2015 NBA Draft Watch List: Seniors, Part Seven

It’s less than  a month from the start of college basketball season and the road to the 2015 NBA Draft has begun.  It’s time to start taking some early looks at players who are already on the NBA’s radar, or have enough skill or potential to break through this season.

Players will be broken down by class, starting with the seniors.  Overall, the list will contain between 50 and 60 seniors, 30 to 40 juniors, and 20 to 30 sophomores.

These are not meant to replace scouting reports, which will come out during the season.  These are not all-inclusive and just meant as a brief primer for those who want to track draft prospects throughout the season.  These are also not in any particular order other than who I choose to write about each post.

Jerian Grant, Notre Dame, Guard, 6’5, 204

(2013-14, 12 games, 35.6 mpg) 19.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 6.2 apg, 2.0 spg

51.8 FG%, 86.5 FT%, 40.8 3FG%, 65.5 TS%, 59.0 eFG%

24.6 USG%, 3.4:1 A/TO, 36.5 AST%, 3.5 STL%, 11.2 TOV%

Grant was off to a tremendous start last season before his year was cut short after 12 games due to academic issues.  With Eric Atkins having graduated, Grant will man the backcourt with sophomore point guard Demetrius Jackson. At 6’5, Grant can play the 2, but he is just as comfortable handling the point, and he is much better when he is controlling the action. He likes to attack the basket, and his long strides  and strong ballhandling ability allow him to get to the rim quickly, and he can finish with either hand. Grant’s ability to get to the rim can also force defenders to play off him, allowing him space to knock down mid- and long-range jumpers.  Grant has good range as a spot-up shooter, though his release can be a bit slow. As I mentioned, he is at his best when controlling the action, and his size allows him to see the floor well and find open teammates, whether on the perimeter or driving to the basket.  Grant is also good in the open floor in transition, pushing the ball quickly up the floor and generally making good decisions. Defensively, Grant uses his length well to disrupt passing lanes. He has the athleticism to guard either backcourt spot and he can be a quality rebounder when he is in position.     

What he needs to show this season: Having his season cut short last year after a great start was a tough blow to Grant and the Irish, so it will be interesting to see how he starts this year. He didn’t get the opportunity to work through a lot of problem areas last year. Grant has a tendency to hold on to the ball too long, hoping for something to open up for him, even though it can bring the offense to a stand-still. Also, while Grant doesn’t turn the ball over often, he does make a lot of poor passes which his teammates need to adjust to catch. This happens most often when he is looking for teammates off the dribble.  He makes good reads off of screens though, and it is not out of the realm of possibility that his future as a pro is at the point guard position. Grant needs to put more effort in on the defensive end, both on and off the ball. He can get caught standing up when guarding the ball, and when off the ball, he can be too focused on his man’s movements and lose track of the ball movement. If Grant can get off to a start similar to last year while building in some key areas, he will be very popular among NBA teams come next June.        

Bryce Dejean-Jones, Iowa State, Guard, 6’6, 210

(2013-14, 27.4 mpg at UNLV) 13.6 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 3.0 apg

42.7 FG%, 64.3 FT%, 32.3 3FG%, 50.8 TS%, 47.2 eFG%

27.9 USG%, 23.9 AST%, 11.1 TO%, 1.6 STL%

The good news for Jones is that he will get to play his final college year for Fred Hoiberg and Iowa State’s quick-hitter system. The big question will be how many of Jones’ bad habits can Hoiberg eradicate over a short period of time.  Jones’ two years at UNLV were spent showing flashes of strong scoring ability amidst a monsoon of bad decisions.  He’s an average ballhandler and when he looks to attack the basket, he goes strong.  The majority of Jones’ shots were jumpers though, and though he did show some ability to knock down mid- and long-range jumpers, his shot selection could be baffling.  Jones does draw defenders, and last year he did show a nice knack for finding teammates off the dribble.  On defense, Jones is better on the ball than off, and he has a knack for using his length well to defend on the perimeter.                  

What he needs to show this season:  As mentioned, Jones’ shot selection has been an issue, but he was also given way too much freedom in UNLV’s offense the past two seasons.  Under Hoiberg, Jones will need to take good shots and knock them down, or he will see his time limited. Along with that, he will need to make adjustments to Hoiberg’s offense, especially being able to come off screens cleanly and in good position to shoot.  The key to offense is finding the best shot, and Jones will need to realize that it often won’t be with him. Defensively, Jones will need to show more effort, especially when guarding off the ball, as well as being more aware of what’s happening around him. Hoiberg has had a very good track record with transfers so  far at Iowa State. If he can turn Jones into a team player in his system, it could be his greatest triumph to date.   

Larry Nance Jr., Wyoming, Forward, 6’8, 235

(2013-14, 34.7 mpg) 15.4 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 1.6 apg, 2.1 bpg

54.4 FG%, 75.8 FT%, 60.5 TS%, 56.1 eFG%

25.2 USG%, 5.7 OREB%, 24.8 DREB%, 16.3 REB%, 7.1 BLK%

Nance, one of the most athletic forwards in the NCAA, was having a career season last year before an ACL injury ended it in February.  From all reports, Nance says his knee feels great, but he has yet to be cleared to start practice for the new season.  Assuming he is ready to go soon, Nance will be the key to Wyoming’s season as well as one of the Mountain West’s top players. Nance is a skilled post player, using his body well to get position and showing some strong footwork and nice touch around the basket. If given a bit of space, he will dunk on his opponent with no hesitation, but he doesn’t need to rely on it. While he doesn’t have the strength of some other power forwards, he uses head and ball fakes well to create space when needed.  Nance has shown some improvement as a mid-range shooter, but he is still not as consistent as he should be.  He runs the floor well and can be a good finisher in transition when he is found near the basket.  Defensively, Nance moves his feet well, especially in the post.  He is a good help defender around the basket, and his length combined with his leaping ability make him a dangerous shot blocker.  Nance is a good rebounder on both ends of the floor and he does a good job using his lower body to box out and clear out space.     

What he needs to show this season:  Nance’s athleticism is a big part of his game, and the most important thing will be him showing his old explosiveness around the basket on both ends. Assuming he does come back 100 percent, Nance will also need to build some strength if he wants to play around the basket at the next level. He is a fundamentally sound defender, but he needs to improve his ability to guard on the perimeter and defend in pick-and-roll situations. Offensively, he needs to move his game out to the perimeter a bit more, improving his ballhandling to get to the basket and being able to knock down mid-range jumpers consistently.  Nance has the tools to be an NBA player, he just needs to put them all together.     

Jordan Sibert, Dayton, Guard, 6’4, 187

(2013-14, 26.0 mpg) 12.2 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1.5 apg

45.5 FG%, 71.2 FT%, 42.6 3FG%, 60.6 TS%, 58.4 eFG%

22.7 USG%, 12.0 AST%, 11.0 TOV%, 1.9 STL%

After two seasons as a reserve at Ohio State, Sibert transferred to Dayton and became a key player in the Flyers’ run to the Elite Eight last year. Sibert’s main strength is in his perimeter shooting, mostly from long-range. He shot over forty-two percent last season and his ability to stretch the floor allowed the Flyers to open up lanes to get to the basket.  Sibert won’t attack the basket often, but if he does, it’s usually to the right and coming off a screen. Defensively, Sibert improved throughout the season, showing good positioning and having very good awareness. He has the ability to guard either backcourt position.  He can handle many roles in transition, from pushing the ball to spotting up on the wing.        

What he needs to show this season: While Sibert had a very good season, his offensive game was very one-dimensional, though Dayton needed his shooting to make a tournament run.  Listed at 6’4, Sibert will need to show more on the offensive end if he has any NBA hopes. First, he will need to improve his ballhandling, especially being able to go left, as well as finishing strong around the basket.  Also, he needs to show the same consistency from the mid-range area as he does from long-range. Sibert draws defenders because of his shooting, so he needs to be able to create shots off the dribble, either for himself or teammates.  On defense, Sibert needs to work on getting through or over screens, as well as not playing on his heels so much when defending the ball.