Summer Sleepers: Bangot Dak
Bangot Dak does not yet have a superpower, but he is well on his way to developing that. Dak’s unique intersection is his combination of on-ball experimentation with hustle, buoyed by good awareness and technical development. At recently turned 20, and listed at 6’11”, a visibly smooth mover with great flexibility, Dak may not have figured out how to dominate yet, but he has much appeal as a mystery box player. Those get a bad rap, with poor evaluations often culpable, but that dynamic uncertainty is exactly what is needed for a player to reach unusually good outcomes.
We can start with Dak’s passing. For his size, Dak is exceptionally creative, able to make bi-directional reads (passing against his body or no-looking) off of simple dribbles. To once again call back to my star qualities pieces, being able to jump pass and just generally “pass through” your defender is a universal characteristic of the greats. You have to be able to problem-solve instantaneously, and Dak flashes plenty of that at a young age. To even get these passes off requires a high level of coordination, too.
Next, Dak is one of the most experimental bigs on the ball in the NCAA, especially for an underclassman. Dak often flashed to the high post or elbow where he then faced up. In these instances, he frequently went to his standard: the stutter rip. Dak grips the ball and rips it left to right, left to right, stuttering lead foot with each swing, unpredictable in whether he will lunge to his right, left, or simply shoot it. His driving stats show about a 50/50 split between left and right, with higher efficiency when going left (Synergy). His comfort here shows technical prowess, requiring synchronicity between the stutter foot and the rip through, and quick decision-making to choose which route to take. Coordination, experimentation, reactive decision-making, all of this is on display when Dak gets to work in the midrange. His high level of experimentation, often while covered tightly from deep midrange, led to <40% midrange shooting. But Dak was 7 for 15 on pull-up twos and 8 for 17 on runners, showcasing touch on difficult attempts.
With added strength, these attempts will get closer to the basket, making everything easier while Dak also continues to refine his technique. He could become a very strong two-point scorer. But more importantly, Dak maintains exceptional traits that relate to overall star equity. If he can do these things well, he will likely be able to figure out other basketball problems, too. His biomechanics allow him to get low into a crossover, or change pace with differing stride lengths.
Finally, this would all be for naught if Dak did not try on the court. Fortunately, Dak has what I would grade as a top 10th percentile motor, constantly fighting for best positioning on the court. While his defensive technique and hands aren’t perfect, he compensates by trying to be everywhere. His issues were worsened by playing out of position – Dak is a four, not a five, and especially not in his age-19 season. His 7.6% block rate ranked sixth in the Big 12, but rebounding was outright poor for position. Dak only weighed in at 185 pounds despite being nearly seven feet tall. Boxing out starting Big 12 centers was an impossible task, one that led Colorado’s defense to be better with him off the court. With some more weight (Dak clocked in at 203 pounds this training camp), Dak is unlikely to be targeted by bigs as often, and that is because of his exceptional motor. The center issue will likely persist some this season, but mitigated by the addition of 7’0”, 245-pound freshman Tacko Fawaz.
Bangot Dak has traits rare in their combination, which is likely to produce a rare kind of player. One who plays hard, experiments, is able to make quick, creative decisions and is highly coordinated is one who has a high ceiling. Even with some limitations, like a weak frame and only okay hands, Dak has been able to contribute and try things all over the court. The three and free-throw percentages remain poor, if improving, but the foundation is there to continue on the upswing. Coordinated, technical players who play hard have a major leg up on those who do not, and not many Dak’s height are able to check all of those boxes. With another offseason in the weight room and another year to try things on the court against very good competition, Dak kicks off and could easily finish the season as a first-rounder on my board.
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