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NBA Draft: Buddy Hield, Brice Johnson And The Most Improved

By Maxwell Ogden

Jan 2, 2016; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard Buddy Hield (24) reacts after a play against the Iowa State Cyclones during the second half at Lloyd Noble Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 2, 2016; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard Buddy Hield (24) reacts after a play against the Iowa State Cyclones during the second half at Lloyd Noble Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 13, 2015; Lawrence, KS, USA; Northern Colorado Bears guard Jordan Wilson (25) defends against Kansas Jayhawks guard Wayne Selden Jr. (1) in the second half at Allen Fieldhouse. Kansas won the game 109-72. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 13, 2015; Lawrence, KS, USA; Northern Colorado Bears guard Jordan Wilson (25) defends against Kansas Jayhawks guard Wayne Selden Jr. (1) in the second half at Allen Fieldhouse. Kansas won the game 109-72. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports /

Wayne Selden Jr., Kansas Jayhawks

Position: Shooting Guard
Age: 21
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’5″, 230 pounds, 6’10”
Slash Line: .555/.554/.649
Season Averages: 27.9 MPG, 15.5 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 3.2 APG, 1.0 SPG, 2.8 3PM
Key Improvement: 3-Point Shooting

Wayne Selden Jr. was the third of three heralded freshmen to join the Kansas Jayhawks for the 2013-14 season—and yes, I meant to phrase it that way. Ahead of him in the pecking order were Andrew Wiggins and Joel Embiid, which effectively eliminated Selden’s chances of being an immediate star.

After a rough sophomore season, Selden is on the right path towards joining his former teammates as Bill Self products drafted in the first round.

Selden, who shot 36.5 percent from 3-point range as a sophomore, is converting an absurd 55.4 percent of his attempts as a junior. For those fearing a small sample size, don’t; Selden’s putting up 5.0 shots from distance per game.

It’s hard to imagine him maintaining this pace throughout 2015-16, but Selden is showing scouts what they’d already known: when he gets hot, he can shoot with anyone.

Selden is streaky—his free throw shooting illustrates that—but he’s built like a mack truck at shooting guard. With his powerful frame and, currently, elite 3-point marksmanship, he has a chance to be a first-round draft choice.

The question is, can he maintain his draft stock once his efficiency inevitably takes a slight hit?

Next: Oozing Versatility