2018 NBA Draft Big Board 3.0: A month in
By Owen Nelson
30. Jaylen Hands, PG, UCLA
Given the task of replacing Lonzo Ball was always going to be tough for Jayden Hands, but he has performed fairly well to start the season. The freshman is averaging 12.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists. With the majority of UCLA’s starting leaving, they needed players to step up, Hands have definitely been one of those players.
Moreover, the San Diego native is shooting his three-pointers at a 50 percent clip. This won’t likely sustain itself for the rest of the season, but Hands have squashed the narrative that he has an inconsistent shot. For Hands to improve his draft stock, he must continue to show that he can hit the deep ball regularly.
Hands have done a good job in leading UCLA to three wins in their first three games. Against South Carolina State, Hands scored 22 points en route to a 96-68 blowout win. This is what the Bruins was expecting from Hands, he’s more of a volume scorer than a pass-first point guard, like Lonzo Ball.