Has Baylor's Perry Jones Played His Way Out of the NBA Draft's Top 10?
By Jason McIntyre
I don’t care that Perry Jones dominated Texas (22 points, 14 rebounds) or Oklahoma (21 points, 12 rebounds), or that he’s 6-11 and has the handle of a small forward and runs like a gazelle. Here’s what the ridiculously talented (nobody’s arguing that) Perry Jones has done in Baylor’s three biggest games this season:
at Kansas (blowout loss): 8-17 FG, 1-2 FTs, 18 points, 5 rebounds
vs. Missouri (loss): 4-7 FGs, 0-0 FTs, 8 points, 4 rebounds
vs. Kansas (blowout loss): 1-8 FGs, 3-4 FTs, 5 points, 3 rebounds
Should we blame Scott Drew for not getting Jones shots, or for Jones not calling for the ball? How, in three games against Top 10 teams, does Jones attempt just six free throws? His “desire” and passive nature have been written about plenty, but Jones returning for his sophomore season was supposed to eliminate some of those issues. Unfortunately, they’re still major, major red flags.
Who wants an unassertive 6-foot-11 small forward in the lottery? Jones is definitely going in the lottery, but last summer he looked like Top 5 material; I don’t think he’s Top 10 right now.
Here are the 10 guys, right now, I’d take in the draft ahead of Jones:
1. Anthony Davis, Kentucky
2. Austin Rivers, Duke
3. Brad Beal, Florida
4. Jared Sullinger, Ohio State
5. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Kentucky
6. Harrison Barnes, UNC
7. Andre Drummond, UConn
8. Jeremy Lamb, UConn
9. Terrence Jones, Kentucky
10. Thomas Robinson, Kansas
The only name on that list you could quibble with is Terrence Jones, who like Perry Jones likes to float on the perimeter. But Jones is tough – perhaps to a fault – shoots better from three, and might be a more nature NBA fit at small forward. What about John Henson, the rail thin power forward from UNC? Would you prefer him to Jones? How about 7-footer Tyler Zeller? You know what you’re getting from him (scoring ability, blocks, rebounding).
Previously: New Orleans Hornets Fans Can Start Dreaming About Their Two Lottery Picks in the 2012 NBA Draft
Previously: A 2012 NBA Draft Lottery Prediction, One Year Early