[JNixonParticipant]

 46: Jae Crowder, 6’6 235, PF/SF, Marquette, Sr.

After a season where he was possibly the Most Improved Player in the country, and was the Big East POY, we have Sr. Jae Crowder. Crowder spent 2 seasons at Marquette after being a JUCO transfer, and was an immediate contributor for 2 tourny teams. Has shown a well-rounded game and is an interesting prospect due to a lot of factors, but mainly his production and work ethic. Physically, Crowder is of below average height for a combo forward at 6’6, but he has a very strong 235 lb frame and what seems to be a decent wingspan and a nicely built lower body as well. Athletically, Crowder doesn’t stand out either. Doesn’t show great explosiveness, and isn’t the most smooth athlete either. Has adequate quickness and straight line speed for a PF, but iffy for a SF. Not particularly agile.

On offense, Crowder can do a bit of everything as a combo forward. He is able to post, face-up and hit jumpers, pass, and take bigger PF’s off the dribble. Plays with a motor, and is effective finding ways to slip through the defense and get high % looks offensively. Likes to use his ability to free himself without the ball to get him in positions to score easily. Doesn’t need to handle the ball much to be effective. Able to knock down jump shots with his feet set from 3-point range, but shows a limited mid-range game, which is a concern at his size. Also able to post up and likes to shoot turnaround jumpers where he turns his left shoulder. Can struggle to finish around the rim against taller bigs, and usually opts to face them up. Still, when he gets his shots up around the rim he understands how to use the glass, has a soft touch, and does a good job of shielding shot-blockers using the net, backboard or rim. Has enough straight line quickness to beat a bigger PF to the rim off the bounce. Pretty smart passer, and takes care of the ball. Had a 1.7 A/TO, which is outstanding for a frontline player. Is the rare player who competes hard but still plays a noticeably cerebral game. Effective offensive rebounder, and keeps plays alive with his activeness. Will have to play on the wing some, and he is less effective when doing so. Shows very limited handle, and doesn’t have the agility or athleticism to match up with most NBA wings trying to create for himself.  Really depends on other players to score. Runs the floor hard and is excellent in transition. OK at getting to the foul line, but not noteworthy when he’s there. Works hard and never really stops moving.

Defensively, Crowder gets by with his smarts and effort. He isn’t quick laterally and isn’t physically gifted but he defended so many positions in college anyway. Really just has good timing, and it allowed him to get quite a few steals last year. Not going to block shots. Really moves his feet and rotates. Will definitely put his body out there and draw charges. Has the low center of gravity and body strength to be really tough to back down in the post and is willing to fight for position down low. Will struggle with some of the taller matchups he has on the wing and at PF, and also some of the quicker guys, but he will put in the effort.

Crowder is the classic overachiever. He works his butt off, and gets everything he possibly can out of himself. His skill level is better than you’d think, better than most players who play as hard as he does, and it’s really crazy that he was as productive and as efficient as he was this past year with all the physical and athletic limitations he has. He’s short and not particularly agile or explosive, but he’s so smart he’s effective. He also isn’t gonna need the ball to have an impact as a role player. I don’t have a comparison for him, but he is a different kind of player who should get plenty of looks.

45: Khris Middleton, 6’8 215, SG/SF, Texas A&M, Jr.

After having a nice Fr. season and a very good Soph. year, and being a shortlist Big 12 POY candidate in the preseason for what was supposed to be a Big 12 title contending Texas A&M team, Khris Middleton is coming off a disappointing season for both the TAMU program and from his perspective as a prospect. Was injured to kick the year off with trouble in his knee, and it seemed to linger with him the entire season. Never got in a groove and saw his stats regress across the board, and his stock lower substantially. Physically, Middleton is solid. He’s got nice height for a wing at 6’8, and about a 6’11 wingspan. He’s not strong yet and he’s still growing into his body, which is thin right now, but he does have the frame to fill out and be around 225 in time. Athletically, Middleton is just alright. He’s definitely a good deal more smooth than explosive, and isn’t especially quick, fast, or noteworthy as a leaper. He is real fluid in his motions though and will get better athletically as he gets stronger and develops more physical maturity.

On offense, Middleton has an unorthodox game and can score at all 3 levels when he’s at his best. Likes to function most from mid-range, where he shows a very interesting and intriguing arsenal of runners, pull-ups and floaters. Able to pull these moves off because he has an exceptionally soft touch and he picks his spots extremely well. Excels getting shots in iso, because of his uncanny feel for the game and ability to make unique types of shots under pressure.Has the shot form and release quickness to get his shots off against heavy contests. Possesses a naturally sweet jump shot and has range out to 22 ft., and should be able to extend his range to the NBA 3 in time. Plays the game at his own pace and never lets the defense rush him. Won’t go outside of the offense to get shots, and is very unselfish, that should be beneficial to his projection to the pros. Does not need to dominate the ball to get his shots. Able to handle the ball, get shots off screening action, and spot up for shots. Effective in the triple threat. As a slasher, Middleton isn’t great though. He doesn’t have a quick 1^st step and rarely is able to get to the paint easily against against quicker defenders. Usually depends on his mid-range game to offset the fact he cant get to the basket in most cases. Mostly gets to the rim on off ball cuts. Really struggles with physical matchups, has been ineffective in those types of games and needs to add strength. Does not handle extra attention from the defense all that well. Only decent handles, and will sporadically make a nice move off the bounce, but lack consistency with it. Could stand to get more aggressive offensively. Is a solid passer, and will make unselfish looks to teammates. Not going to excel in an up-tempo style, very half-court oriented. Unlikely to play above the rim very often. Went through a season long slump with his shot, but it seems like he has the natural shot to excel with it in the future with more repetition and time. Not going to get to the line a whole lot.

Defensively, Middleton is middling (no pun intended). He is a little stiff laterally, and can struggle against strength and quickness on the ball. Not a big threat in the passing lanes. Not great getting through screens. Just OK as a rebounder. Does not really care for physical play. Is pretty good at funneling his matchups to the team D for helpside when his man gets a step on him.

Middleton is a late blooming prospect who just struggled with injuries last season. It just was an all-around bad year for the Texas A&M hoops program man. Middleton has an unorthodox game and it will get him looks, he’s got a lot of room to grow physically, athletically, and with his game. His style of play reminds me of Gordon Hayward in a lot of ways, and he can be a solid role player like Hayward with work. This is the same guy who before the injury was looked at as a possible lotto pick, so the upside and talent is definitely there.

[MagikKnickParticipant]

 Hey Jorrye, once again….nice write-ups

Search is acting up, and im having difficulty finding them in past pages

Do you mind hooking me up with a mini-archive? 

Specifically ones involving Kim English, Scott Machado, Maalik Wayns, Drew Gordon, and Tyshawn Taylor…if you’ve done any of those players already

 

 

[JNixonParticipant]

 Whats up man long time no see. Here ya go: 

http://nbadraft.net/forum/jnixons-countdown-2012-draft-60-prospects-30-days-4847 (Maalik Wayns) 

http://nbadraft.net/forum/vol-3-jnixons-countdown-draft-60-prospects-30-days-6059 (Kim English)

I havent got to the rest of them yet tho

[WizardofOzParticipant]

 I think Jae Crowder is a big-time sleeper in this draft. Big East player of the year, strong, physically ready. Can defender all over the floor including on the interior vs some small ball 4’s. Very intelligent player, great passer, who can shoot out to NBA 3. Great hands. Will fight hard for boards. Has a tremendous motor.

Assumoing he goes in the 2nd round, I think a team could get a steal in him, although his stock could rise in workouts.

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

I’m hoping Denver drafts Crowder ..It’ll be interesting to see the Types of Nicknames people will come with for him,Faried,Balkman and if they sign Jordan Hill…

[Author]

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