NBA Compsrison: Kenrich Williams/Anthony Lamb

Strengths: Wilson is a 6’7 225 forward with good strength to adequately match up on the wing and as a smallball PF at the pro level from a physical standpoint … Displayed good versatility in college and liked to operate as a matchup ploy; with experience playing different roles all along the frontcourt during his career, from SF to even sneaking in stretches of minutes as a smallball C at times … Plays physical and likes to use his size to shield defenders from the ball and get to his spots, and had major success doing so this past season (career best 20.1 PPG) … Navigates screens off the ball well and likes to use the running starts to build up momentum to get downhill after the catch … Teams knew he mostly wanted to go right when he had the ball last season and he still got to his spots more often than not … Adequate 1-2 dribble pull-up jump shooter from mid-range … Made enough deep shots when he was dared to shoot to keep the defense honest last season (7 made 3FG) … Show good timing and awareness as a cutter … Draws fouls and exponentially improved his FT% each year (80 FT% on 5.5 FTA/G) … Put up big scoring numbers as a rJr., but his rebounding instincts may be his best attribute as a player (8.3 RPG in ‘22-23, career 7.7 RPG) … High motor and competitive on the glass; boxes out well and consistently fights for boards, even when competing in traffic against bigger players … Unselfish and a team player; played whatever role he was asked to and got the most out of himself during his career …

Weaknesses: His size was often an asset on the wing and against PFs at the college level, but it does not stand out for a combo forward by NBA standards, especially given his average length (6’8 wingspan) and a standing reach fit for a combo guard (8’3.5″) … It also doesn’t help that Wilson shows a lack of athleticism, particularly in terms of leaping and explosiveness … A below the rim player who isn’t going to blow by defenders much at the next level and struggled to convert amongst the trees (48 FG% inside the arc) … Jumper is inconsistent the further out he shoots (33.7 3FG% on over 5 3FGA/G; career 31.6 3FG%); got a fair amount of open shots around the perimeter and still went through a few slumps throughout the season … Was a volume scorer by necessity last season but isn’t a natural at creating for himself; doesn’t possess the kind of ball-handling to make something out of nothing at a high level and his production was often scheme manufactured … Very right-hand dependent, which is a tendency that will be picked up on easier at the pro level…Mostly passes as a last resort; will get tunnel vision and force shots at times when he should kicked out (2.2:2:3 A:TO) … Was not an impact player on the defensive end; doesn’t force many turnovers (0.4 BPG, 0.9 SPG), possesses middling lateral quickness and awareness and will have some questions about what position he’ll defend at the NBA level … Might struggle to defend wings in space and he doesn’t have the size to really defend on the frontline … Should look to tone down his body some and focus on adding more speed …

Overall: Jalen Wilson was a 4-star recruit in the HS Class of 2019 from the Dallas area who had a productive and decorated career at Kansas over the past 3 years…His Fr. season ended in 2 games due to an ankle injury which led to him having to medically redshirt … He came back in 2020-2021 and immediately was a productive role player (11 PPG & 7 RPG) … It was more of the same for Wilson as a Soph., putting up identical stats while playing a key role as a 3rd option scorer for a Jayhawks team that won the 2022 national title … Kansas lost 2 1st round picks after the title and Wilson was called upon to step up to replace the production they lost, and Wilson delivered a monster season becoming just the 3rd player to average 20 PPG for Bill Self in his 20 years as the Kansas coach to go with over 8 boards, being a Wooden Award finalist … His physicality as a straight-line slasher, mismatch offensive ability, experience and rebounding instincts are a plus … He will need to prove he can be productive without being a focal point, and also answer questions about what position he’ll defend, his ability to be consistent as a shooter and how he’ll operate with the ball when he can simply overpower his matchups like he was often able to at the college level … Wilson’s draft range is late 1st to sometime around the mid 2nd round of the 2023 Draft, where some team could scoop him to be a rotational piece with his experience and championship pedigree …

Notes: Measured 6’5.75” barefoot, 6’7.0” in shoes 8’3.5″ standing reach, 225.2 lbs, and 6’8.0” wingspan at the 2021 NBA Draft Combine … Measured: 6’5.75” barefoot, 6’7.25” in shoes, 8’6.0” standing reach, 224.6 lbs, 6’8.25” wingspan at the 2022 NBA G-League Elite Camp …

Jorrye Nixon 6/7/23