Name: Jaden Ivey
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 195
Age: 20
Position: Point Guard/Shooting Guard
College/Organization: Purdue
NBA Comparison: Donovan Mitchell/Ja Morant
Strengths: One of the most explosive guards in this class with elite-level athleticism. He plays with a very high motor from the beginning to the end of the game. Ivey is an excellent finisher around the rim, highlighted with some of the best dunks in all of college basketball last season. His ability and speed in the open court are also very lethal. Ivey is great at creating contact at the rim to earn free throw opportunities. Ivey is also effective in the pick and roll. He’s also an above-average rebounder for his position and will be a nightly triple-double threat in his prime.
Weaknesses: While his three-point shot did improve a ton from his freshman to his sophomore season, it is still below the preferred mark for players that play his position. His playmaking abilities could definitely improve, as he only averaged around three assists with more than two turnovers per game. While he’s great at getting to the rim and earning trips to the line, there’s plenty of room for improvement with his free throw shooting, holding a 73 percent average at Purdue. His shot selection and decision-making could also use a tune-up. Not the smartest player defensively and will often gamble and pick up unnecessary fouls.
Outlook: One of the best guards in the draft, Ivey will likely be selected within the top five because of his elite athleticism and energy. While he does have a high ceiling with plenty of room to improve, his offensive capabilities make him an instant impact for any of the teams selecting in the top five. The biggest question is can he elevate his game offensively? It’s almost impossible to last in the NBA without a legitimate shot from three. When will the development for Ivey come to elevate his game to a potential top 50 player or even higher?
Ethan Hartley 