Whether competing in the NBA or WNBA or simply playing for the love of the game, basketball players at every level often model their style after their favorite professional players. From signature moves to on-court mentality, imitation isn\u2019t just flattery \u2014 it\u2019s inspiration.<\/p>\n
From Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Don\u010di\u0107\u2019s magical one-legged fadeaway shot and Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden\u2019s patented step-back three-pointers to Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark\u2019s otherworldly logo three-pointers, everyone has that one go-to signature move that makes opponents second-guess themselves.<\/p>\n
They say that nicknames are earned, not given, and player comparisons work the same way. A player\u2019s \u201ccomp\u201d is often given by peers and suggests whose game the player\u2019s basketball play style most emulates. It considers a variety of factors, including height, position, skillset, and even personality.<\/p>\n
As the start of the Penn basketball season approaches, now is the perfect time to take a closer look at the roster and get a glimpse into each player\u2019s game. From returning veterans to promising newcomers, here are my NBA and WNBA player comparisons for some of the standouts on the Quakers squad.<\/p>\n
NBA comparisons<\/p>\n
TJ Power: Paul George<\/p>\n
A transfer from Virginia, junior forward TJ Power will look to help lead the Quakers to a deep run in the Ivy League tournament. Standing at 6-foot-9, the two-way wing draws comparisons to Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George \u2014 a testament to his versatility on both ends of the court. While George might be the smoother ballhandler, Power possesses many of the same traits: the ability to create his own shot, score off the dribble, and knock down jumpers from both midrange and beyond the arc.<\/p>\n
Ethan Roberts: Devin Booker<\/p>\n
With similar 6-foot-5 frames, senior guard\/forward Ethan Roberts draws apt comparisons to four-time NBA All-Star and two-time All-NBA selection Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker. A smooth and steady scorer, Roberts led the team with 16.8 points per game<\/a> while ranking second in field-goal percentage during the 2024-25 season. Like Booker, Roberts\u2019 dependable midrange game is the backbone of his offense, where he displays consistency and reliability. When the game is on the line, you can count on Roberts to get you a bucket.<\/p>\n Augustus Gerhart: Bam Adebayo<\/p>\n Need someone who can space the floor and dominate inside? Look no further than junior forward Augustus Gerhart. Gerhart brings a unique blend of strength and finesse to the court, making him a true hybrid between a forward and center. His versatility\u00a0\u2014 including his ability to score on the low block, stretch the floor with his jumper, and defend multiple positions\u00a0\u2014 makes him one of the Quakers\u2019 most dynamic frontcourt pieces.<\/p>\n Gerhart\u2019s game draws clear parallels to Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo, the three-time NBA All-Star and Olympic gold medalist who is known for his ability to switch seamlessly on defense, facilitate from the high post, and play with an unselfish, team-first mentality.<\/p>\n Niklas Polonowski: Mikal Bridges<\/p>\n He\u2019s cool, calm, and collected. Junior guard\/forward Niklas Polonowski mirrors New York Knicks guard Mikal Bridges\u2019 defensive discipline and positional awareness. Like Bridges, Polonowski thrives on efficiency, using length and anticipation to impact plays on both ends. Offensively, his game continues to evolve into a confident, scoring-focused role, with a reliable three-point shot that allows him to rise and fire over defenders. Tied for third on the team last season in three-pointers made, Polonowski\u2019s combination of size, shooting touch, and composure gives him shades of Bridges\u2019 two-way versatility.<\/p>\n WNBA comparisons<\/p>\n Katie Collins: Cameron Brink<\/p>\n This one was easy. Like Los Angeles Sparks forward Cameron Brink, sophomore forward Katie Collins is a defensive anchor who makes her presence felt on every possession. Last season, she led the Ivy League<\/a> with 1.6 blocks per game and 46 total blocks, using her length, timing, and anticipation to disrupt shots and control the paint. Her defensive IQ and discipline mirror Brink\u2019s trademark interior dominance, while Collins adds balance offensively as a reliable scorer, finishing third on the team<\/a> with 10 points per game last season. As the reigning Ivy League Rookie of the Year, she\u2019s already shown flashes of becoming Penn\u2019s next two-way star.\u00a0<\/p>\n Mataya Gayle: Kelsey Plum<\/p>\n Similar in stature and style, junior guard Mataya Gayle brings shades of Los Angeles Sparks guard Kelsey Plum to Penn\u2019s backcourt \u2014 a fearless, scoring-minded point guard who plays bigger than her 5-foot-7 size. Gayle combines quickness and confidence with a smooth shooting touch, capable of creating her own shot or finding teammates in rhythm. Like Plum, Gayle isn\u2019t afraid of the moment, using her craftiness and competitive edge to take over games when it matters most.<\/p>\n Sarah Miller and Saniah Caldwell: Sophie Cunningham and Lexie Hull\u00a0<\/p>\n The Indiana Fever\u2019s sharpshooting tandem of guards Sophie Cunningham and Lexie Hull finds its Ivy League mirror in sophomore guard Sarah Miller and senior guard Saniah Caldwell. For Penn, Miller and Caldwell were a consistent long-range threat who <\/a>finished second and fourth<\/a> on the team, respectively, in three-pointers made last season. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Miller, who earned an Ivy League Rookie of the Week honor<\/a> last season, led the Quakers in three-point percentage<\/a> at 35.9%, showcasing the same reliable stroke that made Cunningham one of the Fever\u2019s most efficient shooters<\/a> \u2014 43.2% from deep last season. Caldwell, meanwhile, channels Hull\u2019s two-way impact through her hustle, energy, and ability to knock down timely shots from downtown. Together, Miller and Caldwell form a poised, confident duo that gives Penn the same balanced perimeter presence that Cunningham and Hull bring to Indiana.<\/p>\n TYLER RINGHOFER is a Wharton junior from Orange County, Calif. studying legal studies and business ethics. He currently serves as deputy DP Sports editor. All comments should be directed to dpsports@thedp.com.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Whether competing in the NBA or WNBA or simply playing for the love of the game, basketball players…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":264936,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[629],"tags":[49,48,82,630],"class_list":{"0":"post-264935","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-wnba","8":"tag-ca","9":"tag-canada","10":"tag-sports","11":"tag-wnba"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/264935","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=264935"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/264935\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/264936"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=264935"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=264935"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=264935"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}