Thomas Sorber
Big
Tough freshman big with strong feel for the game.
Here’s an easy way to quantify Thomas Sorber’s impact on Georgetown’s defense: before suffering a season ending foot injury in February, opposing teams shot just 45.2% from inside the arc against the Hoyas (15th in the nation). In the few games after he was ruled out for the season, that number rose to 61.3% (358th in the nation). Sorber’s defensive impact as an 18/19 year old playing against high level DI athletes cannot be ignored.
Sorber is as polished a paint patroller as you’ll see, boasting excellent technique in drop and superb rotational awareness. He’s able to backpedal and track the ball effectively, especially for a big man with his youth. His combination of length and activity are unmatched by any big in this class. Sorber routinely positions himself well in the gaps and shifts to the rim in timely fashion to swat and alter shots. His 7.6% block rate, 2.7% steal rate, and 21.9% defensive rebounding rate are all indicative of his elite feel. He still needs to build some strength and he’s a bit limited vertically, but his 7’6” wingspan and positional wherewithal help him compensate.
Sorber’s feel for the game translates to the other end of the floor, where he posted a 15.6% assist rate. He throws the occasional errant pass, but his processing speed and court mapping lend themselves well to team offense. Whether operating from the post or facing-up and making a read on the move, Sorber is someone who keeps the ball moving and plays within the flow of the game.
I do worry some about how he puts the ball in the hoop. He recorded just 21 dunks this season, a measly total. While he has some enticing moments putting the ball on his floor and using his flexibility to finish at difficult angles, I worry about his lack of roll gravity at the pro level. Sorber especially struggled to convert against high-level competition, with his true shooting dropping to 46.7% in 8 games against top 50 competition. Combine that with his rough splits (6/37 from three) and Sorber’s offensive projection becomes awfully murky. I have some hope for his shooting, as he flashes a smooth face-up J and has solid touch from the foul line (72.4%) but it’s far from a sure thing.
Still, Sorber could be an impactful enough defensive chess piece to provide top ten value in this class, while giving you just enough on offense to make things worthwhile.
Will Morris