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Kennedy Meeks: An old-school big man on Brooklyn Nets’ radar?

By Christopher Lavinio

Apr 3, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Kennedy Meeks arrives before the championship game of the 2017 NCAA Men's Final Four against the Gonzaga Bulldogs at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 3, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Kennedy Meeks arrives before the championship game of the 2017 NCAA Men's Final Four against the Gonzaga Bulldogs at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /
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University of North Carolina’s Kennedy Meeks isn’t shy from owning his playing style. Will his low post bruiser mentality pave the way to success in the modern NBA, possibly with the Brooklyn Nets?

The Brooklyn Nets have not been shy in drafting “older” college basketball prospects. They recently drafted a pair of juniors in the 2016 NBA Draft, University of Michigan’s Caris LeVert and Seton Hall’s Isaiah Whitehead.

The second round of the NBA Draft normally looks at college prospects that may have been what some call a “late bloomer,” those who improved their level of play with a year or two under their belt in some of college basketball’s most competitive conferences.

In a modern era focused on stretch-4s and even stretch-5s (Brooklyn’s Brook Lopez made 134 three-point field goals during the 2016-17 campaign), one potential second round option or even undrafted free agent may be University of North Carolina’s Kennedy Meeks.

The 6′ 10″ 260-pound senior certainly has an old-school vibe to his playing style. Taking zero three-point field goals his entire tenure at North Carolina, Meeks certainly lived in the paint, being a bruiser down low.

Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

DraftExpress’ Jonathan Givony broke down Meeks’ game in his scouting report in preparation for this June’s 2017 NBA Draft, where he project Meeks to go undrafted:

"“Kennedy Meeks started off his career with a bang at UNC, averaging an outstanding 18 points and 14 rebounds per-40 minutes on 55% shooting as a freshman, making him somewhat of a sleeper-darling among NBA analytics types.“He didn’t make the type of progress NBA scouts were hoping for over the past three years, partially due to injuries, conditioning concerns, and his porous defense, as he simply didn’t always bring the type of approach to the game you might have hoped considering his average size, length and athleticism for a center prospect.”"

One key takeaway from Givony’s analysis:

"“He’s never going to be considered a top shelf prospect, but his combination of soft hands, instincts pursuing loose balls, touch around the basket, and sneaky dexterity and mobility will certainly give him plenty of looks from the pro ranks.”"

One potential option for the Brooklyn Nets? Most definitely.

With the introduction of new two-way D-League contracts and a Summer League roster sure to be filled with undrafted free agents, Meeks is certainly someone that can prove his old-school playing style in a modern NBA.

Meeks recently sat down with Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel to talk about one NBA inspiration, current Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside, who was also overlooked during this time in his career.

"“I think everybody has the same opportunity,” Meeks told Winderman. “It’s about who takes advantage of it and I plan to take advantage of it for sure, especially for me being a senior.”"

Next: 2017 NBA Draft - 5 teams that should trade picks

Don’t be surprised if the Nets target Meeks late in the second round. If anything, he’ll certainly be a prospect they call to begin filling out their Summer League roster.

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