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
3 of 32
Next
Jan 13, 2016; Greenville, SC, USA;Duke Blue Devils guard Brandon Ingram (14) dribbles as Clemson Tigers forward Donte Grantham (15) defends in the first half at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dawson Powers-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 13, 2016; Greenville, SC, USA;Duke Blue Devils guard Brandon Ingram (14) dribbles as Clemson Tigers forward Donte Grantham (15) defends in the first half at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dawson Powers-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Brandon Ingram, Duke Blue Devils

Ultimate Upside Comparison: Kevin Durant

Safe Upside Comparison: Stephen Jackson

Position: Small Forward

Age: 18 (9/2/1997)

Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’9.5″, 196 pounds, 7’3″

Slash Line: .476/.407/.679

Season Averages: 32.9 MPG, 16.9 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 1.7 ORPG, 1.9 APG, 1.6 BPG, 1.2 SPG, 2.1 3PM

The Duke Blue Devils expected to be championship contenders again upon announcing the successful recruitment of Brandon Ingram. The score-first small forward has drawn comparisons to a number of NBA players, including Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Kevin Durant.

Standing at nearly 6’10” with a 7’3″ wingspan and a dynamic offensive game, it’s not too hard to see why Ingram’s ultimate upside comparison is the four-time scoring champion.

Ingram has shown flashes of living up to that seemingly unattainable upside, cracking 20 points in eight different games thus far. After struggling to finish against length early in the season, he’s calmed down and shown patience in attacking the basket.

There are clearly flaws that must be addressed, including his far-too-thin frame, but Ingram has legitimate star upside at the next level.

Clearly, an ultimate upside comparison of Durant is to be taken with a grain of salt. Durant is already a virtual lock to make the Hall of Fame, and there’s no way to guarantee that Ingram, who is nowhere near as polished as Durant was coming out of college, will reach that same level.

The reality is, Durant and Ingram are comparable in everything from their frame to their surface abilities. The question is, can Ingram live up to his immense potential?

Next: The Return of the Pure Point Guard

Home/NBA Draft