Overview
Born in Russia, Vladislav Goldin didn’t start playing basketball until a growth spurt in high school. After playing for a junior team, PSC CSKA, Goldin moved to America for his final year of high school. As a four-star recruit, Goldin committed to Texas Tech but played only 10 games as a freshman before transferring to FAU. After a quiet first season for the Owls, Goldin exploded in his second, earning Third-Team All-CUSA while being a key contributor for a team that made a Cinderella run to the Final Four in 2023. Goldin was even better in his third season with the Owls, earning Second-Team All-AAC, but FAU lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Following that season, Goldin entered the NBA Draft but withdrew and joined former FAU coach Dusty May at Michigan. It was a storybook final season for Goldin, who averaged 16.6 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.4 blocks while posting 61/33/73 shooting splits en route to First-Team All-Big Ten honors. He was also a finalist for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar award and was named Big Ten Tournament MVP after Michigan won the championship over Wisconsin. The Wolverines lost to Auburn in the Sweet Sixteen.
Analysis
Goldin’s collegiate track record speaks for itself. The big man dominated at every step in a variety of ways and is an intriguing older prospect that could contribute right away. He’s got great footwork in the post, an array of moves and can finish with both hands. However, he’s a more efficient player when rolling or popping after setting a ball screen. Goldin is also a menace on the glass, offensively and defensively, which should be his best trait as a professional. Defensively, Goldin will anchor the paint and protect the rim.
Projection
The only current NBA players listed with measurements of at least 7-foot-1 and 250 pounds are Zach Edey (7’4, 305), Brook Lopez (7’1, 282), Luke Kornet (7’1, 250), and Rudy Gobert (7’1, 258), so Goldin will enter the league as an outlier. However, his playstyle is more comparable to guys like Moritz Wagner (6’11, 245), Isaiah Hartenstein (7’0, 250) and Marc Gasol (6’11, 255). Goldin’s blend of size and skill will allow him to make an offensive impact at the NBA level, but his conditioning and defense will determine how many minutes he gets a night.
— Profile by RotoWire.com