worked in the Philadelphia market for 29 years. He also co-authored a book about the 76ers' 1982-83 championship team with former Sixers general manager Pat Williams.