Position: Shooting Guard
Class: Senior
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 200 pounds
NBA Comparison: Roger Mason Jr., Miami Heat
If only one player from the MAAC is going to make it as an NBA player, then it’s likely to be shooting guard Sean Armand of the Iona Gaels. The least that Armand brings to the table is consistency as an elite jump shooter and that should help him carve out a role on the back end of a rotation.
He’s one of the best pure shooters in the nation, has good size for his position and possesses the raw ability to be a consistent spot-up option at the next level. That’s what you call a safe NBA prospect.
During the 2012-13 college basketball season, Armand posted averages of 16.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.2 steals on 40.9 percent shooting from beyond the arc. He converted a conference-high 112 3-point field goals and now has 257 3-pointers made during his four-year career.
In 2013-14, he’s currently averaging 17.0 points with eight made attempts from distance in three games played.
In terms of his NBA comparison, Armand is similar to current Miami Heat reserve Roger Mason Jr. For those unfamiliar, the 33-year-old is a career 38.5 percent shooter from 3-point range and converted 41.5 percent of his attempts during the 2012-13 season.
Armand could have higher upside, but Mason Jr. is the most fitting comparison.
Draft Stock: Undrafted
As it presently stands, Armand hasn’t made many headlines in a 2014 draft class that’s as deep as any in recent memory. From the superstar-studded top five to the stunning upside that can be found in many of the top 60 prospects, there isn’t much room for mid-major prospects.
Fortunately, Armand is a sharpshooter and that skill doesn’t always require a draft selection.
Assuming he stays the course with his current level of play, Armand will work his way into the second round conversation during workouts at Portsmouth and the scouting combine. He’s all but certain to make a Summer League roster, and once he’s there, Armand shouldn’t have much of an issue working his way into a coach’s favor if he simply plays within himself.
From there, Armand could either spend a year in the D-League or work his way onto the end of a bench.
The value of the 3-point shot is at an all-time high in the NBA, and that’s creating more-and-more jobs for players who specialize in marksmanship. Armand’s combination of size and precision makes him an ideal fit in this generation, and that’s why you need to keep an eye on him.
If not in the NBA, Armand will make noise come February and March.