NBA Comparison: Blake Stepp

Strengths: Real tough competitor, Jon is your typical productive, ultra-efficient Duke guard … High basketball IQ, can play the 1 or the 2 in college, but will need to work at playing the 1 to prepare for the next level … Has a great outside stroke with the ability to spot up from 3, as well as pull up from 3 … Strong mid-range game, very comfortable shooting off the dribble… uses picks well on and off the ball … Solid footwork when driving in the paint, and maintains good body control when going up in traffic around the basket, giving himself the best opportunity to convert while being able to finish with both hands around the rim … Above average ball handling skills with great vision for a shooter/scorer, his smarts and sharp passing skills create easy opportunities for his teammates … Averages less than 2 turnovers a game for a guy who always has the ball and plays over 35 minutes … Seems to embrace clutch situations at the end of games … Defensively, he’s better off the ball than on, with a high awareness and ability to read passing lanes …

Weaknesses: He’s simply not strong enough … at 6’5, 180lbs, he would get pushed around guarding NBA 2guards, and he’s not quick enough to guard NBA point guards … Lacks athleticism, explosiveness and does not have that quick first step that NBA point guards need … His lack of upper body strength and poor leaping ability will really hurt when trying to finish in traffic in the pros … His below average first step will prevent him from getting the open looks he sees in college, as well as potentially hurt his ability to get over screens defensively when you combine it with his lack of strength … You wouldn’t call him a pure 3 point specialist, he’s not a pure point guard, and he’s just not built enough to be a pure 2-guard, so it’s obvious that he lacks a true position at the next level …

Overall: Jon is a great college player, and his high IQ, sweet stroke, tough demeanor, ability to make others better, and his 4 year experience playing for Coach K are all things that he has going for him … Unfortunately, he’s just not athletic, quick or strong enough to contribute in the pro’s the same way he can in college …

Jonahan Wasserman 3/10/10