After spending his previous few seasons playing in Greece, Advalas quickly adjusted to life overseas, producing highlights and big scoring totals early on. Some liken the oversized handler to Luka Doncic for their aesthetic similarities, but others worry his offense contains more flash than function. The league values tall creators like him, though, which could help his prospect case whenever he enters the draft.
Click here to read our latest mock draft and big board for the 2026 NBA Draft.
Neoklis Avdalas — Wing, Virginia Tech (20.4 years old)
Neoklis Scouting Report & NBA Comparison
- Offensive role: Pick-and-Roll Handler/Secondary Playmaker
- Defensive role: Help Rim Protector/Versatile On-Ball Defender
At his peak, Avdalas could resemble a big initiator like Hedo Turkoglu, who proved himself a vital cog on winning teams through his shot creation and outside shooting among other traits. Avdalas and Kyle Anderson differ aesthetically, but the latter carved a long, productive NBA career bringing defensive impact and playmaking to each stop.
NBA Comparison: Hedo Turkoglu, Kyle Anderson
Strengths
- Rare blend of size and pick-and-roll playmaking, surgical pacing with screens, using jail and spraying to shooters or rollers with pocket passes
- Excellent fluidity and agility let him evade screens on and off the ball, rare change of direction skills at his size
- Flashes off-dribble 3-point shooting acumen especially on stepbacks, creates space for mid-range jumpers with height and control
- Impressive weak-side rim protector with strong instincts and contests with verticality and discipline
- Quick, active hands generate deflections and clog passing lanes
Weaknesses
- Limited explosiveness both horizontally and vertically, struggles to create separation off the dribble especially without a screen
- Struggles to generate rim attempts and deep paint touches on the ball, reliant on short pull-ups and floaters
- Will get caught ball watching with backdoor cuts, inconsistent off-ball activity
- High center of gravity and lack of strength limits on-ball defensive ability against power, often off-balance defending the ball
2026 NBA Draft Projection: Round 2, Pick 40-60
Conference play has proven Avdalas needs plenty of work before he’s ready to enter the NBA, especially as a scorer. Still, tall handlers with shot creation and pick-and-roll ability like him are rare, especially ones with as many pathways to defensive viability and potentially stardom. If Avdalas returns to school and improves his scoring and stabilizes his shooting, he could work his way back into first round consideration.
