Monday, December 31, 2007

Jamont Gordon - NBA Draft Prospects

Numbers: 17.2 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 4.9 apg, 1.1 spg, 42% FG, 69% FT, 32% 3's

About Him: Jamont Gordon is one of the most unique players in this year's draft simply because he can play four positions. He is a very good 1-on-1 player, but he controls the ball way too much to the point of seeming selfish. He's not an overly explosive athlete, but at 6'4", 225lb, he is built like a rock. When he gets in the lane he has superb body control. He is very good at bouncing off defenders, hanging in the air and finishing. He doesn't have a quick first step, but he is a great ball-handler and has an array of hesitation moves that he uses to get by quicker defenders. He is all left, however, especially when going to the basket and can be predictable at times. He is a pretty good passer and can find people when they're open, but his jump shot leaves much to be desired. He decision making abilities are sub-par in that he takes a lot of bad shots (5.5 3's per game while shooting only 32%) and turns the ball over a ton - 4.1 per game. He also does not have much of a mid-range game. Defensively, he is as good as it gets. He guarded the opponent's best player 1-4 for Mississippi State this year, and did a great job. He is not that quick laterally, but he makes up for it with being in proper position and utilizing his size, strength, and wingspan. He can play either guard spot in the NBA, and despite everything he can put points on the board.

Comparisons: Rodney Stuckey, poor man's Jalen Rose

Bottom Line: He can score and he can defend, two things any NBA team is always looking to add. But he is not talented enough to be able to dominate the ball in the NBA the way he did in college. If he can accept the role of being instant offense/defense off the bench, he can hang around the NBA for a while, but he is probably a second round pick this year. Look for him to come back for his senior season.

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