Post by John on Mar 7, 2007 17:52:58 GMT -4
From the Philadelphia Inquirer...
Jared Jordan, 6-2, 187, Marist senior
The player.
Invariably, prospects from the power conference receive significantly more interest from scouts and talent evaluators than their counterparts playing at lower-rated schools. Occasionally, however, players from the mid-major level pique the curiosity of front office folks, and such "diamonds in the rough" are mined.
Six-foot-two Marist senior point guard Jared Jordan is a player who has gone from being merely an interesting player to a legitimately draftable commodity. The Hartford, Conn., native is a point guard in the truest sense, an exceptional distributor of the ball, one who fully understands the concept of sharing the ball and setting up teammates to get high percentage looks at the basket. His anticipatory skills are top-notch and he is one of the rare lead guards who seems to actually see plays before they develop.
Such a talent is not easily learned, but it is often innate. In the eyes of this scout, Jordan is the best-passing college point guard since a kid named Kidd played at the University of California.
The numbers.
Entering this weekend's MAAC Tournament, Jordan is averaging 17.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 8.9 assists, and he owns a sparkling 2.6:1 assist-to-turnover ratio. Barring some cosmic intervention, crooked score-keeping, or something really weird, Jordan will repeat as the NCAA assists, leader as he is leading the No. 2 passer by well over one assist per game.
The questions.
How much of his productivity may be attributable to the level at which he plays? Is he quick enough to defend NBA-caliber point guards? How effective an offensive option will he be? Will he have NBA three-point range? If he develops steadily, can he eventually become a starter, or does he project more as a career backup?
The prognosis.
Jordan's defensive capabilities, foot speed and quickness will certainly be scrutinized by many, but his passing skills are so outstanding that it is hard to believe that every team will pass him up on draft night. NBA scorers will love playing alongside a teammate who takes so much pride in doing his part to create easy scoring opportunities. Consider him a sleeper in this draft, yet one who could easily end up more productive than the players who have gained much more notoriety throughout their careers.
Jared Jordan, 6-2, 187, Marist senior
The player.
Invariably, prospects from the power conference receive significantly more interest from scouts and talent evaluators than their counterparts playing at lower-rated schools. Occasionally, however, players from the mid-major level pique the curiosity of front office folks, and such "diamonds in the rough" are mined.
Six-foot-two Marist senior point guard Jared Jordan is a player who has gone from being merely an interesting player to a legitimately draftable commodity. The Hartford, Conn., native is a point guard in the truest sense, an exceptional distributor of the ball, one who fully understands the concept of sharing the ball and setting up teammates to get high percentage looks at the basket. His anticipatory skills are top-notch and he is one of the rare lead guards who seems to actually see plays before they develop.
Such a talent is not easily learned, but it is often innate. In the eyes of this scout, Jordan is the best-passing college point guard since a kid named Kidd played at the University of California.
The numbers.
Entering this weekend's MAAC Tournament, Jordan is averaging 17.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 8.9 assists, and he owns a sparkling 2.6:1 assist-to-turnover ratio. Barring some cosmic intervention, crooked score-keeping, or something really weird, Jordan will repeat as the NCAA assists, leader as he is leading the No. 2 passer by well over one assist per game.
The questions.
How much of his productivity may be attributable to the level at which he plays? Is he quick enough to defend NBA-caliber point guards? How effective an offensive option will he be? Will he have NBA three-point range? If he develops steadily, can he eventually become a starter, or does he project more as a career backup?
The prognosis.
Jordan's defensive capabilities, foot speed and quickness will certainly be scrutinized by many, but his passing skills are so outstanding that it is hard to believe that every team will pass him up on draft night. NBA scorers will love playing alongside a teammate who takes so much pride in doing his part to create easy scoring opportunities. Consider him a sleeper in this draft, yet one who could easily end up more productive than the players who have gained much more notoriety throughout their careers.