5. SF Jayson Tatum, Duke
Tatum, a Duke commit, brings a wing that starkly contrasts the previously mentioned Jackson in a number of ways. Rather than being a high-flying athlete who dominates his opposition on a physical basis, Tatum is a fluid scorer who utilizes his offensive instincts and incredible scoring prowess with the ball in his hands to find methods of production.
Any Duke player is going to have the chance to see massive improvement under Coach K and their developmental staff, but Tatum brings an even greater level of intrigue than normal. While a lot of Tatum’s play during his high school career has been centered around getting the ball and operating in isolation, he has a chance to further expand upon his game when surrounded by more talent at Duke.
His calling card will be his scoring ability. He’s a solid shooter from deep, and has a knack for finding space on the floor and knocking down shots from a variety of angles on a consistent basis. He’s a highly coordinated player with the ball, and is quasi-unstoppable at times when locating his spots from midrange and drilling pull-up jumpers. Tatum also works very well at multiple speeds, and has the undervalued athleticism needed to play above the rim in just about any situation when it’s necessary.
Tatum, like Jackson, can play with the ball in his hands quite a bit as well. He has shown promise as a passer from time to time, but unlike his previously mentioned small forward counterpart is often looking for his own scoring opportunities.
Defensively, Tatum has all the tools requisite of somebody who could produce at a high level on both ends. Standing at 6-8 with a 6-10 wingspan, he has ideal size for the three spot at the next level, and the lateral quickness needed to stay with any athlete at the position. A stronger core would provide a major boost, but that’s a problem that is almost universal among upcoming rookies at times.
Next: 4. Giles