This is the first installment in a series of Player Spotlights. Each episode will preview a future NBA prospect or a current NBA Player. This week we take a look at BYU play-maker Jimmer Fredette. He exploded onto the NBA radar with a 49 point outburst against Arizona, and increased expectations heading into this year with two impressive showings in the NCAA tournament.
Jimmer Fredette- 6'2 195
Senior/ BYU/ PG/ 21-years-old
Numbers: 22.1 pts, 4.7 assists, 2.7 turnovers,
Overall NBA Prospects:
Due to defensive shortcomings, his ideal role may be as an instant offense type player coming off the bench... Has shown the ability to run an offense and could lead a second unit similar to Goran Dragic in Phoenix... His bread and butter will be the pick and roll, which utilizes his deadly stroke and improving passing ability... Similiar to Stephen Curry heading into his final year of college, there is no doubt that he can score, but there are questions regarding his passing consistency and defensive ability, especially playing in a non-BCS conference. Curry was able to answer those questions, proving to be an adequate defender a capable distributor and a top ten NBA selection. Will Jimmer be able to do the same?
Best Case Scenario: Stephen Curry
Likely Scenario: Goran Dragic
Worst Case Scenario: Blake Stepp
Offensive Outlook
Overall: His shooting alone will get him drafted, as he is a dangerous shooter with NBA range... His passing ability is still developing although he as excellent court vision... He has limited athleticism and is not comfortable driving to the hoop... He could thrive in the NBA running a two man game with a shooting 5, as he is always a threat to score himself, and is adept at getting the big man open looks as well
Shooting
Lights out shooter... Dropped 49 on Arizona and was absolutely unconcious the entire game... BYU sets up isolations for him on 25% of their offensive sets and scores effeciently from them... he excels at getting his man off balance, creating room for him to shoot off the dribble...Can and will pull up for shot at anytime and has limitless range... His spot up jumpers were excellent as well, although he does not find many of them due to the fact that the ball was always in his hands... Perfect release, quick and consistent...when he does miss it is most often due to poor footwork, leaving him off balance for his shot
Driving
Does not attack the rim... limited athleticism hurts him in this department as he does not blow by defenders or finish above the rim... relies on getting to the free throw line by drawing defenders in the air... Looks hesitant once he gets into the lane
Ball Handling
Came into school as an off guard, still learning the point guard position... has strong ball handiling skills but is not yet consistent.. his turovers are often due to recklesness rather than lack of skill... 14% TO/rate is a little high for a college point guard, but will look to improve in second season running the point
Isolations
25% of his plays came from isolations... He is very crafty with the basketball in his hands... He excels at hesitations, misdirections and shot fakes... Has a vast array of tricks to get his defender off balance, leaving him open to shoot his deadly jumper... Does not show ideal athletisicm... Always looking to get to the free throw line.. draws fouls on 12% of his isolatins, which is astounding considering the that he pulls up for a jumper or passes 80% of the time
Pick And Roll
Senior/ BYU/ PG/ 21-years-old
Numbers: 22.1 pts, 4.7 assists, 2.7 turnovers,
Overall NBA Prospects:
Due to defensive shortcomings, his ideal role may be as an instant offense type player coming off the bench... Has shown the ability to run an offense and could lead a second unit similar to Goran Dragic in Phoenix... His bread and butter will be the pick and roll, which utilizes his deadly stroke and improving passing ability... Similiar to Stephen Curry heading into his final year of college, there is no doubt that he can score, but there are questions regarding his passing consistency and defensive ability, especially playing in a non-BCS conference. Curry was able to answer those questions, proving to be an adequate defender a capable distributor and a top ten NBA selection. Will Jimmer be able to do the same?
Best Case Scenario: Stephen Curry
Likely Scenario: Goran Dragic
Worst Case Scenario: Blake Stepp
Offensive Outlook
Overall: His shooting alone will get him drafted, as he is a dangerous shooter with NBA range... His passing ability is still developing although he as excellent court vision... He has limited athleticism and is not comfortable driving to the hoop... He could thrive in the NBA running a two man game with a shooting 5, as he is always a threat to score himself, and is adept at getting the big man open looks as well
Shooting
Lights out shooter... Dropped 49 on Arizona and was absolutely unconcious the entire game... BYU sets up isolations for him on 25% of their offensive sets and scores effeciently from them... he excels at getting his man off balance, creating room for him to shoot off the dribble...Can and will pull up for shot at anytime and has limitless range... His spot up jumpers were excellent as well, although he does not find many of them due to the fact that the ball was always in his hands... Perfect release, quick and consistent...when he does miss it is most often due to poor footwork, leaving him off balance for his shot
Driving
Does not attack the rim... limited athleticism hurts him in this department as he does not blow by defenders or finish above the rim... relies on getting to the free throw line by drawing defenders in the air... Looks hesitant once he gets into the lane
Ball Handling
Came into school as an off guard, still learning the point guard position... has strong ball handiling skills but is not yet consistent.. his turovers are often due to recklesness rather than lack of skill... 14% TO/rate is a little high for a college point guard, but will look to improve in second season running the point
Isolations
25% of his plays came from isolations... He is very crafty with the basketball in his hands... He excels at hesitations, misdirections and shot fakes... Has a vast array of tricks to get his defender off balance, leaving him open to shoot his deadly jumper... Does not show ideal athletisicm... Always looking to get to the free throw line.. draws fouls on 12% of his isolatins, which is astounding considering the that he pulls up for a jumper or passes 80% of the time
Pick And Roll
Shooting-is always a danger to score coming off screens in the pick and roll... has limitless range, and will shoot without hestiation...needs hardly any space to get his shot off due to quick release
Passing-is very good at finding teamates on the pick and pop, which BYU relied on heavily last year... is adequate at finding roll men as well, although has a tendency to turn the ball over.. Sees the court well and has a good feel for when to move the ball to a teammate... Finds creative ways to deliver passes, even through double and triple teams
Splitting the defenders- Has a truely amazing ability to split the defenders on the pick and roll... he routinely sneaks right through the middle of a pick and roll and often looks to pull up for the mid range jumper or kick to an open teamate
Passing-is very good at finding teamates on the pick and pop, which BYU relied on heavily last year... is adequate at finding roll men as well, although has a tendency to turn the ball over.. Sees the court well and has a good feel for when to move the ball to a teammate... Finds creative ways to deliver passes, even through double and triple teams
Splitting the defenders- Has a truely amazing ability to split the defenders on the pick and roll... he routinely sneaks right through the middle of a pick and roll and often looks to pull up for the mid range jumper or kick to an open teamate
Driving- Has a difficult time attacking the rim... When he does get in the lane he is looking to draw somebody off their feet and get to the free throw line... this will be a probablem in the NBA as defenders are longer, quicker and more disciplined than the oppents he faces at BYU
Defensive
Overall: The defensive side of the ball will keep Jimmer from being an NBA lottery pick.. may never have the ability to match up with NBA point guards due to his limited lateral quickness and poor footwork... Additionally dissapointing is his low defensive intensity, although this could be attributed to the burden BYU places on him offensively
Defending Isolations
His stats are good, holidng opponents to 30% shooting and forcing turnovers 25% of the time, however most of these stats came against inferior opponents... Danny Clemente and Abe Pullen of Kansas St routinely blew by him in the NCAA tournament... Does not have good footwork or footspeed and has a hard time staying in front of his man... Has a bad habit of reaching in after player blow by him, works against some college opponents, will not work in NBA
Defending Pick and Roll
Top level teams, such as Florida and Kansas St killed him... does not fight through screens, shows poor footwork and tenacity and takes inefficient routes when recovering from screens
Defensive Fundamentals
Poor foot speed... Offensive players routinely blow by him... does not stay down in defensive stance, leaving him off balance and out of position
Other
Plays Hard- Offensively, yes. He is a warrior. Defensively, no. He seems to be always conserving energy for the other end of the floor.
Hands- Has strong hands and controls the ball with ease.
Feet- Poor Footwork, offensively and defensively. This is the area that he needs to be working on the most heading into his senior season.
Clutch- He shines in the spotlight. Wants the ball at the end of games and is quite the showman when the spotlight is on him. Had his best games offensively against the toughest opponents. Single handedly willed the team to its first round victory over Florida
Defensive
Overall: The defensive side of the ball will keep Jimmer from being an NBA lottery pick.. may never have the ability to match up with NBA point guards due to his limited lateral quickness and poor footwork... Additionally dissapointing is his low defensive intensity, although this could be attributed to the burden BYU places on him offensively
Defending Isolations
His stats are good, holidng opponents to 30% shooting and forcing turnovers 25% of the time, however most of these stats came against inferior opponents... Danny Clemente and Abe Pullen of Kansas St routinely blew by him in the NCAA tournament... Does not have good footwork or footspeed and has a hard time staying in front of his man... Has a bad habit of reaching in after player blow by him, works against some college opponents, will not work in NBA
Defending Pick and Roll
Top level teams, such as Florida and Kansas St killed him... does not fight through screens, shows poor footwork and tenacity and takes inefficient routes when recovering from screens
Defensive Fundamentals
Poor foot speed... Offensive players routinely blow by him... does not stay down in defensive stance, leaving him off balance and out of position
Other
Plays Hard- Offensively, yes. He is a warrior. Defensively, no. He seems to be always conserving energy for the other end of the floor.
Hands- Has strong hands and controls the ball with ease.
Feet- Poor Footwork, offensively and defensively. This is the area that he needs to be working on the most heading into his senior season.
Clutch- He shines in the spotlight. Wants the ball at the end of games and is quite the showman when the spotlight is on him. Had his best games offensively against the toughest opponents. Single handedly willed the team to its first round victory over Florida
Looks hesitant once he gets into the lane?????????
ReplyDeleteUnbelievable. You must have never seem him play.
Doesn't attack the rim? You must be from another planet.
ReplyDeleteWorse case senario, an NBA Championship!!!!
ReplyDeleteYes, looks he looked hesitant getting finishing at the rim last year, however he has vastly improved this part of his game this year.
ReplyDeleteJimmer is lights out the NCAA Player of the Year, not because he can only shoot the 3. Come on guy. Attacks the basket, have you not seen a game?? He makes at least 5 crazy layups a game and 5 off balanced shots in the key a game. Jimmer DOES blow past defenders (they are always thinking he's going to shoot, then he burns them for an "And 1").
ReplyDelete