The college basketball season has started and the road to the 2015 NBA Draft has begun. I’ll continue to take early looks at players who are already on the NBA’s radar, or have enough skill or potential to break through this season.
The junior class is an impressive group with many prospective NBA players, many who possibly could have made the jump to the league already.
These are not meant to replace scouting reports, which will come out later in 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.
Ron Baker, Wichita State, Guard, 6’4, 220
(2013-14, 29.9 mpg) 13.1 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 3.1 apg, 1.4 spg
45.6 FG%, 84.2 FT%, 38.0 3FG%, 61.6 TS%, 56.3 eFG%
21.7 USG%, 21.5 AST%, 2.9 STL%, 1.8:1 A/TO
Baker merged as an important player for Wichita State during their Final Four run a couple of years ago as a redshirt freshman, and now he is mentioned on All-American lists. Baker forms a strong backcourt with Fred VanVleet and Tekele Cotton, giving the team a different element than the others. He has built his body up to allow him to attack the basket, and though he is just an average ballhandler, he can be effective when looking to get into the defense. Baker has good form on his jumper, and can hit consistently in the mid- and long-range areas, off the catch and off the dribble. He uses screens well to attack the basket, or set up space for his jumper, and he moves well without the ball, especially on cuts to the basket, where he can finish with either hand. Baker sees the floor well, and combined with his patience on offense, he can set his teammates up for good scoring chances. He does a good job absorbing contact on his way to the basket, and draws fouls at a good rate for someone who takes jumpers for three-fourths of his shots. Defensively, Baker positions himself well on and off the ball, and has shown good lateral movement, though his lack of foot speed hurts him when left in isolation against many opponents.
What he needs to show this season: For Baker, he needs to polish up his offensive game. With his ability to use screens and see the floor, Baker could be an effective ballhandler in pick-and-roll situations. He just needs to work on making quick and proper reads. He has a good perimeter shooting stroke, though he settles for long-range jumpers, often while guarded, instead of looking to get to the basket. His offensive and defensive game would both benefit from his working on foot speed. Baker has a solid skill set, which is still improving, but his lack of speed may be the biggest thing which affects his pro prospects right now. Once he works on that, I am sure there are many NBA coaches who would like to see him on their bench.
Denzel Valentine, Michigan State, Guard, 6’5, 220
(2013-14, 29.4 mpg) 8.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 3.8 apg, 1.0 spg
40.8 FG%, 67.7 FT%, 37.7 3FG%, 51.2 TS%, 48.9 eFG%
17.0 USG%, 5.2 OREB%, 18.2 DREB%, 12.0 REB%, 22.6 AST%, 2.0 STL%
Valentine has been a valuable role player for the Spartans the past couple of seasons, but with the loss of Gary Harris, Adreian Payne, and Keith Appling, he will now need to feature more prominently. Valentine showed very good improvement with both his ability to hit jumpers last seasons, as well as taking better shots. He is a good long-range spot shooter, and he uses his dribble and screens well to hit his mid-range jumper. Valentine has great court awareness and he sees the floor very well. He is an effective passer from the perimeter, high post, or off the dribble, though he still needs to work on knowing when it’s a good idea to hold back on a pass. He’s not very quick, but he is an above-average ballhandler, and he uses his dribble well to get into the defense, or to create in isolation. He also has the ability to lead the Spartans in transition, getting the ball up the floor quickly and making good decisions, or running one of the wings and spotting up behind the arc. Defensively, Valentine positions himself well, and though not very quick, he moves his feet well. He closes well on shooters, and he does a good job tracking shots and getting in position to rebound.
What he needs to show this season: As I mentioned, Valentine needs to step up and be a leader for Tom Izzo this season, and at least early on this season, he has responded. He is very vocal both on the floor and when he is on the bench. Valentine needs to continue to work on his body and get stronger, as he can sometimes have trouble finishing around the basket against bigger players. It helps that he can use either hand around the basket, but he needs to work on initiating and scoring through contact. Defensively, Valentine guards multiple positions, but at the next level, he will be need to be able to contain wings better on the perimeter, which means working on getting quicker and reacting better. Also, he can have some trouble when trying to get over or through screens, so he needs to work on finding angles when chasing off the ball. Valentine may not excel in any one area right now, but he does so much for the team when he is on the floor, somewhat in the way Draymond Green used to for Michigan State. With a bigger role, Valentine should take steps to create even more of an identity on the floor.
A.J. Hammons, Purdue, Center, 7’0, 261
(2013-14, 25.0 mpg) 10.8 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 3.1 bpg
51.3 FG%, 70.1 FT%, 56.5 TS%, 51.3 eFG%
23.7 USG%, 10.0 OREB%, 22.7 DREB%, 16.2 REB%, 13.3 BLK%
After two college seasons, Hammons remains one of college basketball’s biggest enigmas. He has an NBA body and size, and he continues to develop his skill as a low post player on both ends of the floor. Hammons shows good footwork in the post, uses his body well to get position, and has nice touch around the basket. He has expanded his shooting range, with the ability to consistently knock down mid-range jumpers. Hammons has also improved his screening on the perimeter, and opening up to the basket as the roll man in a pick-and-roll. He is a good rebounder on both ends of the floor, though he should be more physical with the body he has. Hammons does use his body well to defend in the low post, and he has shown improved footwork. He is a very good help defender and shot blocker around the basket, and he does a good job extending to get to as many shots as possible.
What he needs to show this season: The biggest questions with Hammons continue to be consistency and effort. Hammons could look like a dominant big man against some teams, and against others, not necessarily better teams, he looks disinterested. Still, he is a skilled offensive player, and when he puts the effort in, he gets results. He needs to continue to enhance his back to the basket game, including adding new moves and counter-moves, as well as using his left hand around the basket. Defensively, it’s more about putting the effort in. He could be slow to get out on high screens, leaving the ballhandler plenty of room to make decisions. Also, he needs to watch getting drawn in the air by fakes, and picking up needles fouls. Hammons is physically ready to be a pro, but he needs the mental part of the game to catch up if he wants to see the floor in the NBA soon.
Terran Petteway, Nebraska, Guard/Forward, 6’6, 215
(2013-14, 31.7 mpg) 18.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 1.6 apg, 0.9 spg
42.6 FG%, 81.9 FT%, 32.7 3FG%, 55.3 TS%, 48.2 eFG%
32.6 USG%, 9.0 REB%, 13.4 AST%, 1.7 STL%
Petteway made his presence known right away at Nebraska, and the Big 10, after sitting out for a year after transferring from Texas Tech. He was the conference’s leading scorer and a unanimous All-Big 10 First Team selection. Petteway has good size on the wing and great natural athletic ability. He uses his size well to get good looks on the perimeter or to shield the ball as he attacks the basket. He can be a good long-range shooter, when he gets his feet set and square to the basket, though when he gets in a shooting rhythm, he seems to be able to hit in all kinds of ways. Petteway moves well without the ball, especially when he senses a defender overplaying him, where he uses his athletic ability to streak to the basket. Petteway is very good in transition, with the ability to push the ball himself to the basket, or run one of the wings, where he can spot up and shoot, or make a line to the rim. Defensively, Petteway has the size and athletic ability to guard multiple positions. He moves well laterally, though he needs to read and react better to his man’s movements. Petteway is a solid defensive rebounder, and he has the ability to grab a rebound and start the team in transition.
What he needs to show this season: There is no doubt that Petteway is a scorer, but his shot selection left a lot to be desired at times last season. He will settle for guarded jumpers, even off the dribble, instead of looking to attack the basket. Also, he can be a little wild when he gets to the basket, looking to be creative instead of taking it right at the defender. Petteway can do a better job coming off of screens in position to get a shot off, instead of catching and then having to turn his body. Also, he needs to continue to work on his ballhandling to help him attack from the perimeter better. On defense, Petteway can have some trouble if forced to guard an active offensive player who likes to use screens. Also, he can become fixated on the ball and lose his man at times. Petteway is a versatile scorer with good athleticism, and if he continues to show improvement like he did last season, his next stop should be the NBA.