A.J. Hammons, Senior, Purdue, Center, 7’0, 250
(2014-15, 24.3 mpg) 11.9 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 2.8 bpg
54.0 FG%, 66.9 FT%, 56.9 TS%, 54.0 eFG%
26.9 USG%, 12.2 OREB%, 19.7 DREB%, 16.1 TRB%, 12.3 BLK%
DOB: 8/27/1992 (23) Hometown: Gary, Indiana
2015 Second Team All-Big Ten
2015 Big Ten All-Defensive Team
The Watch List is not meant to replace full scouting reports and is only meant as a guide for who and what to watch for this upcoming season
More from Hoops Habit
- The 5 most dominant NBA players who never won a championship
- 7 Players the Miami Heat might replace Herro with by the trade deadline
- Meet Cooper Flagg: The best American prospect since LeBron James
- Are the Miami Heat laying the groundwork for their next super team?
- Sophomore Jump: 5 second-year NBA players bound to breakout
Hammons seemed to take a few steps forward last season, but as has been the case since he arrived at Purdue, he remains one of toughest players to figure out in college basketball. He has an NBA body and size, and he has developed into one of the best two-way post players in the country. Hammons shows good footwork in the post, uses his body well to get position, and has nice touch around the basket. He has the ability to step out and knock down mid-range jumpers with some consistency, and with some space, he can even make a nice dribble move to the basket. Hammons can be a good screener on the perimeter, and when he does look to open up, he has the agility and hands to be a good option as a “roll” man in the 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, and put in more of a consistent effort. 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, even showing the ability to block shots well with both hands. Hammons can get up and down the floor well for his size, and though not used often as an option in transition, the skill set is there for him to be an option as a trailer or on the secondary break.
What he needs to show this season: As it was last year, the biggest questions with Hammons continue to be consistency and effort. Bringing in a second big man in Isaac Haas could have backfired, but, at times, it seemed to motivate Hammons. However, as Purdue fans have gotten used to, there are also plenty of times where Hammons seems to just be going through the motions on the floor. 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. Also, Hammons has shown to be a decent shooter, but he seems to have some difficulties at the free throw line, where he seems to struggle finding a consistent routine and motion. Defensively, it’s more about putting the effort in and being consistent. He could be slow to get out on high screens, leaving the ballhandler plenty of room to make decisions, but he also showed a better ability to hedge out than he had in his first two seasons. Foul trouble also continues to be a concern with Hammons, as he needs to watch getting drawn in the air by fakes, and picking up needles fouls.
Where he fits at the next level: Hammons has the body and the skill set to be a rotation big at the NBA level, but it’s getting him to the right place mentally that seems to still be holding him back. When he plays motivated, there haven’t been many big men, especially in the Big Ten, who have been able to stop him around the basket, and as his range has continued to grow, he’s become that much more difficult to cover. Defensively, he has the physical and shot-blocking ability, but again, the mental mistakes can come back to bite him. Things seemed to work out well with Haas added to the mix last season, but with incoming freshman forward Caleb Swanigan also a low-post player, it will be interesting to see how Hammons handles it this season.
Follow me on Twitter – @NBADraftBlog
Email me: ed (at) nbadraftblog.com