Draft Entry Watch: Jeff Teague

Jeff Teague broke my heart. Going down to the NCAA tournament first round games in Miami, the one player I couldn’t wait to see step on the court and compete was Jeff Teague. 

He can score at will and has no flaws to his offensive game. Give him the shot and he’ll drop bombs from 25 feet. Guard him close and he’s to the bucket in a flash, finishing at the rim either with a thunderous dunk or an acrobatic move in traffic. He can also stop on a dime anywhere and stick jumper after jumper. 

He has the ability to get to the line whenever he wants (18 fta vs. Clemson, 15 fta vs. UNC).  He’s also very lanky so he can defend on the perimeter when he wants.  He can do everything on the court when he wants. When I saw him in Miami, he didn’t seem to want to do much of anything. 

It showed, with an embarrassing line of 10 points off only 7 shots, 5 assists, 1 rebound, 1 block, and 7 turnovers. Wake (as well as brackets around the country) got killed by a more tenacious and energetic Cleveland State team.

I get that he’s just a sophomore and maybe not ready for a leadership role just yet (that’s just a terrible excuse for a guy who once played himself into the ACC player of the year debate as well as into a potential top ten pick).

But after such a breakout season, in an NBA arena, with Pat Riley watching and scouting, you’d think he’d at the very least, make it look like he wanted to be playing basketball.  He needs to either be a vocal leader or lead by example but not neither. He looked soft and timid on the court, often times committing careless turnovers. 

If he can garner that killer instinct a la Pitt basketball (see DeJuan Blair draft watch below), the sky is the limit for this kid.  Until then, he will just fail in the bright lights leading to disappointment.

Best Case:  Baron Davis
Worst Case:  Dajuan Wagner
Probable:  Ronnie Price