NBA Comparison: Kevin Jones

Strengths: A 6’9 235 PF prospect with very good length (7’1 wingspan) and a frame that has added on weight nicely….A long-striding type of athlete, covers alot of ground when moving… Has an unorthodox play style, operated as a match up nightmare for frontcourt players in the SEC during his 2 years at LSU….Can face up and take bigger frontcourt players off the bounce with his slippery ability to create offense, but also effective bodying up smaller players…Makes good use of ball fakes and Eurosteps to set up or freeze defenders when slashing to the rim…Shows a nice in-between game, his floater currently is the most consistent tool he has in his scoring arsenal…Good ball-handler for his size…Has shown developing point-forward skills (2.9 apg as a Soph.), looking comfortable initiating transition offense after grabbing rebounds but also as a main cog in the teams set offenses, making solid reads when the defense collapsed onto him around the paint … Made strides with his ability moving without the ball, showed a high IQ taking advantage of openings in the defense at times … Doesn’t shy away from contact and also very good at using the defenses aggressiveness to its detriment (5.4 FTA per game as a Soph.)…Occasionally made defenders pay when they dared him to shoot, flashes of a good enough shooting touch to keep improving as a pick and pop threat…Solid rebounder (7.3 rpg for his career), willing to crash the offensive glass with some success … Willing to use his length to disrupt passing lanes at times (1.1 spg) … Showed this past season that he has the raw ability to contribute in a multitude of ways as a scorer and facilitator, giving him some intrigue …

Weaknesses: Not very quick or explosive, and it can impact him on both ends of the court … Watford’s lateral quickness is subpar for NBA standards, defends with a high center of gravity and had a hard time containing penetration against other PFs, let alone being switched to quicker players on the perimeter … Also showed inconsistent effort and overall awareness, gave up a fair share of easy baskets or open shots by losing track of “man & ball” when he wasn’t guarding at the point of attack…. Creative finisher at times, but mostly a below the rim player with just average ability to score in the low post or convert amongst the trees at the rim in half-court … 3-point shot is still a work in progress (31% 3FG), and doesn’t have the consistent mechanics or quick release to hold up well when forced to shoot off the dribble or against closeouts … Sometimes will turn down open jumpers to take lower percentage shots … Mediocre from the foul line (66% for his career), further illustrating a shot that needs improvement…. Usually needs the help of an open court or a dribble handoff to gain momentum needed to get to the paint, can over-dribble or run into walls if the defense is set properly … Developing into a versatile offensive player, but doesn’t have a particular skill to hang his hat on quite yet …

Overall: Watford enjoyed a strong, productive 2-year career playing for some fast-paced LSU teams that were fun to watch …. He has unique ability to create offense for himself and teammates, showing promising skills as a lengthy 6’9 PF who is nice in the mid-range area, plays the game at his own pace, and operates in a variety of ways as a scorer … He came into his Soph season knowing he needed to prove his shooting range to solidify his draft stock, and though it did marginally (up from 27% to 31%) it left something to be desired given that he attempted less shots from distance and still was inefficient with it … He also struggled defensively on an LSU team that largely had trouble stopping anyone on that end … But still he has some talent, a clever playing style and the type of physical tools that can be harnessed and given his very solid production as a young player on some deep teams, he is certainly worth a look as a developing frontcourt prospect who will just be turning 21 at the beginning of his rookie season …

Notes: Measured 6’7.5” Barefoot, 6’8.75” in shoes 8’9.0” standing reach, 237.4 lbs, and 7’2.25” wingspan at the 2021 NBA Draft Combine …

Jorrye Nixon 7/27/21

Strengths: 6’8.5 forward … Good length for position with a 7’1.5 wingspan … Scoring mentality and instincts. Creates offense for himself. Plays well in isolation, one on one situations, and in the half-court. Uses screens well as a ball handler. Attacks gaps and can get to the basket off the dribble. Protects the ball well on drives. Uses spins and eurosteps to avoid the defense. Solid floater. Averaged 13.4 points per game over the Nike EYBL in 2016, 14.1 points per game in 2017, and 17.2 points per game in 2018 … Has shooting range out to the three-point line … Uses size well and can post up smaller perimeter players. Uses a fadeaway from midrange … Aggressive driver and doesn’t shy away from contact. Draws a lot of fouls and plays well through contact with solid strength. Shot 6.1 free throws per game over the Nike EYBL in 2018 … Good rebounder for position. Averaged 5.9 rebounds per game (2.1 offensive) over the Nike EYBL in 2016 and eight rebounds per game (2.3 offensive) in 2018 … Blocks shots well for position. Averaged 1.1 blocks per game over the Nike EYBL in 2018 …

Weaknesses: Isn’t very explosive as an athlete, more of a below the rim finisher. Has heavy feet. Lacks quickness, especially laterally, limiting him defensively … Can improve shooting efficiency. Shot 40.4% FG% over the Nike EYBL in 2016 and 40.1% FG% in 2018 … Solid shooting form but can improve outside shooting. Only shot 23.5% 3PT% over the Nike EYBL in 2016, 33.3% 3PT% in 2017, and 21.8% 3PT% in 2018 … Can improve as a free throw shooter. Shot 57.6% FT% over the Nike EYBL in 2016, 62% FT% in 2017, and 64.3% FT% in 2018. Shot 40% FT% at the NBPA Top 100 in 2017 … Can improve as a ball handler and playmaker. Averaged 2.2 assists per game to 2.6 turnovers per game over the Nike EYBL in 2018 … Can move more off the ball; doesn’t score much off curls, cuts, or any off ball movement that leads to easy baskets. Doesn’t get involved with the offense much until the ball’s in his hands, tends to try to create everything himself. Doesn’t contribute a heavy amount in areas outside of scoring and the isolation opportunities will be fewer at the next levels, as well as improving efficiency and shooting range …

Outlook: Incoming LSU freshman … Scored ten points (4-6 FG), grabbed seven rebounds, and passed out four assists in the 2019 McDonald’s All-American Game … Scored 18 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and recorded two steals in the 2019 Jordan Brand Classic … Alabama Gatorade Player of the Year and Mr. Basketball in 2018 and 2019 …

Evan Tomes 8/12/19

Notes: Younger brother of former Indiana basketball player, Christian Watford