With the 2016 NBA draft just around the corner, here’s a look at Jaylen Brown’s scouting report.
Jaylen Brown came into the 2015-16 college basketball season as one of the top high school prospects ready to make an impact at the University of California.
While he had moments where he showed off upside as a dynamic forward at the next level, he struggled to shoot the ball well and convert both in and outside the arc.
Still, his billing as a hyper athletic talent who could potentially play the 3 or 4 has him locked in as a lottery pick in the 2016 NBA draft.
He already has an NBA body at close to 6’7″ and 223 pounds. His strong frame allows him to absorb contact inside and he’s an explosive finisher at the rim when given the chance.
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But his .431/.294/.654 slash line left something to be desired from scouts and front office personnel alike, especially since he only converted on 48.2 percent of his two-point attempts.
Even though he didn’t connect on his free throws at a high rate, he still got to the line 9.2 times per 40 minutes, which is a big reason why he still scored 14.6 points per game as a freshman.
| Season | G | MP | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | TRB | AST | TOV | PF | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 34 | 27.6 | 4.8 | 11.1 | .431 | 0.9 | 3.0 | .294 | 4.2 | 6.4 | .654 | 5.4 | 2.0 | 3.1 | 3.2 | 14.6 |
| Career | 34 | 27.6 | 4.8 | 11.1 | .431 | 0.9 | 3.0 | .294 | 4.2 | 6.4 | .654 | 5.4 | 2.0 | 3.1 | 3.2 | 14.6 |
Provided by Sports-Reference.com/CBB: View Original Table
Generated 6/20/2016.
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What scouts loved about him the most was his activity on the defensive glass and surprising ability to make plays for others when called upon.
HIs defensive rebounding percentage of 16.5 percent was impressive for a first-year player in college, and he even played point guard in a pinch for the Golden Bears.
Playmaking forwards are all the rage in today’s NBA game, and guys like Brown who have the potential to do multiple things on both ends of the floor are valued higher than ever.
Those two areas of his game in particular are why he still has such a high draft grade despite his shooting struggles. If he can show productivity creating offense off the dribble at the next level then his value as a prospect increases tremendously.
Defensively he has all the tools to serve as someone who can guard multiple positions and switch onto smaller or larger defenders off the pick-and-roll.
His overall physicality and lateral quickness are great signs of his promise as a lockdown defender, but his foul rate in college wasn’t ideal and speaks to the fact that he’ll be studying a lot of film to improve his footwork and timing.
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What scouts have wanted to see in workouts was his improvement on his jump shot, and the feedback has been mostly positive.
He’s shown enough ability to suggest he’ll eventually end up as a reliable option from three-point range, but showing a skill in workouts is much different from showing it in real 5-on-5 basketball.
Regardless his physical tools and positive attitude off the floor bode well for his future as a starter and potential All-Star in the NBA.
Right now his draft stock suggests he could fall anywhere from third to eighth, but Chad Ford recently reported the Boston Celtics have interest in him with the No. 3 overall pick should they keep it.
If Brown continues to work hard and he hits his stride at the next level, he has a very high ceiling as a star. If he doesn’t pan out then he still has the talent of a role player.
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Either way there’s a lot of pressure on Brown to succeed, and teams look willing to take a chance on him.