College players to keep an eye on for the Portland Trail Blazers

Jordan Nwora, Louisville

Position: SF
Height: 6’8″
Weight: 225

Jordan Nwora is in his third season and that is kind of a rarity for college players in today’s day in age. He did not have a fantastic freshman season, but took a massive leap in his sophomore year, so it was kind of a surprise that he didn’t declare for the draft.

Nwora is an offensive-minded wing who can score at all three levels and can make things happen with the ball in his hands. He can score with a pull-up shot, step-back jumper or getting by his defender and attacking the rim. Scouts look for guys who are comfortable with the ball in their hands and Nwora is.

Last season, he averaged 17.0 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 0.9 steals per game while shooting 44.6 percent from the field and 37.4 percent from the 3-point line. In his first game as a junior this season, he put up 23 points and 12 rebounds.

For the Portland Trail Blazers, Nwora would give them some much-needed size and playmaking on the wing, especially if it looks like they will lose Rodney Hood — who has a player option for next season —  or Kent Bazemore in free agency. He also gives this team another shooter to surround Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic.

Nwora is an older player, so he should be able to come into this locker room, mature and ready to contribute, even if it is only as a shooter early on.