Overview
Oscar Cluff grew up on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland, Australia, attending Kawana Waters State College before beginning his college career at Cochise College, where he shot 75.0% from the field as a freshman. After two years at Cochise, Cluff transferred to Washington State and averaged 7.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 20.3 minutes per game, shooting 53.8% from the field. He then moved to South Dakota State and exploded, putting up 17.6 points, 12.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 27.7 minutes per game, recording 22 double-doubles and joining a list of just ten players in NCAA history to average at least 17 points, 12 rebounds and two assists while shooting 60.0% or better from the field. That performance earned him Summit League Newcomer of the Year, first-team All-Summit League and a spot on the Summit League All-Defensive Team. A highly sought-after transfer, Cluff committed to Purdue and started all 39 games as a senior, averaging 10.6 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 24.7 minutes per game while shooting 68.3% from the field. His field-goal percentage ranked second in Purdue history. He was named MVP of the BahaMar Championship and earned a spot on the Big Ten Tournament team, helping Purdue reach the Elite Eight.
Analysis
Cluff is one of the most efficient interior scorers in this draft class. He finishes over both shoulders with either hand and works through contact. His post footwork is polished, and he reads double-teams well, finding open shooters and cutters with good passes. Cluff carries an NBA-ready frame and uses every bit of it on the offensive glass, where he was one of the most productive rebounders in the country. Cluff thrives in the pick-and-roll. Defensively, he competes with physicality and showed the ability to deter shots at the rim.
Projection
Cluff projects as a high-efficiency, back-to-the-basket center who can score in the post, finish as a roll man, crash the offensive glass and move the ball when defenses collapse. His passing feel, scoring efficiency and rebounding give him a path to contributing as a rotation big in the NBA. His game draws from the Nenê mold of strong, efficient post scoring with enough passing to keep defenses honest, with a dash of early Carlos Boozer’s ground-bound physicality. Among current players, Jarrett Allen’s moderate-usage, high-efficiency interior profile is the closest statistical comparison, though Cluff operates more out of the post than as a lob threat.
— Profile by RotoWire.com