James Blackmon Jr.
Page updated as of 4/8/2020, scouting report written by Alan Lu.
2017 rankings were finalized on 6/22/2017.
Height: 6-3
Weight: 190
College: Indiana
Classification: Junior
Birthdate: 4/25/1995
2017 Top 100 Prospect Rank: 79
Projected Draft Range: 2nd Round to Undrafted
Pros:
Very good shooter, especially from deep
Crafty scorer off the dribble
Is a threat to score off of screens
Very good free throw shooter
Very good ball handlerGood rebounder for a player his size
Adequate defensive player
Smart player that has a good feel for the game
Cons:
Lacks an elite first step off the dribble
Needs to improve his passing ability
Can be turnover prone
Struggles to defend quicker players
Does not collect many steals
Not overly explosive
Not a true point guard, but is undersized to play the two
Has had multiple knee injuries
Summary:
James Blackmon Jr. is a smart, skilled combo guard that can really shoot and score the basketball. He does a very good job of changing speeds to get any shot that he wants, as he is a microwave type of scorer that can provide instantaneous points to help his team.
But, he will need to improve his court vision and pass more to show that he can play the point, and his lack of elite athletic tools may make it tough for him to guard upper echelon players. Plus, he has had multiple knee injuries in the past, as that could affect his chances to have a long career.
Right now, he looks to be a second round prospect, and if things break his way, he could potentially end up being a similar player to current Washington Wizards’ guard, Marcus Thornton in the NBA.
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