Potential Player for our 1st Round Draft Pick: Jalen Brunson

Who is Jalen Brunson?

Jalen Brunson is a 6'2" lefty point guard that can really score the ball and consistently makes good decisions. He is 21 years old and a junior.

Where's he from?

Brunson is from Lincolnshire, Illinois and plays his college ball at Villanova (teammate of Josh Hart).

What make him worth a first round pick?

The biggest thing in his favor is that he has experience playing in big games and was a contributing factor on a championship team.

He is also one of the best scorers in the NCAA and a really good decision-maker in the half court. He leads the Big East in field goal percentage (53%), is second in eFG% (.625) and TS% (.655), and in the top 10 in points (19.5 ppg), assists (4.9 apg), free throw attempts (4.2), and pretty much every other offensive category. He's been the best player on one of the best teams in the entire NCAA.

Brunson is proficient at scoring from all three levels. While he lacks the top tier explosiveness of some other guards, he makes up for it by using his 200 pound frame to bump defenders off course and has the craftiness to finish around shot blockers. Not afraid of using his body to seek out contact and draw fouls. Use fakes, pivots, and jump stops near the basket and on the perimeter. Can use either hand to finish at the rim.

He's got a good handle and can create enough space for pull up jumpers. Good crossover and uses dribble combos better than any guard in the country. Has great acceleration and can stop and start with the ball very well. Is a threat from the triple threat position. Is a good shooter (40% from 3, 82% from FT) and can function off the ball as a catch and shoot player. Possesses a good pull up 3 and punishes teams that go under and his great mid range jumper allows him to score on teams that go over on screens.

He doesn't make many mistakes with the ball in his hands (only 1.6 tpg) and can handle ball pressure. He's got good court vision and can make the basic passes as well as the advanced ones needed to function as a lead guard in the NBA. He plays with great pace and doesn't rush into mistakes. Is a fundamentally sound player and consistently makes the right plays.

He fills a positional need at backup PG and brings a scoring punch and playmaking ability our backcourt desperately needs.

Final notes:

Brunson may have some trouble defending more athletic players at the next level and doesn't have the length (6'3" wingspan) to provide strong shot contests. But what he can do on the offensive end probably outweighs this concern. We've been looking for a steady backup point guard who's a scoring and playmaking threat and here he is. Brunson has some Andre Miller and James Harden in his game (more Miller than Harden) and has enough strength to hold off drives when in good position. He's a high-quality player and makes winning plays. We should definitely keep him in consideration.