Jeffery Taylor: Highlights, Analysis and Pro Projections

Jeffery Taylor is one of the premier athletes and defensive players in the draft. He was a part of a strong Vanderbilt team that reached the NCAA tournament and was one of only two teams to defeat the Kentucky Wildcats during the regular season.

Taylor averaged 16.2 points and 5.6 rebounds per game in his senior season. He improved his scoring and shooting every year in college, and that will certainly appeal to NBA scouts.

In his sophomore year he shot nine percent from three-point range, but as senior he connected on 42 percent of his shots from deep. That is a huge improvement and a testament to his work ethic. 

Taylor was born in Sweden, and his dad Jeff played briefly in the NBA. Taylor came to the United States in 2006 and went to high school in New Mexico. He is considered a bit old for a NBA rookie, as he just turned 23, but there is no denying some of his skills.

ESPN's Chad Ford reported that Jenkins shined during a recent workout. He wrote:

"

As I walked into the gym on Thursday, scouts all wanted to see the same thing: What's his shot look like?

The answer? Taylor shot the ball very well in the workout. He's not an elite shooter by any means, but he consistently hit shots all the way out to the NBA 3-point line.

Given all the other traits he brings to the table, it's not out of the question that with great workouts he moves from the late-first to mid-first round.

"

Here is a scouting report on Taylor, highlighting his strengths and weaknesses. 

(Height, weight and stats per statsheet.com)

Profile

Height: 6'7"

Weight: 225 pounds 

School: Vanderbilt

Date of Birth: May 23, 1989

Best NBA Position: Small Forward

College Stats (key stats in bold): 16.1 PPG, 32.3 MPG, 49.3 FG%, 42.3 3FG%, 60.5 FT%, 1.7  APG, 5.6 RPG, 0.4 BPG, 1.3 SPG

Skill Grades

Athleticism: A+

Size: A

Intangibles: B+

Rebounding: B

Ball Handling: B+

Defense: A+

Shooting: B

Passing: B 

Post Game: C+

Basketball IQ: B+

Upside: A

Strengths

Taylor is one of my favorite players in the draft. He has big-time hops and explosion and he's physically strong. His combination of size and athleticism allow him to defend three positions.

His improvement from freshman year to senior year shows his work ethic, and though he is older than most teams would prefer, he brings maturity as a quality.

He has made tremendous strides as a shooter, but his biggest asset is his defense. He has the tenacity and ability to be a lock down defender in the NBA. He has the bulk to defend in the post, and the athleticism to guard on the perimeter. In my opinion, he is the most versatile defender in the draft.

Taylor has great upside despite his age, and he will be a steal if he's selected outside of the lottery.

Check out Taylor's hustle and athleticism in this highlight:

Weaknesses

Taylor's age can't be overlooked. In this day and age, most top-notch players are entering their fourth year at 23 years old. To put it in perspective, Blake Griffin, James Harden and Brandon Jennings are all 23 or will turn 23 this season.

Starting a NBA career at that age is less than ideal.

His ballhandling has improved, but he could still get a little better in this area. It will only help him become a more confident and potent scoring option. For all the work Taylor has put in on some aspects of his game, his free-throw shooting is lackluster.

As a senior he shot 60 percent from the line—his lowest total in four years at Vanderbilt. He has the ability to drive and draw contact, and possibly even develop a post-up game. If he can't make free throws, that will negatively impact his effectiveness.

NBA Player Comparison

Bigger, More Offensive Thabo Sefolosha

Sefolosha is a very underrated player in my opinion, but he is a bit one-dimensional. His game is predicated on defense, as he doesn't offer much in the realm of scoring.

In his six-year career, Sefolosha has averaged 5.4 points and 3.7 rebounds per game as a shooting guard, but scoring is not where Sefolosha brings the bulk of his value to the Oklahoma City Thunder. He earns his paycheck on the defensive end, and in my opinion, he is one of the premier perimeter defenders in the NBA.

Sefolosha is 6'5", 215 pounds. Taylor is bigger and has the ability to be the same type of defensive force on the perimeter, but his size will allow him to guard a wider variety of players.

Sefolosha did shoot the three better this season, but he'll never be a great scorer. Taylor may never be an elite scorer, but he has the potential to be a solid No. 2 or 3 option on a good team. 

The two compare as defense-first prospects with very good athleticism, but Taylor's ceiling is a bit higher offensively.  

Draft Projection

Mid- to late-first round.

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