Francis may have a better answer than I on this. He follows recruiting far more than I do.
In my limited viewing of his film, he seems to have solid ball skills. He uses both hands. He seems to protect the ball well. He sees the floor; his eyes are always up offensively. He has a pull-up jumper, and he can use it at full speed, which is not easy. Many players at that age haven't developed that yet. He has a spin move into a step-back, fade-away jumper that, if he can hit it at the collegiate level, will be deadly. It is an NBA-level move.
I would like to find more film on how he uses screens, both ball screens and off-ball. Much of what he does seems to be in isolation, which may not fly at this level. However, Kentucky's offense seems suited for him--a mixture of ball screens and dribble-drive motion to allow him to keep the ball in his hands and make plays.
I think he needs muscle--he's frail. I did see a highlight where he took contact from a big and still converted a layup, though, so he may be stronger than his body appears. I wish our 6'8" PFs could finish like that through contact at times.
He also will need to work on his footwork, especially when the ball isn't in his hands.
That said, I think what you said would be the reason our staff was interested. I don't think he's as fast (though he looks to be a better shooter already), but he has a Jonny Flynn quality to him where his offense may make up at some level for his defensive liabilities in the zone.
Edit: I should add that all of the defensive film I saw on him was in man-to-man or press, but I imagine he would get lots of steals in the zone. However, he would be like Gillon in terms of the ease of passing over him, I bet.
