Hoops Habit
Fansided

NBA Mock Draft 2016: Pro Comparisons for Top 30 Prospects

By Maxwell Ogden

Jan 16, 2016; Durham, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Brandon Ingram (14) and guard Grayson Allen (3) celebrate a basket in their game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Dolejs-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 16, 2016; Durham, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Brandon Ingram (14) and guard Grayson Allen (3) celebrate a basket in their game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Dolejs-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
26 of 32
Next
Jan 13, 2016; West Lafayette, IN, USA; Purdue Boilermakers center A.J. Hammons (20) looks to shoot in the first half at Mackey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sandra Dukes-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 13, 2016; West Lafayette, IN, USA; Purdue Boilermakers center A.J. Hammons (20) looks to shoot in the first half at Mackey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sandra Dukes-USA TODAY Sports /

25. A.J. Hammons, Purdue Boilermakers

Ultimate Upside Comparison: Hassan Whiteside

Safe Upside Comparison: Roy Hibbert

Position: Center

Age: 23 (8/27/1992)

Height, Weight, Wingspan: 7’0″, 261 pounds, 7’3″

Slash Line: .592/.500/.734

Season Averages: 24.0 MPG, 14.7 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 2.6 ORPG, 1.0 APG, 2.7 BPG, 0.2 3PM

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it in every article leading up to the 2016 NBA Draft: A.J. Hammons can be the next Hassan Whiteside. After failing to realize his own potential during his first three seasons with the Purdue Boilermakers, Hammons is beginning to discover how brilliant he can be.

If not for the fact that he’s a 23-year-old senior who will turn 24 before his rookie season, Hammons would be significantly higher on draft boards.

Hammons’ upside comparison is Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside, and it’s for all of the obvious reasons. Much like Whiteside, Hammons has the size, length, and strength to dominate any game against any opponent.

Until 2015-16, however, he’d never managed to put that extreme size advantage to consistent use.

During his senior season, Hammons has improved his conditioning and become more aggressive. He’s pounding it inside against smaller opponents to expose mismatches and dominate the paint as a scorer, rebounder, and shot-blocking rim protector.

Hammons has his flaws, but he has a solid post game and is an elite rim protector and rebounder. He can be as good as he wants to be in the NBA.

Next: The 3-and-D Force

Home/NBA Draft