2015 NBA Draft Watch List: Sophomores, Part Four

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 sophomore class is strong, with many prospective NBA players who chose to come back for an additional year of school.

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.

Marcus Foster, Kansas State, Guard, 6’3, 210

(2013-14, 29.4 mpg) 15.5 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.5 apg

42.3 FG%, 73.4 FT%, 39.5 3FG%, 54.6 TS%, 51.8 eFG%

28.8 USG%, 20.9 AST%, 1.2:1 A/TO

Foster’s name wasn’t mentioned among the elite freshmen to start last season, but he made a name for himself quickly, and ended up as an All-Big 12 Second Team selection. Foster showed an ability to score as well as any player in the country, with the ability to find shots from almost anywhere. He has good form on his jumper, with long range and a quick release, and the ability to hit from mid- and long-range off the catch or dribble.  Foster is an above-average ballhandler, with a quick first step, and the ability to create space off of screens or in isolation.  He moves well without the ball, and will work hard to get open using screens or cuts. Foster is good in transition, with the ability to push the ball himself or run one of the wings and spot up behind the arc. He is also capable of pushing the ball himself and shooting mid- and long-range jumpers if the defense gives him room. Defensively, Foster shows good positioning on and off the ball, and nice lateral movement. He has the ability to pick up his man full court if needed, though he prefers to contain his man on the perimeter and doesn’t take many chances looking for steals. Foster also does a good job getting over the top of screens.

What he needs to show this season: Foster showed confidence in his scoring ability from the beginning, but he also showed some questionable shot selection, especially from the perimeter. Foster prefers to shoot jumpers, and he did have some problems finishing around the basket among length. He has to work on looking to draw contact and still getting his shot, he seems to have the body to do this, instead of fading away from the basket to find a shot. Foster sees the floor well, but he doesn’t seem to make reads quick enough, especially in pick-and-roll situations, and he’s content to just look for his own shot. Defensively, Foster is solid, and any work that needs to be done is mostly in cleaning up his footwork and reaction time. Foster has a bright future at the next level, but it will be important for him to show that he can create for others, especially since his shooting ability will draw defenders to him.

Kennedy Meeks, North Carolina, Forward, 6’9, 270

(2013-14, 16.3 mpg) 7.6 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 0.8 bpg

54.8 FG%, 58.6 FT% 56.0 TS%, 54.8 eFG%

22.7 USG%, 15.6 OREB%, 24.9 DREB%, 20.2 REB%, 5.2 BLK%

Meeks became a starter for the Tar Heels in the second half of last season, which coincided with a long winning-streak leading into the post-season.  Meeks has lost over 30 pounds since getting to Chapel Hill, but he still has good size and a wide body which he uses well to establish position in the low post.  He works hard to get his position and his ability to seal off defenders opens up lanes for teammates to get to the basket, or for Meeks to get easy shots around the rim. He has good hands and a soft touch around the basket, and he shows very good footwork for his size. Meeks has the ability to make moves over either shoulder, and he uses angles well around the basket to make shots. Meeks’ size and body help him rebound well on both ends of the floor, and when he grabs offensive rebounds, he is quick to get a good second shot up. Defensively, Meeks is physical and uses his body well to move opposing players off the block.  He has also has the ability to extend well and get up quickly to block or alter shots around the basket.

What he needs to show this season: Conditioning was a key for Meeks coming into college, and he has done a great job so far working on his body, but he still has some work to do. He can tire easy when the Tar Heels pick up the pace, and the advantage he has with his size in the post gets lost. In the post, Meeks should work on using his lower body and feet better to get closer to the basket when he shoot, instead of being forced away from the rim. He has shown some improvement in this area already this season. He also should continue to work on his ability to use his left hand effectively to shoot around the basket, as well as seeing the floor and making better passes out of low post double teams. Meeks has good form on his mid-range jumper, though a lot of the shots haven’t been falling. They will as he continues to shoot them, and it should be a good weapon for him in the long run. On defense, Meeks has to improve his footwork in the low post, as well as being quicker to get into help position around the basket. Also, he needs to work on improving his ability to get out and hedge in pick-and-roll situations, as well as being able to recover after. Meeks is on the right track to one day be an NBA player with his skill and size. As long as he continues to work on his conditioning, he has the potential to make an impact at the next level.

Damian Jones, Vanderbilt, Center, 6’10, 248

(2013-14, 25.7 mpg) 11.3 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.4 bpg

54.3 FG%, 54.5 FT%, 54.9 TS%, 54.3 eFG%

25.2 USG%, 8.8 OREB%, 15.9 DREB%, 12.6 REB%, 5.7 BLK%

Jones’ emergence was one of the bright spots in a down season for Vanderbilt, giving them a young post option who can impact play on both sides of the court. Jones is long and athletic, with good hands and footwork in the post.  He has good touch around the basket, showing the ability to score with either hand, and his length allows him to shoot over many defenders. Jones gets off the floor quickly, and if given a little space, he will finish strong. He doesn’t shy from contact and does a good job drawing contact around the basket. Jones runs the floor well, and opposing players need to prevent him from getting to the rim, where he can go above the rim to catch and finish, or get an easy offensive rebound. Jones uses his length well on defense, and with some improvements, can be one of the better rim protectors in the NCAA. He moves his feet well for his size, and he does a good job getting out and hedging on high screens.

What he needs to show this season:  Jones has the length and athleticism of a good post player, but he needs to build up his strength and learn to use his lower body to better establish position. Jones is a good screener on the perimeter, but he needs to do a better job opening up to the ball and rolling to the basket after setting the screen. He is quick to get the ball out of the post if he doesn’t have a shot, but he needs to work on seeing the floor and finding open shooters off of rotations.  On defense, Jones could use his lower body better to force players off the blocks instead of leaning on them with his upper body. He also has to work on his awareness and being able to get into position quickly to help around the rim. While he can be a good shot blocker, he gets drawn off his feet easily on fakes, leading to bad fouls.  Jones’s length, athleticism, and skill have him on the NBA track, but he needs to continue to show consistent improvement.