Advertisement

2016 NBA Draft: Jamal Murray Tops Shooting Guards

Patrick Koerbler
Patrick Koerbler

The Sixer Sense

Jan 6, 2015; University Park, PA, USA; Michigan Wolverines guard Caris LeVert (23) dribbles the ball as Penn State Nittany Lions guard Shep Garner (33) guards during the second half at Bryce Jordan Center. Michigan defeated Penn State 73-64. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O

As we continue our look ahead to the 2016 NBA Draft, we take a look at the shooting guards. Like the point guards (which you can read here) it isn’t an incredibly strong group, but it’s led by two or three potential lottery picks in the early going.

Top Returning Players: Furkan Korkmaz (Turkey), Caris LeVert (Michigan), and Grayson Allen (Duke)

Turkish U-19 national team member, and Dario Saric’s teammate with Anadolu Efes, Furkan Korkmaz is the first international to make the list. For a kid who just turned 18 on July 24th, he’s a very well put together prospect.

He has good size for a shooting guard at 6-foot-6, although he doesn’t have great strength at this point. Fluid, natural athlete, with his greatest attribute being his shooting. Elite shooter but he’s much more than that, as a talented passer and smart player that plays within the offense.

More from The Sixer Sense

He struggles as a ball-handler and he’ll need to do some work defensively, but he’s reportedly a hard worker that should continue to improve. Even if he never becomes a great ball-handler, his shooting and passing makes him extremely valuable in today’s NBA game. Korkmaz is solidly in the lottery and could push himself into the top ten.

Caris LeVert started last season really hot before coming back down to earth. After fracturing his foot in the 17th game of the season, he decided to come back to Michigan for his senior season. Because he’s only turning 21 this August, that isn’t a terrible decision. He’s a well-rounded, versatile player. Checks a ton of boxes. He has the size, athleticism, shooting, and passing. LeVert probably fits better as the number two option offensively, potentially limiting his upside, but he’s still a very good player with lottery potential. Should be surrounded with more talent at Michigan this season too.

With Okafor and company off to the NBA, Grayson Allen should find himself in an increased role this season. He has a ton of tools that you look for — great athlete, very quick. He attacks the basket. Beautiful shooting stroke who should shoot much better next season. He’s a tough, scrappy defender. High basketball I.Q.

He’s undersized for a shooting guard, and isn’t a great ball handler which may prevent him from switching to point guard where his stock could really rise. Either way, he’s a kid with high upside. Definitely has first round talent, just a question of if he puts it all together.

Next: Best Of The Rest

Mar 27, 2015; Syracuse, NY, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard Buddy Hield (24) looks to get past Michigan State Spartans guard Lourawls Nairn Jr. (11) during the first half in the semifinals of the east regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at the Carrier Dome. Michigan State won 62-58. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

Best of the Rest: Buddy Hield (Oklahoma), Ron Baker (Wichita State), Daniel Hamilton (UConn), and Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk (Kansas)

Buddy Hield may have been able to sneak into the first round this year had he stayed in the draft. Good athlete with length. Has been a terrific scorer at Oklahoma, and has improved his jump shot by leaps and bounds in his years as a Sooner. He needs to learn to not settle for so many jumpers, and get into the paint more. Doesn’t really have a ton of upside left, but could be an immediate impact guy toward the end of the first round.

Not only is Ron Baker my favorite basketball player, but he’s also my favorite person too. As a basketball player, Baker is pretty similar to Allen — good shooter, high basketball I.Q., better defender than given credit for, etc. He’ not quite the athlete, but better length with his 6-foot-8 wingspan. Like Hield, he doesn’t really have much upside since he hasn’t been able to transition to point guard like many had hoped, but I’m not betting against Baker being successful at anything he does in life. Future Sixer.

ALSO ON SIXER SENSE: Does Jahlil Okafor Have The Charisma To Be A Star?

Coming into UConn as a highly regarded recruit, Daniel Hamilton — for the most part — lived up to his high billing. He’s got good size at 6-foot-8 for a guard, and he’s a good rebounder and a better passer than given credit for. He’s a big time scorer, but an inconsistent one. Because he’s not a great athlete he’ll need to sure up his streaky shooting, and learn not to force as many contested jumpers. If he can do that, and maybe start to play even an ounce of defense, he’s a mid-round talent.

I admittedly don’t know a ton of about Kansas sophomore Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, but he’s a consensus first round prospect with a bit of a different backstory. The Ukrainian guard spent his first season with Kansas as a 17 year old freshman, being one of the youngest NCAA players of all-time. He just turned 18 in June, and with another year under his belt in the college game, should see an increase in minutes this coming season.

Next: The Freshmen

Mar 28, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; McDonalds High School All American athlete Malik Newman (14) poses for pictures during portrait day at the Westin Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

The Freshmen: Jamal Murray (Kentucky), Malik Newman (Mississippi State), and Antonio Blakeney (LSU)

Jamal Murray has been known about for a while, but really exploded into the mainstream after dropping 30 points at the 2015 Hoop Summit game for the World squad. Murray followed up that performance by dominating the Pan-Am Games with Team Canada, leading his nation to a silver medal. He was originally a part of the 2016 class, but re-classified to 2015 and committed to Kentucky.

He’s a versatile guard that really does everything well. Great floor vision and has really improved his ball handling from 2014 to 2015. He’s a natural scorer, capable of scoring off threes, from the mid-range or finishing around the basket. While he doesn’t have elite athleticism or quickness, he’s crafty and apt at changing his speeds to gain an edge over the defender.

Murray’s longterm position has yet to be decided. Some think he’s a point guard, others think he’s a shooting guard. Really, he’s a combo guard — like Kyrie Irving or current future Sixer D’Angelo Russell — that can legitimately play both. It will really just depend on the system, and what players he’s surrounded with. No matter what position he ends up at, I’m a massive fan. He’s a mid-lottery type player with the chance to go even higher. He’s that good.

Malik Newman will head to Mississippi State this season as Ben Howland’s biggest coup on the recruiting trail, and Newman should find himself in a position to do exactly what he’s best at — score. He’s an elite scorer, being able to score from anywhere on the floor. He has deep range on his jump shot. Add in his ball handling, quick first step and finishing ability in the paint, and you can see why he’s already rated as a lottery prospect.

I have concerns with his athleticism and length. He’s not an Evan Turner-esque athlete, but he’s not an explosive athlete either. When you add that into his mediocre 6-foot-5 wingspan, I start to have major concerns about his transition to the next level. And while the possibility is there that he can make the switch to point guard, that possibility — in my opinion — seems highly unlikely.

I don’t like taking strong negative stances on guys before they enter college because we know so little right now outside of a couple games, but Newman’s a guy I find myself bearish on compared to the rest of the basketball blogging world. He’ll have a great opportunity at Mississippi State, but I have him outside the lottery, closer to being a late first round pick.

Antonio Blakeney heads to LSU as a part of a very strong recruiting class, and should find himself as an immediate contributor with the Tigers. He has a wiry frame that will need to add mass, but he’s a good athlete. Great when attacking. Able to get to the rim and finish exceptionally well when he gets there. Doesn’t have the purest jump shot yet, but it’s solid nonetheless.

While his attacking ability is a strength, it does come back to bite him. He plays selfish, and may end up needing some time to adjust to the college game. And like Malik Newman, he’s a tweener. He’s a better athlete than Newman and also has more length, but still on the smaller side of shooting guards. Should be in the mix for the first round, but could also see him return to LSU.

You can follow Patrick Koerbler on twitter: @GoodDudePat.

Next: Does Sam Hinkie Need To Use Free Agency More?

More from The Sixer Sense

Patrick Koerbler

Patrick Koerbler

Penn State grad. Eric Snow of basketball blogging. Pass up a good shot for great shot. Bye.