NBA combine: Looney, Powell measure out with long wingspans

The NBA Combine will hold its on-court portions to end this week, with five-on-five competition returning for the first time since 2008.

Former UCLA guard Norman Powell is slated to participate, part of a nine-man squad that also includes Kentucky’s Andrew Harrison, Arizona’s T.J. McConnell, and Stanford’s Chasson Randle. They will take the floor at 1:30 p.m. PT on both Thursday and Friday.

In the meantime, there are full body measurements from 63 players to pore over. Both Powell and forward Kevon Looney stood out in one particular category: their wingspans.

A potential lottery pick after his lone season at UCLA, Looney spread his arms out to 7’3.5″, tying him for sixth at the combine with Kansas’ Cliff Alexander. The downside is that he also tied for the eighth-highest body fat percentage at 11.9 percent. It’s a surprising number given how lanky he looked as a college player, and helps explain why he appeared winded at the end of the season despite being listed at 6-foot-9, 220 pounds.

Seven of the 10 players who had at least 10.0 percent body fat in this NBA combine weighed 238 pounds or more.

In the previous five NBA draft combines, 34 players measured out that high in fat. Only seven of those eventually became lottery picks, a small sample heavily weighed toward big men: Nik Stauskas, Marcus Smart, Derrick Williams, Markieff Morris, DeMarcus Cousins, Greg Monroe, Ed Davis.

Powell also did well for himself with a 6’10.75″ wingspan, which should make it easier for teams to overlook his below-average height at shooting guard (6’3 without shoes).

Of the 21 players listed as shooting guards at the combine (including combo guards and wings), only four others beat Powell’s wingspan: Michael Qualls (7’0.25″), Terran Petteway (6’11.25), Anthony Brown (6’11.25), and Justin Anderson (6’11.75″).

Here are Powell and Looney’s full measurements:

Body fat% Hand length Hand width Height Height w/shoes Standing reach Weight Wingspan
Kevon Looney 11.9 9.5″ 9.25″ 6’8″ 6’9.25″ 9’2″ 222.4 lbs 7’3.5″
Norman Powell 6.4 9.25 9.0 6’3″ 6’4.25″ 8’6.5″ 215.4 6’10.75″