Miami Heat: Derrick Jones Jr. is proof that Josh Jackson could max out here

The Draft Profiles

Looking at Jones jr’s pre-draft profile, according to NBAdraft.net, it looks very similar to Jackson’s. Jackson was the more highly touted prospect, so the language and word choice are a bit more fluffy and/or glowing as well as the depth of the dive into the prospect, but they essentially say the same thing. Let’s take a look at Jones Jr.’s.

"At only 19 years of age, tremendously gifted athlete that possesses many a lot upside for the next level … Good size and very good wingspan for the 3 position. One of the best athletes in college basketball this past season … Very explosive and quick off his feet which allows him to get a lot of putbacks … Very good in transition due to speed and “freakish” athletic ability … Led the Mountain West in field goal percentage shooting 73.5% in halfcourt situations and top 5 overall in the nation in FG percentage … Did a good job coming off curls and screens to create higher percentage shots … Very crafty and solid finisher around the rim given his wiry frame … Good offensive rebounder and slasher to the basket … With his athletic ability, size, and length, has the potential foundation to be a solid perimeter defender … Good one-on-one perimeter defender … Can easily contest shots, disrupt passing lanes, and defend multiple positions from the 1, 2 and 3."

With this same analytical eye, let’s take a look a Josh Jackson’s. Notice the striking similarities in the summaries.

"One of the main things that jumps out at you is JJ’s versatility on both sides of the ball … From an offensive standpoint, he possesses a very high Basketball IQ that allows him to be aware of where his teammates are on the court … While he doesn’t play the role of a primary ball handler for Kansas, he’s averaging a very impressive 3.1 assists per game … He gets many of these due his natural knack of knowing where everyone is on the court, and having the touch and creativity to get the ball where it needs to go … His motor also jumps off the page, he’s an elite offensive rebounder for a 6’8’’ wing and is extremely assertive when he’s on the hunt for a loose ball, or rebound … Jackson also has a very solid first step, and the ball handling ability to get past defenders at a level that looks to translate to the NBA … He also plays within himself with the ball in his hands … He’s shown takeover ability this season for the Jayhawks, but for a freshman averaging 15.3 ppg, he’s very controlled, and doesn’t have the tendency to get sloppy for the sake of getting a shot … He’s an extremely disruptive and explosive defender too, with a solid 6’9.75’’ wingspan, which will aid him in his NBA translation … He’s not the type of defender that merely hinders his opponents ability to score, he’s deadly in the passing lanes, and is aggressive trying to steal the ball and deflecting passes … This results in a lot of fast breaks, and easy transition buckets … His shot blocking ability is also very impressive for a wing … Jackson blocks 1.5 shots per game (to go with 1.5 steals) and has the ability to get them in one on one situations, or coming over from the weak side … Jackson has also played 3 positions for Kansas this year ranging from the 2, to a small ball 4 … He looks to only be able to play shooting guard and small forward in the NBA, but he can do so effectively on both sides of the ball … Athletically he’s explosive, quick, and has good lateral, as well as open court speed … His assertiveness, and aggressive tendencies pair with his athletic gifts making him a regular on highlight reels, and this is a valuable quality in regards to team momentum … Has a blue collar work ethic and willingness to do the dirty work, does not exhibit the prima donna attitude often associated with elite level prospects … An extremely competitive and passionate kid who brings a high level of intensity and desire to improve …"

That is the first piece of evidence in this case, the draft profiles themselves. Now, let’s dive a bit into the analysis.