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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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Dec 29, 2015; Madison, WI, USA; Purdue Boilermakers center A.J. Hammons (20) works the ball past Wisconsin Badgers forward Vitto Brown (30) at the Kohl Center. Purdue defeated Wisconsin 61-55. Mandatory Credit: Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 29, 2015; Madison, WI, USA; Purdue Boilermakers center A.J. Hammons (20) works the ball past Wisconsin Badgers forward Vitto Brown (30) at the Kohl Center. Purdue defeated Wisconsin 61-55. Mandatory Credit: Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports /

A.J. Hammons, Purdue Boilermakers

Position: Center
Age: 23
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 7’0″, 261 pounds, 7’3″
Slash Line: .621/1.000/.757
Season Averages: 22.1 MPG, 13.9 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 2.3 ORPG, 2.7 BPG
Key Improvement: Weight and Conditioning

A.J. Hammons is college basketball’s version of Miami Heat star Hassan Whiteside. It may have taken him longer than the average to realize how good he can be, but now that he has, there aren’t many better.

If Hammons weren’t 23 years old, he’d be a lottery pick.

Hammons’ age will impact his draft stock, but he’s as imposing a force as any prospect at his position. He’s a powerful physical presence who blocks shots and rebounds at an elite level, and, as of 2015-16, scores with reasonable versatility.

Assuming he continues to expand his offensive game and improve his conditioning, he can be of great value to a team in need of a true interior anchor.

Hammons averaged 19.6 points, 10.9 rebounds and 4.6 blocks per 40 minutes on a slash line of .553/.000/.669 in 2014-15. In 2015-16, he checks in at 25.2 points, 14.5 rebounds and 4.9 blocks per 40 minutes on a slash line of .621/1.000/.757 with three 3-point field goals made to the zero he converted in his first three seasons combined.

He’s unlikely to go in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft, but Hammons—who lost 20 pounds at John Lucas‘ camp in Houston over the summer of 2015—is one of my Top 30 prospects.

Next: Wooden Award Favorite?