Draft Profile Series

Boston Celtics

Jonathan Isaac
			F | 6'10" | 210 LBS.12.0 PPG | 7.8 RPG | 1.2 APG

Opinions expressed on this page are solely those of the author(s) and don't represent the opinions of the Celtics front office.

The Florida State Seminoles were placed back on the map this season following a four-year absence from the NCAA Tournament. The presence of big man Jonathan Isaac was a major reason behind their success. The 6-foot-10 freshman led FSU to a 26-9 record – the program’s winningest mark in 45 years – while pacing the team in rebounding and shot blocking. He guided the third-seeded Noles to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, during which he averaged 12.5 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.0 blocks and 1.5 steals per game.  Now that Isaac has helped put the Seminoles back in the limelight, he’s ready to make a name for himself at the next level – the NBA.

Possessions Scouted from 2016-17 Season:
OFFENSE: 22.7 percent of possessions
DEFENSE: 25.3 percent of possessions

Jonathan Isaac is a long and thin hybrid forward who fits well into the future of the NBA frontcourt.  He is already a good shooter, and that’s without a clean release and strong follow through.  He’ll only improve.  Isaac is thin but is stronger than he looks but doesn’t finish well, particularly through contact.  He gathers himself and sets a great base on his jumper and rises vertically.  He has not played much in the post but I see potential there; his combination of length and shooting ability, along with his body control, should allow him to score in the post after he adds strength.  He has a very quick step off the dribble from the perimeter.  He’s an impressive ball handler.  I don’t love his hands or his overall balance, but I think they can improve to a point where they won’t stand out as negatives.  Isaac’s combination of length, intelligence, good feet and activity allow him to be a dangerous defender.  He’s versatile both offensively and defensively.  He’s better with his hands defensively than offensively, allowing him to rack up steals and blocks.  He gives great effort and has very good timing.  He communicates well with teammates.  Defending the post will be an issue early on for him but he’ll handle his own with added strength.  Overall, Isaac has one of the higher upsides in this draft class.  He still has quite a bit of potential and if he comes anywhere near reaching it, he’ll be a high-level starter in this league.

Jonathan Isaac was born Oct. 3, 1997 in The Bronx, New York. He is the fourth-oldest of six children born to Jackie Allen. Isaac attended three different high schools during his youth. He spent his freshman and sophomore years at Barron Collier High School in Naples, Florida, then transferred to the International School in Hollywood, Florida for his junior and senior years, and then spent a postgrad year at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. Isaac led the state of Florida in scoring during his senior season in 2014-15 when he averaged 29.5 points per game to go along with 9.0 rebounds per game. He then tallied 17.6 PPG and 10.0 RPG during his postgrad season at IMG. Isaac considered declaring for the 2016 NBA Draft following his postgrad year, but opted to go to Florida State instead. He was the No. 1 ranked recruit out of Florida for the class of 2016, and was ranked No. 8 in the nation by Rivals and No. 9 by both ESPN and Scout. During his lone season at FSU, Isaac averaged 12.0 PPG, to go along with team-leading tallies of 7.8 RPG (seventh in ACC) and 1.5 blocks per game (fifth in ACC). He also shot 50.8 percent from the field, including 34.8 percent from 3-point range. Isaac led the Seminoles to a 26-9 record, which marked the second-winningest season in program history (28-5 in 1971-72). He logged eight double-doubles on the season and became the first Seminole in 22 years to have three consecutive double-doubles. His top performance of the campaign came on Jan. 18, 2017, when he recorded 23 points, 10 rebounds and seven blocks against No. 15 Notre Dame. Isaac helped FSU earn a No. 3 seed in the NCAA tournament. He notched 17 points, 10 rebounds, a season-high five assists, three blocks and two steals during the Noles’ opening-round win over Florida Gulf Coast University. During the second round, however, 11-seeded Xavier University limited Isaac to eight points, 12 boards and turned him over five times, as FSU was upset in blowout fashion, 91-66. Isaac declared for the NBA Draft on March 24, six days after the Seminoles’ season ended.

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Draft Profile: Jonathan Isaac

Markelle Fultz
			G | 6'4" | 195 LBS.23.2 PPG | 5.7 RPG | 5.9 APG

The Washington Huskies may have not made a lot of noise this season, but their star point guard made one loud impression on the nation. Markelle Fultz led the Pac-12 in scoring with 23.2 points per game – nearly five PPG higher than the nearest competitor – and finished second in the conference in assists per game behind expected lottery selection Lonzo Ball. Despite Washington finishing second-to-last in the Pac-12, the 19-year-old Maryland native topped most mock draft boards and has been tabbed by many pundits as the No. 1 prospect in the 2017 Draft class. Celtics fans may also be aware of Fultz because of his widely publicized relationship with C’s All-Star point guard Isaiah Thomas. The Huskies alumni worked out together last summer and have carried on regular conversation throughout the past year.

Possessions Scouted from 2016-17 Season:
OFFENSE: 18.6 percent of possessions
DEFENSE: 28.4 percent of possessions

Markelle Fultz is one of the best offensive talents in this draft but he is lacking in some key areas.  First and foremost, Fultz does not showcase high-level explosiveness and doesn’t get much lift around the basket or on pull-ups.  He does not create any separation with his athleticism.  Instead, he does so with his ball handling.  Many of his shots are highly contested, and he did not blow past a defender for an easy layup a single time in the tape I watched.  He does, however, have a methodical offensive game that relies heavily on ball handling.  He has a tight crossover move and is at his best as a scorer when he plays downhill off of pick-and-rolls, which he should do more often.  Fultz has high-end vision and is accurate with his passes.  He makes passes through lanes that others wouldn’t even see, and even if they did see them, they probably wouldn’t be able to thread the same needle.  Fultz has a quick and clean shooting motion.  He likes to shoot while going to his left.  He loves the spin move.  He’s a better passer than scorer, in my opinion.  Defensively, he just doesn’t give the effort.  He’s consistently beaten off the dribble and showcases average foot speed and start-stop ability.  I think he tops out as an average defender.  However, his defense does not define him.  Fultz is a strong prospect with great vision, and he finds ways to score.  He will be a good player in the NBA but his lack of pure athleticism will likely prevent him from becoming the superstar many predict he will become.

Markelle Fultz was born May 29, 1998 in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. He was raised by his mother, Ebony, and has one older sister, Shauntese. During his youth, Fultz was mentored by his AAU coach Keith Williams, who also trained Maryland native Kevin Durant and DeMarcus Cousins. Fultz attended DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Maryland, where he played two years of varsity basketball. He was actually cut from the varsity team during his sophomore year, but grew six inches during the offseason (from 5-foot-9 to 6-foot-3) and soon became developed into a star. Fultz averaged 16.5 points per game during his junior season and was named the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Player of the Year. That spring, University of Washington coach Lorenzo Romar offered him a basketball scholarship. Fultz then had a stellar summer, during which he stared at Steph Curry’s camp, an Under Armour camp in Charlotte and an AAU tournament in Las Vegas. This resulted in an abundance of scholarship offers to top-notch programs, such as Kentucky, Kansas, North Carolina and others; however, Fultz opted to choose the Huskies, largely because they believed in him before many other schools did. Fultz finished off his high school career with a dominant senior season, averaging 19.1 points and 8.8 rebounds per game, all while setting the DeMatha’s single-season assists record with 278 dimes. He was a 2016 McDonald’s All-American and a 2016 Jordan Brand Classic selection. Fultz was ranked among the top 10 prospects for the high school class of 2016 by all major recruiting services. Scout ranked him as the No. 1 point guard in the country and the No. 3 overall recruit, Rivals ranked him No. 5 overall, and ESPN ranked him No. 7 overall. He was a member of the 2016 U-18 FIBA America’s gold medal-winning championship team and also participated in the 2016 McDonald’s All-American Game and the Nike Hoops Summit. Fultz went on to play one year at Washington where he quickly emerged as one of the top pro prospects in the country despite the fact that the Huskies finished with a 9-22 record, including a 2-16 mark within the Pac-12. He ranked sixth in the nation in scoring with a 23.2 PPG average, which marked the highest Pac-12 scoring average in the last 20 years. He also tallied 5.7 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.5 blocks per game, while shooting 47.6 percent from the field and 41.3 percent from 3-point range. Fultz totaled 65 points during his first two collegiate games, including a 30-point, debut effort against Yale. He established a UW freshman single-season scoring record with 579 total points. He led the Pac-12 in scoring, player efficiency rating (27.9), assist percentage (35.5 percent) and points produced per game (23.3). He was named to the First-team All-Pac-12 and was tabbed a Third-team All-American. Fultz declared for the NBA Draft on March 10, 2017.

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Draft Profile: Markelle Fultz

Dennis Smith Jr.
			G | 6'3" | 195 LBS.18.1 PPG | 4.6 RPG | 6.2 APG

NC State had gone 22 years without winning a game on Duke’s home court. That is, until Dennis Smith Jr. came along on Jan. 23, 2017, and led the Wolfpack to a massive upset at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The freshman point guard scored a career-best 32 points while guiding NC State to an 84-82 win. The Blue Devils had a chance to tie or win the game on the final possession, but Smith stole the ball from fellow projected lottery pick Jayson Tatum and ran the full length of the court to secure the win. The final buzzer sounded while Smith was racing upcourt, but he slam-dunked the ball anyway to put an exclamation point on NC State’s hard-fought, long-overdue win in Durham.

Possessions Scouted from 2016-17 Season:
OFFENSE: 20.3 percent of possessions
DEFENSE: 20.1 percent of possessions

Dennis Smith Jr. is a downhill point guard who is a fantastic scorer around the basket. He showcases strong instincts on drives, plays with a low center of gravity as he turns the corner around screens, and has great lift around the hoop.  He has good shooting mechanics and I trust that he will become much more accurate in the pros once coaches help him to clean up his shot selection.  Smith finishes at a high level with both hands in the paint and absorbs body contact as well as any downhill player in this draft.  Those are great talents to work off of.  However, he does not show great promise as a passer.  Smith lacks great vision; he doesn’t see many passes that quality passers would see.  He also lacks precision with his passes and is not a great decision maker.  Those qualities result in a turnover-prone point guard.  Smith has post-up potential with his strong build.  He reminds me of a bigger Kyle Lowry.  He struggles defensively with effort and attention.  Those are his biggest issues, combined with poor routes while chasing screens, but all of those be resolved through teaching.  His reaction times can be poor, which is a red flag.  He, at times, showcases good feet and hands and instincts.  He needs to play in a better defensive stance with a lower center of gravity.  He’s usually in the right place at the right time when he does give effort and pays attention.  Some of Smith’s best games came against NC State’s best competition, and he’s not afraid of the moment.  Overall, he is a prospect that can immediately contribute with his ability to attack defenses, but coaching will be imperative to his long-term success.  He has a lot of potential that remains to be fulfilled.

Dennis Cliff Smith Jr. was born Nov. 25, 1997 in Godwin, North Carolina to Dennis Smith Sr. and Helena Posia Owens. He grew up in Fayetteville, North Carolina, where he attended Trinity Christian School. During his sophomore season, Smith averaged 17.6 points, 9.3 assists, 6.9 rebounds and 2.4 steals per game, all while leading the Crusaders to a state title. The following season, he averaged 21.8 PPG and earned North Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year honors. His most notable performance came during the 2014-15 High School OT holiday invitational when he logged 38 points against an Orangeville Prep team that featured future NBA players Jamal Murray and Thon Maker. Heading into his senior year, Smith was the favorite to repeat as the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year, but on Aug. 7 he tore his ACL while competing at adidas Nations. One month after suffering the season-ending injury, Smith committed to NC State. He ended up graduating from high school a semester early, and enrolled in classes at NC State in January 2016. Smith fully recovered from his injury by the fall of 2016 and didn’t miss a game for the Wolfpack. As a freshman, he finished eighth in the ACC in scoring (18.1 PPG), first in assists (6.2 APG) and second in steals (1.9 SPG). His most notable performance came against No. 17 Duke on Jan. 23, 2017, when he logged a career-high 32 points to go along with six assists and four rebounds during an 84-82 Wolfpack win. He snagged the game-winning steal away from fellow projected lottery pick Jayson Tatum during the closing seconds, which secured NC State’s first win at Cameron Indoor Stadium since 1995. Smith also logged two triple doubles – a 27-point, 11-rebound, 11-assist performance during a 104-78 win over No. 21 Virginia Tech and a 13-point, 15-assist, 11-rebound effort during a 100-93 overtime loss to Syracuse. He became the only player in ACC history to log multiple career triple-doubles against conference foes.  The Wolfpack lost in the opening round of their conference tournament to Clemson and did not make the NCAA Tourney, but Smith walked away from his freshman season with ACC Rookie of the Year honors. On March 28, 2017 Smith declared for the NBA Draft.

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Draft Profile: Dennis Smith Jr.

Malik Monk
			G | 6'3" | 200 LBS.19.8 PPG | 2.5 RPG | 2.3 APG

The University of Kentucky has had its fair share of high-volume freshmen scorers over the years, but no rookie in program history ever put on a clinic like Malik Monk did this season. The Arkansas native established Wildcat freshman single-game and single-season scoring records, after scoring 47 points against No. 7 North Carolina and totaling 754 points over the course of the 38-game campaign. Monk’s offensive efforts resulted in him winning the Jerry West Award for the top shooting guard in the nation, and he’s widely believed to be the best at his position in the 2017 draft class.

Possessions Scouted from 2016-17 Season:
OFFENSE: 16.4 percent of possessions
DEFENSE: 20.0 percent of possessions

Malik Monk is an undersized 2-guard who plays with a shoot-first mentality.  That mentality is warranted, because he can shoot the rock.  Monk is an excellent shooter off of nearly every perimeter shot type.  He shoots it at a high clip off of the catch, off of pull-ups, off of dribble hand-offs and off of step-backs.  He has a quick release.  The negative to Monk’s offensive game is that he doesn’t provide much else outside of shooting.  He is a below-average scorer in the paint and is a below-average ball handler, particularly going left.  He will not create offense outside of creating his own perimeter shot.  He doesn’t have a quick first step and is not explosive off the dribble.  His defensive ability looks worse than it really is because he puts himself in bad positions by ball-watching; there were many instances this season in which he completely lost his man because he was watching the ball.  He showcases average reaction time defensively and average foot speed.  He gives up on plays and possessions.  He verbally placed blame on teammates on many occasions during game action, and whether it was warranted or not, that shouldn’t happen.  Monk will provide his future team with perimeter shooting, but as an undersized 2-guard who, for now, can’t play point guard, his upside is limited.

Malik Monk was born Feb. 4, 1998 in Jonesboro, Arkansas to Michael Scales and Jackie Monk. He has one older brother, Marcus, played Division I college basketball and football at the University of Arkansas. Marcus was an All-SEC wide receiver for the Razorbacks and was drafted in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears. The younger Monk attended Bentonville High School and was widely considered to be the top shooting guard in his class of 2016. During his senior season, he averaged 28.6 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game. He established a single-game program record with 53 points, and led the Tigers to the 2016 state title game. Monk was named Arkansas Mr. Basketball and earned 2016 Arkansas Gatorade Player of the Year honors. He also starred in the Jordan Brand Classic, as he logged 22 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals, and shared MVP honors with fellow University of Kentucky signee De’Aaron Fox.  Monk was ranked as the No. 11 overall recruit in the nation by 247Sports, was listed at No. 13 by Scout, and was ranked No. 9 by both ESPN and Rivals. He chose to commit to UK over Alabama, Arkansas, Florida State, Kansas and Oregon. Monk excelled during his lone season in Lexington, Kentucky, as he established a number of Wildcats scoring records. He averaged a team-best 19.8 points per game, while shooting 45.0 percent from the field and 39.7 percent from 3-point range. He scored a UK rookie-record 754 points and was the top-scoring freshman in the nation. Monk also set the UK freshman single-game scoring record on Dec. 17, when he tallied 47 pointson 18-of-28 shooting (including 8-of-12 from 3-point range) to lead the No. 6 Wildcats over No. 7 North Carolina for a 103-100 win. He scored 20-plus points 19 times and eclipsed the 30-point mark on four occasions. Monk earned a number of awards at season’s end, as he was named SEC AP Player of the Year, AP Newcomer of the Year and received the Jerry West Award for top shooting guard in the nation. Monk declared for the NBA Draft on April 4.

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Draft Profile: Malik Monk

Lonzo Ball
			G | 6'6" | 190 LBS.14.6 PPG | 6.0 RPG | 7.6 APG

Lonzo Ball began his college career this season as one of the most hyped freshmen in the nation, in part because of his prior success at Chino Hills High School, which he led to the No. 1 ranking in the nation, and in part because of his father Lavar Ball’s outspoken admiration. The 6-foot-6 UCLA point guard had no problem living up to the pressure, as he averaged 14.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 7.6 assists per game and was named Wayman Tisdale Freshman of the Year. Many believe that Ball is the top distributor of his draft class, which is no surprise after he led the NCAA in assists by a mile.

Possessions Scouted from 2016-17 Season:
OFFENSE: 20.1 percent of possessions
DEFENSE: 22.7 percent of possessions

Lonzo Ball is a pass-first point guard who makes his teammates better.  He makes the game look easy and plays with great poise on the court.  The ball is a part of him on the court.  He is a supremely talented passer who can make every pass in the book with soft touch.  He sees things before they happen and sets his teammates up for success.  He has outstanding anticipation and vision.  He’s decisive on the court, be it with a move he’s making, with a pass he’s making, or with a shot he’s taking.  Ball has a quick first step and covers a lot of ground quickly.  He drives with leverage and strength.  Ball has an unorthodox release, but he has a beautiful follow through.  It works for him, and I don’t anticipate it will result in his shot being blocked more often than a normal release.  He is an outstanding finisher in the paint with both hands.  He is a very good overall athlete who has the potential to be a high-level defender.  He has great feet and hips and lateral agility.  He gets around screens at a high level.  His only weaknesses defensively are that he doesn’t trust his teammates enough, and he doesn’t give great effort when he’s off the ball.  If he corrects those two issues and finishes all defensive possessions, he could become the best player to come out of this draft class.

Lonzo Anderson Ball was born Oct. 27, 1997 in Anaheim, California to LaVar and Tina Ball. His father played college basketball at Washington State and Cal State Los Angeles, before going on to become a professional football player for the London Monarchs of the World League of American Football. His mother also played college basketball at Cal State Los Angeles. Ball began playing basketball at the age of two. He, along with his two brothers LiAngelo and LaMelo, were all coached by their father until they reached high school. Ball attended Chino Hills High School in Chino Hills, California and played four years for the varsity basketball team. He committed to UCLA as just a sophomore, and his younger brothers later followed in his footsteps by committing to the Bruins’ program as well. During his junior season, Ball averaged 25.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 9.1 assists, 5.0 blocks and 5.0 steals per game. He then averaged a triple-double during his senior campaign, as he notched 23.9 points, 11.3 rebounds, 11.5 assists and 5.1 steals per game. The three Balls led the Huskies to a 35-0 record and a state title that season, while earning the consensus No. 1 ranking in the nation. Ball was named 2016 Mr. Basketball, an award that has been received by a number of Celtics players in the past, including Legends Paul Pierce and Bill Walton. Ball was also named Mr. Basketball USA, Naismith Prep Player of the Year, Morgan Wootten National Player of the Year and USA Today Boys Basketball Player of the Year. ESPN and Rivals both ranked him as the No. 4 overall recruit in the nation, while 247Sports had him ranked at No. 3 and Scout placed him at No. 7. Ball continued his success at UCLA, where he won the Wayman Tisdale Award as the top freshman in the country. He averaged 14.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and a nation-leading 7.6 assists per game, becoming the first player Pac-12 player to finish with such numbers since 10-time All-Star Jason Kidd did so during the 1992-93 season at Cal-Berkeley. He finished with a UCLA-record 274 total assists, which also surpassed Hall-of-Famer Gary Payton’s previous Pac-12 freshman record of 229 assists. Ball wasn’t only a productive distributor; he was also an extremely efficient shooter. He had the third-highest 2-point percentage in the nation with an absurd 73.2 percent clip, and also shot an impressive 41.2 percent from 3-point range. Ball nearly tallied a triple double during his collegiate debut on Nov. 11, 2016 when he racked up 19 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds during a 119-80 win over Pacific. He notched double-digit assist efforts on seven occasions, including a program freshman-record 14 dimes on March 4 against his father’s former team, Washington State. Ball and the Bruins earned a 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament, and they made it three rounds deep before falling to Kentucky. His top postseason performance came during the second round against Cincinnati as he logged 18 points, nine assists, seven rebounds and two steals en route to a 79-67 win. Along with his freshman of the year nod, Ball was a consensus first-team All-American and was one of five finalists for both national player of the year awards (John R. Wooden Award and Naismith Trophy). He also joined teammates Bryce Alford and T.J. Leaf on the first-team All-Pac-12. On March 25, moments after UCLA’s Sweet-16 loss to Kentucky, Ball declared for the NBA Draft.

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Draft Profile: Lonzo Ball

Zach Collins
			F | 7'0" | 230 LBS.10.0 PPG | 5.9 RPG | 0.4 APG

The Gonzaga Bulldogs earned their first NCAA title game appearance this spring, and it wouldn’t have been possible if it weren’t for Zach Collins’ dominant Final Four performance. The 7-foot center tallied 14 points, 13 rebounds and six blocked shots during the semifinal contest against South Carolina, as he led the Bulldogs to a 77-68 win and a trip to the championship game.

Possessions Scouted from 2016-17 Season:
OFFENSE: 21.3 percent of possessions
DEFENSE: 21.2 percent of possessions

Zach Collins is a thin 7-footer who is stronger than he looks.  One would expect him to be pushed around the paint at both ends of the court, but he certainly holds his own.  He is a pure post player who has a beautiful jumper that will develop in time.  For now, though, he operates in bulk out of the post.  Collins has outstanding footwork and body control, two keys to high-level post play.  However, his hands are average on the catch.  He finishes well over both shoulders and with both hands.  He demonstrates great patience in the post but can at times be caught in no-man’s land after picking up his dribble.  He is capable of taking the ball off the dribble in both directions from the mid-range or the perimeter.  His greatest flaw at the offensive end is that he lacks elevation.  His shot was challenged and/or blocked often at the collegiate level, which is a red flag.  He is a shot-blocker in his own right in help situations.  On the ball, he handles his own on the block, but there’s only so much he can do with his current body frame.  He had good hips and agility, which allow him to competitively defend forwards or guards on switches.  I expect Collins to be an adequate rebounder in the pros.

Zach Collins was born Nov. 19, 1997 in North Las Vegas, Nevada to Heather and Michael Collins. His father played Division I college basketball at New Mexico State, but sustained a career-ending injury during his freshman season. Collins attended Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, where he was a member of four consecutive state title-winning basketball teams. During his first three seasons, he served a backup role to center Stephen Zimmerman, who now plays for the Orlando Magic. Collins finally became the Gaels’ starting center during his senior season, when he averaged 17.3 points, 14.0 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 6.4 blocks per game. He set Nevada state records for rebounds and blocks in a single season, and ended up earning 2016 Nevada Gatorade Player of the Year honors. Collins was ranked among the top 50 recruits of his high school class by all major recruiting services. Rivals ranked him at No. 21 overall, 247Sports had him at No. 20, ESPN ranked him at No. 37 and Scout tabbed him at No. 37. Collins became the first All-American to commit to Gonzaga University, as he chose the Bulldogs’ program over San Diego State, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona and Cal-Berkeley. During his lone season at Gonzaga, the 7-footer averaged 10.0 points and 5.9 rebounds per game, all while leading the conference in shooting with a 65.0 percent clip from the field. He also finished fourth in the nation in true shooting percentage with a 70.3 percent mark. Collins logged three perfect shooting performances, including a 21-point, 9-for-9 effort on Dec. 21 against South Dakota. His best overall performance came during Gonzaga’s Final Four matchup with South Carolina, as he logged 14 points, to go along with career highs in rebounds (13) and blocks (six), while leading the Bulldogs past the Gamecocks and into their first NCAA championship appearance. He became just the third player in NCAA Final Four history to notch at least 10 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks, per ESPN Stats &amp; Information. Gonzaga faced off against North Carolina in the title game, and Collins recorded nine points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots. However, he was limited to just 14 minutes of playing time due to foul trouble. The center fouled out of the game at the 5:03 mark of the second half when Gonzaga was trailing 58-57. The Tar Heels went on a 13-8 run following Collins’ disqualification, en route to a 71-65 win. On April 11, eight days following the title game, Collins declared for the 2017 NBA Draft.

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Draft Profile: Zach Collins

Josh Jackson
			G | 6'8" | 207 LBS.16.3 PPG | 7.4 RPG | 3.0 APG

If you pay any attention to college recruiting services, the name Josh Jackson should certainly ring a bell. Rivals, Scout and 247Sports all ranked the 6-foot-8 guard as the top recruit in the high school class of 2016. Jackson lived up to the hype during his lone season at Kansas, as he put together one of the best all-around freshman seasons in program history by averaging 16.3 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game while shooting 51.3 percent from the field.

Possessions Scouted from 2016-17 Season:
OFFENSE: 21.0 percent of possessions
DEFENSE: 20.0 percent of possessions

There is no more natural small forward with high upside in this year’s Draft than Josh Jackson.  He has a natural, strong build for the position and showcases every ability a team would want out of its starting wing.  Jackson is a physical player.  He’s an outstanding rebounder for his position, with excellent timing and natural tracking of the ball.  Jackson showcases flashes of greatness offensively, as he can take the ball off the dribble with either hand and can create quality shots off of drives, pull-ups and post ups.  He finishes through contact.  His shot needs some work, though he shot it well at Kansas.  I think his motion can be tightened to his body a bit, and doing so may improve his percentages and consistency.  Jackson is a quick decision-maker; he reads defenses and makes decisions at an advanced pace and there is no hesitation to either pass, drive or shoot.  However, many of those decisions are poor as he tends to force things.  He is turnover prone but that can be cleaned up with quality coaching. He executes plays well and reads defenses well off the ball.  Jackson’s reaction time, strength and athleticism give him high-end defensive abilities.  He can defend most, if not all, positions.  He has great feet and agility.  He communicates well defensively, and he anticipates well in help situations.

Joshua O’Neal Jackson was born Feb. 10, 1997 in San Diego, California. He was raised by his mother, Apples Jones, and his late stepfather, Clarence Jones. Jackson attended Consortium College Prep School in Detroit, Michigan for two years, before moving to Napa, California to attend Justin-Siena High School and play for Prolific Prep Academy. During his freshman year at Consortium, Jackson averaged 17.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 4.0 blocks per game. He then broke out as a sophomore when he averaged 28.0 PPG, 15.0 RPG and 6.0 APG, all while leading the program to its first state title. Jackson didn’t skip a beat when he transferred programs, as he averaged 31.2 PPG, 17.6 RPG, 5.4 APG and 2.3 steals per game during his junior season at Prolific Prep. He then averaged 26.9 PPG, 13. RPG and 6.3 APG as a senior during the 2015-16 season. Jackson developed a well-decorated history with USA Basketball, having won gold medals at the 2013 FIBA Americas U16 Championship, the 2014 FIBA U17 World Championship and the 2015 FIBA U19 World Championship. Following his senior season, Jackson participated in the Nike Hoop Summit and the McDonald’s All-American game. During the latter exhibition, he logged a game-high-tying 19 points and earned co-MVP honors along with Duke commit Frank Jackson. Josh Jackson was widely considered to be the top recruit in the nation for the high school class of 2016. Rivals, Scout and 247Sports all ranked him No. 1 overall, and he earned the No. 2 overall ranking from ESPN. He committed to play at the University of Kansas, choosing the Jayhawks program over Arizona and Michigan State. Jackson immediately made an impact at Kansas as he logged one of the best freshman campaigns in the program’s rich history. The 6-foot-8 guard averaged 16.3 PPG (second all-time among Jayhawk freshmen), 7.4 RPG, 3.0 APG and 1.7 SPG, all while shooting 51.3 percent from the field and 37.8 percent from 3-point range. He set the program’s freshman record for double-doubles (13) and field goals made (220), while tying the rookie mark for total rebounds (258). Jackson was one of the top overall performers in the Big-12, as he ranked third in field goal makes fifth in field goal percentage, fifth in total rebounds, tied for fifth in steals (59), and sixth in points (572). Jackson led the Jayhawks to a 28-4 regular season record, which allowed them to earn a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and eventually earn the No. 4 ranking in the final USA Today Coaches Poll. Jackson nearly mirrored his regular season averages during the tourney as he tallied 16.3 PPG and 8.5 RPG. Jackson guided Kansas to wins in each of the first three rounds, but he was limited to just 10 points during the Elite 8 as the Jayhawks fell to third-seeded Oregon, 74-60. On April 17, Jackson opted to forego his sophomore season as he declared for the 2017 NBA Draft.

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Draft Profile: Josh Jackson

De'Aaron Fox
			G | 6'3" | 187 LBS.16.7 PPG | 4.0 RPG | 4.6 APG

De’Aaron Fox took part in – and dominated – the most prominent one-on-one battle of the 2017 NCAA Tournament when he faced off against fellow projected lottery pick Lonzo Ball in the Sweet 16. Fox scored a freshman tournament-record 39 points for Kentucky, while his UCLA point guard counterpart was held to just 10 points. Fox, who led the Wildcats in scoring during all seven of their postseason games, guided Kentucky into the Elite 8, though its run was halted there by eventual tournament champion North Carolina.

Possessions Scouted from 2016-17 Season:
OFFENSE: 17.2 percent of possessions
DEFENSE: 20.1 percent of possessions

De’Aaron Fox is unquestionably one of the top prospects in this year’s Draft.  He’s a lefty, downhill guard who is explosive off the dribble.  When he attacks, he attacks; the defense feels him when he turns the corner.  He is aggressive and has great instincts at both ends.  He glides to the basket after taking off, though his flight ends quickly when contact is made with defenders.  He has a well-developed floater.  Fox’s slim frame and lack of strength prevent him from being able to absorb contact in nearly any form at both ends of the floor.  He cannot finish through contact.  Fox is an accurate passer with strong vision.  He did not shoot the ball well at Kentucky but I believe he’s a better shooter than his percentages indicate.  He has great mechanics and arc on his shot; his percentages will improve.  Fox has great anticipation at the defensive end.  He’s a feisty defender and his quicks translate to the defensive end.  He has elite lateral quickness.  He has the potential to be an elite defender but must add strength to reach that potential; screens currently eat him up. Still, he’s an opportunistic defender who gives great effort.

De’Aaron Fox was born Dec. 20, 1997 in New Orleans, Louisiana. His mother Lorraine played Division I basketball at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and his father Aaron played Division II football at Fort hays State University in Kansas. Fox attended Cypress Lakes High School in Katy, Texas, where he led the basketball team to three straight district titles. The point guard put up incredibly consistent numbers during his first three high school seasons, having averaged 22.8 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game during his freshman season, 22.4 PPG, 7.4 RPG, and 4.2 APG as a sophomore, and 23.8 PPG, 6.1 RPG and 3.5 APG as a junior. Fox then took his scoring to another level during his senior campaign as he averaged 31.3 PPG, to go along with 7.2 RPG, 3.9 APG and 2.8 steals per game. He was named Texas Mr. Basketball, an honor that has been received by many former Celtics including Marcus Smart, Kendrick Perkins and Shaquille O’Neal. ESPN, Rivals, Scout and 247Sports all ranked Fox as the No. 6 high school prospect in recruiting class of 2016. He ultimately chose to attend the University of Kentucky over Arizona, Kansas, Louisville and LSU. Following his senior season, Fox played in the McDonald’s All-American game, the Nike Hoops Summit, and the Jordan Brand Classic. He was named co-MVP of the latter competition, along with fellow Wildcats commit and projected lottery pick Malik Monk. During his lone season at Kentucky, Fox averaged 16.7 PPG, an SEC-leading 4.6 APG and 3.9 RPG, all while shooting 47.8 percent from the field, 24.6 percent from 3-point range and 73.9 percent from the free-throw line. The point guard notched his highest assist total of the season in his debut on Nov. 11 when he dished out 12 dimes, while also scoring 12 points, against Stephen F. Austin. He tallied 14 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists on Nov. 11 against Arizona State. It was just the second triple-double in program history, and the first since Chris Mills in 1988. Fox was named the SEC Tournament MVP after averaging 22.0 PPG on 61.8 percent shooting from the field while leading the Wildcats to the conference title. He helped Kentucky earn a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament and led the team to the Elite 8 while averaging 21.3 PPG. Fox’s best performance came during the Sweet 16 when he faced off against UCLA’s Lonzo Ball, whom many tabbed as the top point guard in the 2016 recruiting class. Fox led the Wildcats to an 86-75 win with a freshman tournament-record 39-point effort, while Ball was limited to just 10 points. The Kentucky point guard was then held to just 13 points during the Elite 8, as the Wildcats fell 75-73 to the eventual NCAA champion UNC Tar Heels. He led the team in scoring during all seven postseason contests and averaged 21.6 PPG during that span. Fox was named to the First-team All-SEC, the SEC All-Freshman Team, was an All-American Honorable Mention and was a finalist for the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year award. On April 3, 2017, Fox decided to forego his sophomore season as he declared for the NBA Draft.