[JNixonParticipant]

 42: Kris Joseph, 6’7 215, SF/SG, Syracuse, Sr.

After seemingly being at Syracuse forever, Kris Joseph is now a prospect with a legit chance of being picked after being key members of a Sweet 16 and an Elite 8 squad at Syracuse. Developed nicely in college, and was a 1^st Team All-Big East performer as a Sr. as well as an Honorable Mention AP All-American. Apart of the most won games in Syracuse history. Physically, Joseph is very good for a swingman. He stands 6’7 with a long frame, and a 6’10 wingspan and a frame he has filled out nicely going from around 205 to about 215 or 220. Still could stand to get a little stronger, but he probably will play at around 220. Athletically, Joseph is good but not outstanding. He has solid speed, quickness, agility, and leaping skills, but he’s not ultra explosive.

On offense, Joseph is fairly well-rounded but doesn’t have a standout trait. Off the dribble, he is pretty good. He shows good handles on the wing, and is fluid with the ball in his hands. Is effective changing directions off the bounce, and shows some nice crossovers. Has a decent 1^st step. Likes to pull-up off the dribble, but used to like taking the ball to the rim more than shooting earlier in his career. More of a smooth operator off the bounce than a guy who will jet to the paint and finish great amongst the trees. Should be a better finisher than he has been, with his athleticism, size, and added strength. Mostly depends on cut to score around the rim. As a shooter, Joseph improved very solidly in his last 2 season at Syracuse. He used to have no 3 point range, and while he still isn’t a great shooter he showed improved confidence and range. Is now somewhat of a threat shooting 3’s with his feet set. Shows more of a tendency to shoot pull-ups and in transition as a Jr. and Sr., and isn’t bad in this situations but will need to improve his consistency with it. Sometimes struggles to beat his man to get clean looks and other times rushes and doesn’t get his feet underneath him. His touch isn’t great. Is an underrated passer, and might have some point forward skills with more polish, at least I think it could be an option despite his fairly pedestrian assist numbers. Really nice in transition, where his athleticism is best shown. Has the explosiveness to play above the rim. Got to the FT line at a solid rate, but is a very ordinary shooter when there. Will chip in on the offense glass. Sometimes prone to disappearing from the game for stretches.

On D, Joseph played in the Cuse zone so it is tough to say how he projects, even though he has the physical tools to be a very nice defender. Was a decent shot-blocker on the wing and will flash the anticipation and quick hands to get steals at times. Alright rebounder.

Joseph has a lot of tools to be a good player, but he needs to get a niche. He can handle, is a decent passer, chips in on the glass, and he’s an improving shooter. But he doesn’t stand out anywhere. He might be a good defender, but the 2-3 zone Cuse ran made that hard to determine. In terms of talent his a draft choice, but there is still a lot to learn about him in a short period of time.

41: Scott Machado, 6’1 185, PG, Iona, Sr.

A prospect who got most of his recognition during a Sr. season where he led the nation in assists for a Iona squad with high level scorers throughout their roster. He got Iona to the NCAA tourney play-in game, where they lost a 20+ point lead to BYU to lose the game, but he had a great Sr. season. Was an Honorable Mention All-American as a Sr., 2 time 1^st Team All-MAAC, and the MAAC Player of the Year as a Sr. All-time leader in the MAAC in assists. Physically, Machado is average. He is 6’1 with a pretty strong 185 lb build and average length. Athletically, Machado isn’t great either. He’s got decent quickness and speed, and is fluid in his movements despite lacking more than mediocre explosiveness and leaping skills.

On offense, Machado is a pure PG who can also score pretty well too. He is a really good passer, and is adept at finding shooters through basic ball swings or in the drive and dish, and he also is an excellent passer in transition or to guys cutting to the rim. Has a knack for finding the open man and shows great floor vision. Always keeps his head up and is very good at fitting passes in tight spaces, especially when on the move. Got the ball in the hands of Iona’s talented offensive players with little trouble, and they were easily one of the best scoring teams in college basketball last year. Feeds the ball to post men well. Good in the pick and roll game. Really orchestrated offensive spacing better than most other college guards could. As a slasher, Machado is pretty good. He uses his solid quickness and good handles to move inside the arc and is adept at kick outs finding the open man on collapses. Heavily favors his left hand, but is right-handed, and has struggled at critical times when teams cut off his left and make him go right. Not a great finisher around the rim most times, and doesn’t figure to finish consistently at the NBA level either against the bigger more athletic bigs. Looks to pass on the move more than finish on his own. Only looks to finish late in the shot clock or if the defense plays the pass too aggressively. Not a bad shooter by any stretch. Flashes NBA range and can make shots with his feet set or off the bounce. Likes to shoot more off the dribble than with his feet set, and sometimes shows no fear of pulling up when the D doesn’t respect his shot. Shows good shot selection and rarely looks for his own shot unless the D leaves him open. Looks good in transition and hardly ever makes the wrong decision on runouts. Wont make many mistakes at the foul line when he gets there. Pretty efficient player who can play many tempos.

Defensively Machado isn’t that good. Can be beat off the bounce by slower guards and isn’t great moving laterally. Has decent ability to get steals, but nothing great. Doesn’t play with great urgency on this end. Will contribute some on the glass. Smaller, quicker guards can get into the paint on him more than you’d like. Should look to improve his effort though.

Overall, Machado is a very good passer and NBA teams will like that and he shows good decision making ability in terms knowing when to score, pass, and what tempos to play. He is average physically and athletically, and he played against low level competition though. He also has a weak right hand that some teams exposed and it limited him. Still, teams will give him a look as he was simply extremely productive in his last 2 seasons at Iona and had a few monster games against the bigger schools they played against as a Sr.

[WizardofOzParticipant]

Haven’t really watched Joseph much, but I’ve heard from some people that the reason why he isn’t as much of a sought out prospect as he used to be is that he started avoiding contact later in his college career after he got injured. Like he would never ake it all the way to the rim after that.

[JNixonParticipant]

Thats pretty true. He was hurt most of his Jr. year and wasnt nearly as effective a slasher as he used to be. If he declared as a Soph., he probably wouldve went in the 1st round, but he really changed his game alot in his last 2 year.

[cuseflynn10Participant]

Kris Joseph has a late first round skill set, but plays with a pair of knees equivalent to a 70 year old. In his first two seasons he was used more as a slasher, but once his knees got bad he adjusted his game to be more of a shooter. He’s got the ability to finish at the rim with the best of them, and has improved his FG, FT, and 3P%’s at a good rate throughout his career. His main weakness is his inability to dribble. As most Cuse fans would point out, any time he dribbled more than 2 or 3 times, he would likely turn it over. He needs to either catch and shoot or catch and pass. If he wants to stick in the NBA he’ll need to gets some handles.

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