NBA mock draft: The Utah Jazz and our composite top 30 picks
By Ryan Aston
Middle First Round (Nos. 15-20)
. Wing. Michigan St. Spartans. Miles Bridges. 15. player. 142
High mock: 9 Low Mock: 17
Height: 6-7 Weight: 230 Wingspan: 6-8.5 Age: 20
2017-18 Stats: 17.1 PTS, 7.0 REB, 2.7 AST, .457 FG, .364 3PT, .853 FT
Miles Bridges has been a good finisher and has shown strong instincts at moving without the ball and finding his spots on the floor. He was a good spot-up shooter in college and, defensively, has the mobility you want to see in today’s switch-heavy NBA. He’s also a sneaky good rebounder.
Bridges lacks the length you want to see for a player of his size. Some have questioned his motor.
66. . Guard. Texas Tech Red Raiders. Zhaire Smith. 16. player
High mock: 13 Low Mock: 19
Height: 6-4 Weight: 195 Wingspan: 6-10 Age: 19
2017-18 Stats: 11.3 PTS, 5.0 REB, 1.1 STL, .556 FG, .450 3PT, .717 FT
Zhaire Smith has consistently beat people off the dribble and used his length and power finish at the tin. That length also gives him upside as a backcourt defender. Smith is explosive on both ends of the floor. He was a good 3-point shooter at Tech, albeit on just one attempt per game.
He needs to prove that he can be a shooter in the Association. He’s not a guy who will really crate shots for himself, so when his dribble-drive fails, he doesn’t have a lot else to offer. Hence the importance of proving himself with that shot.
Wing. Oregon Ducks. Troy Brown, Jr.. 17. player. 89.
High mock: 16 Low Mock: 20
Height: 6-7 Weight: 210 Wingspan: 6-10 Age: 18
2017-18 Stats: 11.3 PTS, 6.2 REB, 1.6 STL, .444 FG, .291 3PT, .743 FT
Troy Brown is an incredible athlete, is super young and, as such, has massive upside potential. He’s also a solid ball-handler and a sneaky good passer. On top of that, Brown is a really good defender who can check backcourt and frontcourt players. With the right developmental program you can really see him outperforming his draft position in a big, bad way.
He has climbed draft boards throughout this process, but there is some cause for concern. Dude can’t shoot a lick.
Guard. Villanova Wildcats. Donte DiVincenzo. 18. player. 29.
High mock: 16 Low Mock: 22
Height: 6-5 Weight: 200 Wingspan: 6-6 Age: 21
2017-18 Stats: 13.4 PTS, 4.8 REB, 3.5 AST, .481 FG, .401 3PT, .710 FT
J-Notes Co-Expert Jared Woodcox: “One of the first things that stands out to me about DiVincenzo is his simple will to win. He’s a grinder that makes a conscious effort to do a little bit of everything to ensure his team comes out on top. Those attributes are skills that can’t be taught, regardless of if a player has all the talent in the world or not.
Not only that, but he’s far from just an “intangibles” guy. In his final year at Villanova, DiVincenzo shot an impressive 40.1 percent from behind the arc on 5.3 attempts per game to go along with 48.1 percent from the field.”
. Wing. Maryland Terrapins. Kevin Huerter. 19. player. 125
High mock: 17 Low Mock: 2nd Rd
Height: 6-6 Weight: 195 Wingspan: 6- 7 Age: 21
2017-18 Stats: 14.8 PTS, 5.0 REB, 3.4 AST, .503 FG, .417 3PT, .758 FT
Myself, last month: “During his sophomore season, Huerter’s play caused images of J.J. Redick and/or Kyle Korver to dance in one’s head — he was a deadeye shooter from distance with deep NBA range. On the whole, he knocked down nearly 42 percent of his 5.5 3-point attempts per game. As a result, he increased his scoring to just under 15 points per game.
He did so as a deadly catch-and-shoot player who routinely killed opponents off of screens, hand-offs and spot-ups. All the while, he displayed a silky smooth stroke befitting an NBA sharpshooter. The 19-year-old is also a good shooter off the dribble and a crafty ball-handler, driver and finisher, although he’ll have a harder time utilizing the latter skills in the Association”
player. 86. . Guard. Boston College Eagles. Jerome Robinson. 20
High mock: 18 Low Mock: 29
Height: 6-5 Weight: 190 Wingspan: 6-7 Age: 21
2017-18 Stats: 20.7 PTS, 3.6 REB, 3.3 AST, .485 FG, .409 3PT, .830 FT
Jerome Robinson is low-key maybe the best shooter in the draft. His form and release should translate very well to the next level. Robinson feels like a scorer of the Kevin Martin ilk. He can create his own shot, is capable off the dribble and has a good handle.
Having said that, he doesn’t have an incredible first step. His length and reach aren’t bad, but they don’t hump out at you either. Also — he’s one of those older guys with less upside, in all likelihood.
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