Philadelphia 76ers: Top 10 Prospects to Watch, 3rd Edition
Kentucky continues to impress with their freshman-heavy rotation, and Fox has continued to play a major role in that. With quickness off the bounce that isn’t really matched in this draft class, Fox’s uncanny athleticism and ability to penetrate the defense make him exceptionally difficult to cover when he’s handling the ball.
The concern with Fox still lies with his jumper. He’s a relatively iffy shooter from deep, and hasn’t really done much to instill confidence in that regard. He can, however, knock down pull-up jumpers from midrange, and creates ample space in doing so due to his quickness alone.
Outside of those shooting woes, however, Fox’s ceiling seems incredibly high. His explosiveness allows him to dominate in transition, as well as finish above the rim with ease. He’s difficult for anyone — regardless of how athletic they are — to stay in front of, and is continuing to add strength to boot.
He’s also a gifted defender, and someone with the size — 6-5 — needed to cover either guard spot at the next level.
Where he fits with the Philadelphia 76ers
The Sixers are in desperate need of guard depth, and that’s where Fox steps in. While his lack of floor spacing is kind of a non-starter for some Philly fans, his penetration ability and excellent two-way upside should counteract that.
Even alongside another playmaker like Simmons, Fox’s slashing ability and defensive intensity would find him a sizable niche. He’s the primary ball handler with Kentucky, but has found avenues of production playing off the ball alongside Isaiah Briscoe at times as well. Him and Simmons could feasibly share the load in a similar manner.
T.J. McConnell survives on effort alone, and Fox provides a level of athleticism and John Wall-esque playmaking that would instantly outshine him. In addition to that, the likes of Sergio Rodriguez and Jerryd Bayless are far from long-term options on the outside. He’s a young, high octane two-way guard who could give Brett Brown and company a sizable boost from day one.
Expert’s Opinion — Jeremy Woo, SI.com
"A toolsy, defensive-minded point guard who prefers to penetrate and make plays, Fox comes packaged in the mold of an Elfrid Payton or Dennis Schröder, with his three-point shot and finishing ability at the rim similarly posing some questions at this stage. His clear strengths—on-ball defense, burst and competitiveness—offer a solid NBA floor. His size and potential to stick either guard spot should help him find a place in a rotation. Whether he finds a way to make it work as a serious scoring threat will determine his eventual ceiling."
Big Board Rankings:
- Big Board 3.0 — 8
- Jeremy Woo — 12
- DraftExpress — 10
- Sam Vecenie — 5