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About Jaden Springer
• Jaden Springer is a strong, young guard who showed interesting two-way potential as a freshman at Tennessee. He comes from a basketball family with his cousin, DeAndre Bembry, and father, Gary Springer, hearing their names called in the 2016 and 1984 NBA Drafts respectively. Widely regarded as one of the top-20 prospects in the high school class of 2020 following his senior year at IMG Academy (FL), Springer capped his prep career with McDonald’s All-American honors. Carving out a significant role as a true freshman on a Tennessee team that ranked among the nation’s top defensive units for much of the season, the North Carolina native emerged as an x-factor for Head Coach Rick Barnes. Averaging 12.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game, Springer made an impact on both ends of the floor while fighting through a mid-season ankle injury in route to a spot on the SEC All-Freshman Team.
• Listed at 6’4 and a solid 204-pounds Springer has a 6’7.5 wingspan, a mature frame, and good feet on the defensive end.
• Playing a significant role for a Tennessee team that did not lean heavily on any one scorer, Springer showed promising instincts as a slasher and scored opportunistically in the open floor, but often leaned on his ability to make shortrange jumpers. Shooting the three well in limited attempts and showing the ability to drive and kick, he was a bright spot for the Volunteers for stretches, but, like most young guards, has room to evolve as a decision-maker.
• A very competitive defender for a freshman, Springer was consistently physical at the point of and engaged off the ball despite his relative youth. Active with his hands and willing to make some hustle plays, his maturity on that end of the floor was key for a Tennessee team that relied on their ability to get stops consistently.
Advanced Stats
• Playing on and off the ball, Springer hunted shots within the Volunteers’ sets. Aggressively looking to get downhill both out of ball screens and attacking closeouts, he generated over a third of his shots in finishing situations, but another third of his attempts came on pull-up jump shots inside of 17-feet. Scoring 1.22 points per shot around the rim in the half court [66th percentile] and 0.62 points per pull-up jump shot [25th percentile], he finished with tenacity and body control in traffic, but took some tough midrange shots when he was unable to turn the corner or find the open man.
• Despite how aggressive he was from the midrange, he attempted few threes, but made the ones he did attempt at a strong clip. Making free throws at a strong rate as well, he has some building-blocks to work with as a shooter even if he has clear room to expand his range and be more fluid with his release.
• Making an effort to get in on the glass and flashing the ability to drive and kick, Springer showed a willingness to contribute in other ways in the half court beyond scoring the ball.
• Doing his best work in the open floor, Springer is not the most dynamic ball handler or explosive finisher, but was very opportunistic. Running the floor diligently, he averaged 1.26 points per Transition possession [84th percentile] as he proved adept at using his frame create angles to finish with touch on the break.
Defensive Analysis
• Springer proved to be a terrific fit for one of the nation’s top defenses as a true freshman. Possessing the physicality and feet to guard multiple positions, his competitiveness made him an easy fit for the Volunteers. Trying to be in the right spots on and off the ball, he more than held his own last season.
• Allowing 0.56 points per isolation possession [74th percentile], Springer gave up little off the dribble and showed good timing poking the ball away from opposing ball handlers.
— Profile by Synergy Sports
