Jeremy Senglin — the Weber State guard who missed out on the Philadelphia 76ers’ first pre-draft workout — has the talent to warrant a look in undrafted free agency, if not as a late draft pick.
The second round of the NBA Draft — even in years with a deep talent pool a la 2017 — is always a crapshoot. Teams will delve far into the international pool in search of hidden gems, while a handful of collegiate names you’ve likely never heard of will hear their name called higher than you expected. The Philadelphia 76ers have four second round, picks affording them the ability to both take risks and get creative in their approach. Jeremy Senglin is a name they need to look at.
Philadelphia 76ers
While Senglin was orginally expected to work out with the team on Monday, he was eventually replaced by Tennessee State forward Reggie Upshaw. That sudden removal from the group doesn’t look all that promising for Senglin on the surface, but his skill set is one that could yield a productive NBA niche should he find his footing on a roster.
Playing a Weber State, Senglin’s exposure was minimal. He played secondary competition in a conference that wasn’t all that heralded in basketball conversation. The team finished just 20-14 on the season, while inching out the third spot in the Big Sky standings. Their overall noteriety wasn’t enough to propel what was an extremely efficient offensive display from Senglin to prominence in the national spotlight.
At just 6-2, Senglin boasts the same problem that plagues prospects like Malik Monk and Jamal Murray — he’s a two-guard in a point guard’s body. And while the trends of the modernized NBA dictates more flexibility in regards to positional restrictions, lacking the size needed to guard larger NBA wings is a hindrance that teams — and Senglin in his development — must overcome.
He did, however, play point guard for Weber State, where he displayed the playmaking chops needed to run an offense. He’s at his best when he’s looking for his own shot, though, which allows him to execute off the ball and search for his own shot off the bounce. That allows him to shoot, and shooting is precisely what Senglin excels in.
A career 19.9 point scorer during his four seasons at Weber State, Senglin kicked up his total to a career-high 24 points per contest last season. How he got there, however, is the most impressive aspect of that rise, as he shot with both an efficiency and a high volume that rarely coincide.
He shot a career best 44.7 percent from three, all while attempting a career-high 9.8 (that’s almost 10) 3-pointers per game. In a career year, Senglin put up numbers that — albeit against mediocre competition — are difficult for a player of any caliber to sniff. A shooter of his caliber has than translatable NBA skill that’s so important in analyzing potential second rounders come June.
Senglin’s also an idealistic fit for a Sixers system that is likely to feature Ben Simmons as the primary ball handler. He can help take the load off of Simmons as the secondary initiator, using the gravity of his jumper to wedge defenses into a tough spot in the pick-and-roll while thriving as a spot-up shooter when Simmons is controlling the ball.
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When watching Senglin play, it’s his mechanics that stand out most. Regardless of situation, his release is crisp and consistent, boasting fluid energy flow and excellent elevation both off the catch and when attacking off the dribble. He doesn’t need much space to launch a shot that tends to fall at an abnormally high rate, and that’s the type of quick triggered spark plug this Philadelphia squad can benefit from in the second unit.
His wingspan also measures out in the 6-5 range, which gives him the length needed to — at the very least — neutralize any defensive disadvantages he would have if switched onto the wing. He’ll likely need to play point guard in the NBA, though, and would be featured in that very spot defensively with the Sixers — while still working to and fro with Simmons (and Dario Saric) offensively.
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There’s nothing guaranteeing that Senglin gets drafted, nor anything assuring his spot on the team should they pick him up in free agency. He’ll likely be gunning for a roster spot in Summer League this year, but he’s a name worth monitoring. His skill set fits the archetype of a Simmons accompaniment in overt fashion.