UCLA is marching its approach into the Candy 16 for the third time in as a few years and senior ahead Jaime Jaquez Jr. is as soon as once more main the way in which.
Jaquez has been an engine for the Bruins for years now. The 22-year-old has continued to enhance over his faculty profession, enjoying his finest basketball for UCLA this season. After averaging career-highs of 17.5 factors, 8.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.5 steals per sport, Jaquez earned Second Workforce All-American honors whereas taking dwelling Pac-12 Participant of the Yr.
The 6-7 ahead is a scoring machine with NBA dimension however he is on the perimeter as a first-round decide within the 2023 NBA Draft.
Why is not Jaquez a consensus first-rounder regardless of being probably the most productive gamers within the nation? The Sporting Information takes a deeper dive into his sport under.
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Jaime Jaquez Jr. strengths
Jaquez’s greatest energy is his dimension as a 6-7, 225-pound scorer. The UCLA ahead embraces physicality, utilizing his large physique to his benefit on post-ups and drives to punish defenders. He has swift, clear footwork and a clean capturing contact along with his again to the basket, pulling down turnaround jumpers or going up and below to complete on the rim via contact.
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Jaquez is a risk from the midrange and this season, particularly, he is improved as a scorer off the dribble. He’ll put the ball on the ground to create his personal shot, or try to get nearer to the rim the place he can again his opponent down and get again into his workplace. He seems to be a step faster than in years previous, getting by defenders in area for layups or dunks.
As described thus far, it is no shock that Jaquez is a score-first participant, however he is able to making fast reads to search out open teammates if the protection is hyperfocused on him.
He works relentlessly on the glass and defensive finish, the place his effort and IQ try to make up for his athletic limitations.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. weaknesses
Jaquez’s first step to doubtlessly carving out a job within the NBA is changing into a constant 3-point shooter. Over 4 seasons at UCLA, Jaquez shot 32.8 p.c from 3 on over 350 makes an attempt. There was just one season the place he averaged over one 3-point make per sport.
In line with InStat, he shot 23.7 p.c on catch-and-shoot 3s this season — a quantity that must enhance to stay in an NBA rotation.
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On protection, Jaquez is a little bit of a tweener for the NBA stage. He has primarily defended frontcourt gamers at UCLA and whereas he has the scale and energy to carry his personal, he lacks the vertical athleticism it takes to stop NBA bigs from scoring on the rim. Nevertheless, he is additionally not fast sufficient laterally to maintain up with faster NBA guards and wings.
Flattening 3s and with the ability to defend on the perimeter shall be paramount to how Jaquez shapes out within the NBA.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. NBA Mock Draft projection
Mock Draft projection: Late first, early second-round decide
Jaquez brings a confirmed winner’s mentality, a fascinating trait for contending groups within the again finish of the primary spherical. He would additionally convey stability for younger groups searching for a safer prospect within the early second spherical.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. NBA participant comparability
Performs like: Tobias Harris
Jaquez is 6-7, 225 lbs. with a 6-10 wingspan. Harris is listed as 6-7, 226 lbs. with a 6-11 wingspan.
Their frames are virtually similar and the truth that Harris is continuously towards the highest of the league in post-ups as a ahead aligns their playstyle. Harris wasn’t a lot of a 3-point shooter when he entered the NBA however he has steadily improved, giving Jaquez a blueprint to comply with. Whereas not an All-Star, Harris is definitely no slouch. Given how he earned a five-year, $180 million greenback contract, a Harris-level participant would make Jacquez an absolute steal if he is in a position to dwell as much as his potential.