NBA Draft 2011: Why Jimmer Fredette Is the Most Overrated Prospect in a Decade
One of the most explosive players in college basketball history looks to make a smooth translation into the NBA. Sounds great right?
Not so fast.
Jimmer Fredette still has a lot to prove in terms of consistent scoring against talented competition (i.e. grown men).
Why?
We have seen plenty of kids coming into the league and struggle to make it because of the learning curve and talent, and it seems as if Jimmer won't be an exception either.
This slideshow will provide a few reasons why he is the most overrated player in the past decade.
Lack of Players on Offense
1 of 6
The kid is absolutely amazing when it comes to shooting three-point shots, but you must understand why he was putting those huge numbers up. BYU does not have much of an offensive scheme.
The overall BYU scoring average was 81.7 points per game. With Jimmer scoring 28.9 points per game, this leaves almost a 53-point gap between Fredette and the rest of his teammates.
Sure he can score, but I can too if I have the ball in my hands everytime we come down the floor during an offensive possession.
Mountain West Conference
2 of 6
Now I know some of you west Coast readers will disagree, but you can’t compare the talent level to those of bigger conferences. If Fredette consistently played in a better conference such as the PAC-12 or the Big East, he would not achieve the same type of numbers.
Want some numbers?
The Big East is one of the most storied conferences in terms of basketball prowess. For the 2011 NCAA tournament, the Big East had a record 11 teams make it.
As for the Mountain West? Three.
Now I understand he dropped 33 on Arizona and 32 in a loss to Florida, but do you honestly think he could do this through an entire conference schedule?
Defensive Footwork
3 of 6
Yes, I know Fredette had a pretty decent workout in terms of footwork with the Utah Jazz, but you can’t ignore the fact that his tape shows something different.
With the NBA averaging over 90 points per game, Jimmer must improve his footwork on defense. The Bob Knight Shuffle and Slide drill will be recommended to fix this issue.
If he does not, he will be exposed by faster guards in the league such as Rajon Rondo and Chris Paul.
Defensive Awareness
4 of 6
Fredette has shown a better effort on defense to guard some of the most athletic players in the league.
But on many plays during his college career, the tape shows him giving up on the play once he gets beaten on a break to the basket.
Sure, we understand that the BYU coaching staff wanted him to conserve energy on the defensive side of the basketball, but this is not college anymore. Fredette must adapt to longer games and more complex defensive schemes if he is to succeed.
Strength and Toughness
5 of 6
Fredette must learn toughness quickly if he is to have longevity inside of the NBA. As I have stated before, playing in the frontcourt, and slashing the lane is a necessity in the NBA to get other players on your team better looks.
Jimmer must become physically stronger in the paint to help him score off the dribble. Next, he needs to work on his body control once penetration is made towards the basket.
Media Attention
6 of 6
Year after year I continue to see great college shooters come into the league and get shut down by more athletic competition. Why?
The media hypes them up as the next best thing. People all over the coast have to hear these lame slogans and we just get tired of hearing them.
My Prediciton?
Another J.J. Reddick coming off the bench in three years.
