NBA Draft Profiles: Jimmer Fredette, BYU

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Stats: 28.9 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 4.3 apg, 3.5 t/o's, 39.6% 3PT

Age: 22, senior

Size:

• Listed: 6'2", 195 lb
• Official: 6'0.75" (no shoes), 6'2.25" (with shoes), 6'4.5" (wingspan), 8'0.5" (reach), 196 lb

Strengths: Everyone in the country knows what Jimmer Fredette's strengths are. Without a doubt, he was the best scorer in all of college basketball this past season. He is an unbelievable three point shooter, with range out to about 32 feet. He can hit three's and mid-range jumpers as a standstill shooter, off the dribble, off of a curl, and off of a ball-screen, and can do so even if his defender plays him perfectly and contests the shot hard. Fredette also has an ankle breaking handle, routinely making very good defenders look silly with his crossover. While his jumpshot is his bread and butter, Fredette is also adept and getting into the paint. He's not a big time leaper, but he's an incredibly crafty finisher, using a wicked array of floaters and scoop shots to avoid being blocked. Perhaps the most underrated aspect of Fredtte's game is his passing ability. He was the focal point of BYU's offense the past two seasons, but he has proven to be a capable and willing passer when need be.

Weaknesses: The biggest question mark with Fredette is his ability to defend. The last two seasons, he hasn't just been a question mark on the defensive end of the floor, he hasn't even shown any interest in performing at that end. He's rarely got his knees bent in a defensive stance -- especially when he is playing off the ball -- and he shows little to no interest or effort in getting through screens. Making is defensive effort all the more perplexing is that Fredette tested out as one of the quickest and strongest guards in this draft class, which makes one believe that his performance on the defensive end was the result of a questionable desire to be a quality defender more than an inability to stop his man. A lack of toughness is a term that you will see often in scouting reports involving Fredette. Offensively, he doesn't have many question marks, but the biggest is how well he is going to be able to finish at the next level. Will the trickery of his shots around the rim work against bigger and better front courts?

Comparisons:

• Best Case Scenario: Somewhere between Steve Nash and Stephen Curry. Both Nash and Curry lack the kind of athletic explosiveness that you see point guards like Chris Paul, Deron Williams, and Derrick Rose, but they make up for it with an incredibly high basketball IQ and a craftiness and understanding of changing speeds. Like Nash and Curry, Fredette is a lights-out shooter with deep range but also a will and capable creator off the dribble.


• Worst Case Scenario: Eddie House. If all else fails, Fredette is always going to have his jump shot. He is the kind of player that is hot the second he steps on the court. He is capable of scoring points in a hurry, and hitting three or four -- or more -- jumpers in a row. There is always going to be a place for him in the NBA as a guy that can come in and be a spark on the offensive end of the floor.

Outlook: Fredette is the most polarizing draft prospect in this class. Some folks love him. Some think that he has a unique ability to score the basketball. Others believe that his success in college will be negated by his struggles on the defensive end and his lacking athleticism. There are a couple of points that need to be noted here. Being a successful defender is more about mindset than talent. There are sensational athletes that can't stop anyone because they simply don't care and there are guys that have the athleticism of a 40 year old gym rat that can defend some of the best in the NBA because they simply believe. Fredette has not proven to have that kind of toughness, but it may be that his lack of desire on the defensive end in college was a result of his coaching staff telling him to get his rest. He carried such a big load for BYU offensively that Dave Rose could have very well not wanted Fredette to spend his legs stopping an opponent's third best perimeter scorer. Based on his quickness and his strength, he is -- on paper at least -- a solid defensive prospect.

Fredette's success at the next level may depend on finding the right system. If he can land with someone like Golden State or Pheonix or New York, a team that likes to get up and down the floor and doesn't mind quick, deep jump shots, he should be fine. If he ends up with a team that values every defensive possession, he could end up getting buried on the bench and out of the rotation. Whatever the case may be, Fredette is going to be a very, very interesting player to follow during his career.

Draft Range: Late Lottery to Mid 1st Round

And the experts say...

• Chad Ford: "There's no player in the draft who can divide NBA scouts the way Fredette does. Some see his toughness, shooting ability and basketball IQ and are convinced he'll find a way to be a serious NBA player -- either a point guard like Steve Nash or a big-time shooter like Ben Gordon or Stephen Curry. Others see an undersized 2-guard who lacks lateral quickness and doesn't have a position. They scream Adam Morrison at worst, Eddie House at best. Fredette has been awesome on the big stage in the past. If he can take an undermanned BYU team deep, he's probably a lottery pick."


• Draft Express: "One of the reasons Fredette has become such a popular figure with fans and NBA scouts alike is the way he carries himself on the floor. Never one to pump his chest, despite the incredible manner in which he produces, he lets his play on the court speak for itself. Incredibly poised and humble, he's a true competitor who plays with a self-confidence that borders on cockiness. Even if his physical attributes don't like ideal, and there are few successful players in the NBA in his mold, there is clearly something special about Fredette that sets him apart. We've learned not to bet against players like this in the past. As the ground-swirl of excitement grows, and with it his draft stock, so do the expectations about what type of career he'll need to have to be labeled a success."


• Swish Scout: "Crafty scorer who has a text book, quick release jumper and unlimited shooting range from literally anywhere on the floor. Questions about Fredette’s effectiveness in the NBA come from being undersized, limited athletically, and his below average perimeter defense, but he should be able to play a role for a team in the league off the bench."

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