Overview
Ryan Nembhard spent four years in college and was a regular starter each season despite switching programs midway through his NCAA journey. Nembhard, the 68th-ranked player in the 2021 class, spent the first two years of his college career with Creighton, averaging 11.3 and 12.1 points per game as a freshman and sophomore, respectively. He entered the transfer portal before the 2023-24 campaign and linked up with Gonzaga, where he also started in every game over two years. He thrived as a scorer during his junior year, averaging a career-high 12.6 points per game to go along with 4.0 rebounds and 6.9 assists per contest. However, he turned heads with his play as a senior in 2024-25 while being a key member of the Bulldogs. Nembhard closed out his college career with averages of 10.5 points, 9.8 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.7 steals across 35.1 minutes per game in his 35 appearances with Gonzaga as a senior. After establishing himself as one of the best passers in the nation during his final college year, Nembhard decided to declare for the 2025 NBA Draft. His older brother, Andrew Nembhard, currently plays for the Indiana Pacers.
Analysis
Nembhard is an old-school floor general. He thrives orchestrating the offense’s tempo and is outstanding in the pick-and-roll game, both as a facilitator and scorer. However, his lack of size could limit his upside. Still, Nembhard logged an incredible 9.8 assists per game to only 2.5 turnovers and is a great decision-maker who manages the game at a high level. His scoring ability will determine whether he’s able to have a long career in the NBA or not, especially since his defense isn’t elite.
Projection
Nembhard was one of the best passers in the college ranks in the 2024-25 season, and he should have the maturity to carve out a role at the highest level. He’s drawn comparisons to his older brother, Andrew Nembhard, although he has also been compared to other backup point guards in the NBA such as Tyus Jones and T.J. McConnell.
— Profile by RotoWire.com