Age

20

Height

6'9''

Weight

233

Workload

MIN%

55

USG%

22

TS%

60

Per 70 Possession Stats

PTS

16.3

REB

9.9

AST

1.3

STL

1.5

BLK

1.5

TOV

2.5

Efficiency

RIM FG%

57

MID FG%

40

3PT FG%

33

FT%

63

Jump to full report

Report by: Matt

Malik Reneau

Big Indiana

A post hub with impressive ball skills for size. Earth-bound but with elite hands and length

Age

20

Height

6'9''

Weight

233

Per 70 Possession Stats

PTS

16.3

REB

9.9

AST

1.3

STL

1.5

BLK

1.5

Positions Defended

Offensive Role

 

Defensive Role

   

Meet Malik Reneau.

Montverde products are known for their skill, having produced some of the best teams in the country over the past decade, most recently the stunningly talented 2022 class of Cade Cunningham, Scottie Barnes, Moses Moody and Day’Ron Sharpe. Malik Reneau, the 6’9”, 233 pound prospect with a 7’2-3” wingspan is no different. A southpaw, Reneau has more talent in his left than most bigs do as players overall.

Already in exhibition games, Reneau has been a focal point of the offense when coming in off the bench, getting the ball immediately to conduct out of the high post. His touch, both in finishing and passing, is phenomenal and makes up for some of his other shortcomings. Reneau has a vertical leap around average that of Swish Theory writers (sorry guys), but is able to overcome that with his skill in tandem with immense strength for his age.

Malik Reneau coast to coast.

Reneau’s archetype of connector on offense, bouncer on defense for a big typically means this prospect is not a dynamic athlete. That is true of Reneau, as he very rarely makes a play above the rim. But he has all the tools you would want in that archetype to combat the limitations. He has a very strong base, and is smart to use it for leverage in the post, able to body up other bigs by wedging them to the ground. He also has a ++ wingspan, estimated around +6 compared to his height, where he is able to contest in plays where you would assume he was beat, and his very strong hands and great hand-eye coordination to make plays accurately without fouling.

Malik Reneau huge block on Keyonte George without fouling.

Because of these strengths, he is never completely out of a play. His lack of dynamism is a greater concern in projecting him as a potential perimeter defender, or in wondering how he will generate opportunities to score from a standstill, but his strong feel for the game means taking full advantage of his other tools. Many with a long wingspan and great hands don’t use them to their full ability: Reneau, meanwhile, never misses an opportunity to chase down a steal or make a strong dig to wall off a driver.

Malik Reneau anticipates pass, open-court steal and and-one finish.

Reneau is a bit dependent on his teammates on offense, but has been exploring some self-creation ideas himself. In particular, he has been working on a midrange step-back where he uses his dedicated footwork to carve up just enough space to get off his set shot. Creation doesn’t come easy, but Reneau is creative in meandering around the post to find the right angle. He has the handle (certainly with the left, and with an at least functional right) to get to his left mini hook where he is automatic. That instinct of when to hunt and when to pass is extremely valuable for a connecting big of his ilk.

Malik Reneau post-fade.

I would be surprised if Reneau is ever a mega-scorer, especially as he is very reluctant to take catch and shoot threes, but there is a ton for a coach to work with. Right away we’ve seen Indiana coach Mike Woodson designing plays for Reneau to be the trigger point, and I have confidence he would excel in delay actions or executing the variety of screen/re-screen/DHO actions we see modern NBA teams using with frequency. While he needs to work on setting consistent, solid screens, I trust him to add that part over the course of this season. His combination of steal-maven and passing is extremely synergistic for creating valuable transition opportunities as well: even though Reneau is not dynamic himself, he brings that out of his teammates.

The one issue I have with Reneau, as hinted at above, is he can over-compensate for his mediocre mobility by closing out weakly, especially staying too deep in drop against shooters at times. He seems, in his desire to protect the paint (and consistent rotations to do such), to be often too conservative in filling the weak spots on the perimeter. I’m not sure there’s an easy answer to this beyond another full season of reps to get his close-out distance correct, but as Reneau has consistently shown a high feel for the game and fit in with high-level teams already, I have confidence he’ll figure it out.

The path for Malik Reneau to be a high-level NBA player may be narrow by virtue of archetype, but his combination of ball skills and ancillary physical tools, even while lacking explosiveness, do make the fit easier than some may believe at first glance. I expect him to put these on full display against NCAA talent where the average big man is much less explosive than you see in the NBA, but hopefully will continue to refine his skill to the point where that difference may not matter.

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