He's a bucket. It's just hard for me to get excited about a guard who gets less than one assist per game.
Following Potential 2025 Draftees
- Thread starter Elizah Huge
- Start date
He looks shiftier and more dynamic off the dribble in these highlights than he looked in the few other games I watched of his. I think this is who the Jazz will target if they can't get Flagg or Harper.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1HzQgnBYFI
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1HzQgnBYFI
Last edited:
I like Fears as a potential lead guard, but Ian Jackson can shoot it, no doubt. Reminds a bit of Coby White at UNC. Defense is a question, but can't have everything. He's another candidate for the Twolves pick potentially.
Last edited:
Fland Fears both miles better
Not even an assist per 10 FGA....
Here are the top assists per 36 minutes for the top prospects. This is according to tankathon which hasn't updated their big board in a long time, but I'm pretty sure the stats are still updated:
Assists/36 minutes:
Nolan Traore - 8.7
Kam Jones - 7.4
Egor Demin - 7.3
Boogie Fland - 6.6
Ben Saraf - 6.5
Jaland Lowe - 6.5
Kasparas Jackuciounis - 6.0
Labaron Philon - 5.8
Dink Pate - 5.5
Dylan Harper - 5.0
Assists/36 minutes:
Nolan Traore - 8.7
Kam Jones - 7.4
Egor Demin - 7.3
Boogie Fland - 6.6
Ben Saraf - 6.5
Jaland Lowe - 6.5
Kasparas Jackuciounis - 6.0
Labaron Philon - 5.8
Dink Pate - 5.5
Dylan Harper - 5.0
Mock from Bleacher Report. To me, this just looks a bit lazy overall, including where guys are placed and some of these whacky comps. However, he had Jeremiah Fears at #4, while the Jazz take Kasparas at #5.
Like the stat that Fleming is the only player with 20+ dunks and threes. He should be in the lottery.
Chargers Jazz Angels
Well-Known Member
There is my boy Kam Thomas.
I am not following the prospects nearly as closely as many posters on the board and was surprised to see that previously unfamiliar to me Fears is now rated so high. I looked up the highlights and was really, really impressed. Now, there seem to be so many good point guards prospects that if the Jazz miss out on Flagg and Harper they will likely draft one of the points.
So, does it look that Kaspar, Fears and Demin are in the same tier? What about Traore and Fland? And who can be a better fit with Keyonte? Can someone give their thoughts on the PG situation please?
So, does it look that Kaspar, Fears and Demin are in the same tier? What about Traore and Fland? And who can be a better fit with Keyonte? Can someone give their thoughts on the PG situation please?
My thoughts currently:
- Kas is in a tier above the others because of the combination of size, passing ability, and shooting. His question marks for me are defense and to a lesser degree turnovers.
- Demin has a chance to get in to that tier and has the best size of all of the prospects, but his shooting has fallen off and he hasn't had a great game against good competition, but will have plenty of chances now that Big 12 season has started.
- Fland has some of the best film in this draft, in my opinion, but is small. Guys his size have to be extremely good basketball players to make it in the league, and I think he's that, but it limits his upside/increases his bust potential.
- Traore is more difficult to compare because he plays in a pro league. His shooting has taken a huge nose dive, and if he can't shoot it he probably isn't an NBA player, so that's scary. If he can shoot it, then everything else works for him, and would be an amazing table setter for any team he plays for.
- I see Fears as more of a score first off ball guy who can happen to pass, but I'm not sure he's really a point guard or someone that you would want the ball in his hand all the time. What he is doing for Oklahoma has been extremely impressive, but I'm not sure how he fits in to our current team.
Unfortunately I don't think any of these guys would be great fits next to Keyonte, mostly because none of them are super high level/disruptive defenders. Probably the best fit in that regard would be VJ, but he comes with his own concerns and issues. I think if you pick any of these guys you would look at them as a potential upgrade over Keyonte and not his running mate.
FWIW, the guy in this draft that I think would fit best next to Keyonte is Labaron Philon. You have to hope that his shot comes around, but he has the potential to be a great defender at the guard position.
I like Philon, but the shooting is bad enough to be a red flag to not draft with the first two picks.
In my head he figures it out, but I realize that sometimes I live in fantasy land with some of the draft prospects that I really like.
Thank you, it is a good and useful description. I think that Kasparas is the best of them too and that the defensive concerns can be mitigated somewhat by his size. I think that he has the lowest chance of turning to be a bust and the way he moves in the paint reminds me of Manu. Traore, Demin and Fland all have a decent chance of failing. And Fears is a bit like the A+ version of Sexton whom we have at home.
You are probably right... but we do need a PG and there was a history of (moderately) successful pairings of two defensively challenged guards (Lillard and McColum, or Mitchell and an aging Conley). Moving away from Keyonte would probably set us at least a season back.
You are probably right... but we do need a PG and there was a history of (moderately) successful pairings of two defensively challenged guards (Lillard and McColum, or Mitchell and an aging Conley). Moving away from Keyonte would probably set us at least a season back.
Keyonte is on another level as a bad defender. Hopefully he improves, but as of now I think you want a high level defender next to Keyonte. There really aren't many high level guard defenders in this draft.
Demin needs to show he can shoot in order to be considered upper-echelon, imo. His shooting signals across the past several games and his FT% for the season are questionable at best. His handle can also be a bit loose. The length, athleticism, passing, rim finishes and defensive plays are enticing though. He can still be an NBA player even if he's not your lead initiator, but his main appeal would be as a big point guard.
If you believe in Fears, it's because he looks a bit like a young Damian Lillard with his smoothness off the dribble and his ability to create and score at three levels, including some deep range. Measurables may become a factor with him, but he's probably around 6'3" and maybe 6'4" in shoes.
The debate between Fears and Kasparas may be mostly stylistic, but it's easy to imagine Kasparas flourishing in an open-court game, while maintaining size and athleticism on the perimeter defensively. Kasparas has some plays that remind me of (the positive aspects of) Lamelo Ball.
Both Fears and Kasparas are likely to go in the top half of the lottery, imo. Demin may be slipping. Fland and Traore are more likely late-lottery or mid-1st. Being smaller, they'll need to make difficult plays routinely, and then there are questions about how they'll hold up defensively.
Last edited:
Chargers Jazz Angels
Well-Known Member
I would add Kam Jones to the list of great PGs in the draft. The only thing against him is his age.
Demin is a play making forward. I don't consider him a PG right now. A point forward, I believe, they are called. Look at Simmons if you can't shoot it makes passing harder. Same goes for Demin.
Kas is probably the top PG on my board. Of course I consider Harper a 2 guard who can pass some. He is score first.
I like what I see from Fears. Live the name too. Need to watch more. So the jury is still out on him. Measurements will mean a lot.
Fland is one of the funnest PGs to watch. He reminds me of the typical playground PG from new york. So much fun to watch. The biggest question is can he do what he does in the NBA. I think so but his size will always be a question mark.
Traore I am a huge fan. Might be one of the best PGs in the draft. The biggest question will be his shooting. If he can't shoot it he will have a short career.
Ben Saraf should be in the consideration. Love the way he plays. Tough tough player. Again shooting will be his downfall. He is not the greatest game manager either. He is learning and is probably in the Harper category.
Philon i do not know a lot about yet.
Those are my first round PGs. Kas is #1 but I am a HUGE fan of Kam Jones.
Demin is a play making forward. I don't consider him a PG right now. A point forward, I believe, they are called. Look at Simmons if you can't shoot it makes passing harder. Same goes for Demin.
Kas is probably the top PG on my board. Of course I consider Harper a 2 guard who can pass some. He is score first.
I like what I see from Fears. Live the name too. Need to watch more. So the jury is still out on him. Measurements will mean a lot.
Fland is one of the funnest PGs to watch. He reminds me of the typical playground PG from new york. So much fun to watch. The biggest question is can he do what he does in the NBA. I think so but his size will always be a question mark.
Traore I am a huge fan. Might be one of the best PGs in the draft. The biggest question will be his shooting. If he can't shoot it he will have a short career.
Ben Saraf should be in the consideration. Love the way he plays. Tough tough player. Again shooting will be his downfall. He is not the greatest game manager either. He is learning and is probably in the Harper category.
Philon i do not know a lot about yet.
Those are my first round PGs. Kas is #1 but I am a HUGE fan of Kam Jones.
Kam not a PG
Chargers Jazz Angels
Well-Known Member
I believe he is
#11 in the NCAA in assists
#2 in assists/TO
He runs the offense for Marquette this year.