The Most Eye-Popping Stat of Every Top 2015 NBA Draft Prospect
With the college hoops regular season wrapping up, it's time to dish out the most eye-popping statistic from each top 2015 NBA draft prospect.
These studs are on an express train toward the Association, and it's reflected in their dominance against NCAA and international competition. Some of the percentages, averages and advanced metrics are absolutely mind-boggling.
Not all of their stats are eye-popping in a good way, however. For a couple of the prospects, we focused on marks that were alarmingly deficient.
We examined the draft candidates who are projected to land in the top half of the lottery, digging up their most fascinating number. The prospects are listed in order of their draft value.
7. Kristaps Porzingis, Latvia PF: 4.5 Rebounds Per Game
1 of 7
Vitals: 19 years old, 7'0", 220 pounds
For a 7-footer who plays more than 20 minutes per night, 4.5 rebounds is a minuscule amount. Kristaps Porzingis averages fewer than five boards per night in both the ACB Spanish League and against Eurocup teams.
Over a 40-minute stretch, that's just 8.3 rebounds, which is not enough for someone with his length.
To give you a comparison, Philadelphia 76ers draftee Dario Saric is a full two inches shorter than Porzingis, but he grabs 9.3 per 40 minutes. He's also a player who spends time on the perimeter, yet he manages to gobble up more rebounds than the Latvian tower.
Porzingis' low board-snatching rate illustrates a bigger question surrounding his game. Is he strong and assertive enough to player the power forward or center position in the NBA?
His outside shooting will be a nice addition for his team, but he will also have to take care of business when he's in the paint. Controlling the glass involves not only a powerful body but a strong playing style.
6. Mario Hezonja, Croatia SG/SF: 8-of-8 3FG in 1 Game
2 of 7
Vitals: 20 years old, 6'8", 200 pounds
We could point to Mario Hezonja's high per-minute scoring rate or his robust three-point shooting percentages, but the most eye-popping stat he's produced came in one day.
On Feb. 1 against La Bruixa d'Or Manresa, the Croatian swingman scored 24 points in 23 minutes via 8-of-8 shooting from the three-point line.
Against any opponent, that kind of production and efficiency is impressive. The long-distance explosion exhibited how the 20-year-old can pile up points and light up opponents in a hurry.
"He's absolutely captivating on days when he's able to lock in and find the zone," said Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman. "He has beautiful shooting mechanics and fluidity, as well as the size to release over his man and the balance to gather and rise off movement."
5. Stanley Johnson, Arizona SF: 29 Offensive Rebound Putbacks
3 of 7
Vitals: 18 years old, 6'7", 243 pounds, 6'11.5" wingspan
Stanley Johnson leads the Arizona Wildcats in offensive rebound putbacks with 29, according to Hoop-Math.com.
That's incredible, considering he plays on a team with big boys like Kaleb Tarczewski, Brandon Ashley and rangy forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. They all have longer wingspans, but it's Johnson who flew in for more caroms.
Johnson's instincts, strength, motor and athleticism help him thrive on the glass even though he's a wing. His offensive rebounding percentage is 9.7, per Sports-Reference.com, which is good for top-10 placement in the Pac-12. It's outstanding for a small forward to average 3.1 offensive boards per contest.
His relentless work on the glass is just one of the factors that make him a versatile specimen in this draft class.
4. Emmanuel Mudiay: .574 Free-Throw Percentage
4 of 7
Vitals: 19 years old, 6'5", 200 pounds, 6'8.5" wingspan
Reliable free-throw shooting is something that every point guard should strive for. In crunch time, coaches ideally like to give the rock to their best ball-handler, but that only works if he's accurate from the stripe.
That's not the case for Emmanuel Mudiay, who made just 57 percent of his charity tosses during his 12 games in China this season.
Before and after his ankle injury, he failed to consistently connect from the line. In his final two games for the Guangdong Southern Tigers, he went 9-of-16.
These struggles are closely connected to his shaky jump shooting. He's still ironing out his mechanics, as he often waits too long to release and delivers a low-arcing shot. Mudiay sank just 34 percent of his three-pointers, but the sub-60 percent mark from the free-throw line is a more eye-popping stat for a guard.
3. D'Angelo Russell, Ohio State G: 25 Multi-Triple Games
5 of 7
Vitals: 19 years old, 6'5", 175 pounds, 6'8.5" wingspan
In 25 of Ohio State's 30 games this season, D'Angelo Russell found a way to bury multiple triples. In 14 of those games, he sank three-plus.
His 43 percent mark from beyond the arc is not the artistry of a low-volume catch-and-shoot specialist.
He attempts six-plus triples per game, and 48.8 percent of those tries are unassisted, per Hoop-Math.com. And despite his aggressiveness from the perimeter, he manages to convert at a high rate.
"The thing I talk about with him is finding the equal push and finishing high on his follow-through, and not short-arming it," Buckeyes coach Thad Matta told Bill Landis of Cleveland.com. "When he does that he's pretty effective."
Russell's three-point prowess is what sets him apart from the other playmakers in the 2015 draft class. Lottery teams looking for a guard with an NBA-ready stroke are fixated on Columbus' young gun.
2. Karl-Anthony Towns, Kentucky PF/C: 76.2 Defensive Rating
6 of 7
Vitals: 19 years old, 6'11", 248 pounds, 7'3.25" wingspan
Karl-Anthony Towns is all over the place for the Kentucky Wildcats, and he deserves every bit of the praise he's getting. He's a versatile frontcourt prospect and legitimate contender for the No. 1 overall pick.
He doesn't just put up big individual numbers as a scorer and shot-blocker. He drastically affects Kentucky's bottom line, and he's the most valuable asset to the Wildcats' stifling defense.
Towns' defensive rating of 76.2 (an estimate of points allowed per 100 possessions) is tops in the entire NCAA. That a shiny decoration to put on his resume.
Besides having ultra-long arms, how does he deliver such a seismic defensive impact? Mobility and agility.
Towns can do more than stay in front of his man in the post and steer him out of high-percentage opportunities. He's also quick and athletic enough to help from the weak side, and he can defend on the perimeter against face-up attackers and pick-and-rolls.
As long as Towns works on staying disciplined and improves his foul rate, he'll be a defensive monster in the NBA.
1. Jahlil Okafor, Duke C: .665 Field-Goal Percentage
7 of 7
Vitals: 19 years old, 6'11", 272 pounds, 7'5" wingspan
Jahlil Okafor's 67 percent field-goal percentage is phenomenal considering his usage rate and self-created opportunities.
He's not a dunk-or-nothing player like Willie Cauley-Stein, DeAndre Jordan or Tyson Chandler. Duke's anchor has tried a variety of low-post moves and fought through double-teams to get his buckets. He's used his soft shooting touch and great sense of angles to shoot over opponents and use the glass.
According to Hoop-Math.com, 48.8 percent of Okafor's field-goals are unassisted. That means he's generating a huge chunk of his own offense via drives, rebounds and back-to-the-basket finishes.
His efficient numbers are driven by veteran-like footwork, ox-like strength and deft coordination. Okafor's knack for smoothly putting the ball in the hoop is what draws the comparisons to Tim Duncan and Al Jefferson.
Note: Unless otherwise indicated, all stats come from Sports-Reference.com/CBB and are current entering March 7.
Follow Dan O'Brien on Twitter for more NBA Draft coverage: @DanielO_BR
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
