NBA Draft Profile: JaKarr Sampson

JaKarr Sampson, a sophomore forward from St. John's, declared for the NBA Draft recently. Most people see Sampson as an undrafted free agent. Sampson stands 6'9", 215 lbs and averaged 12.8 points per game and 6.1 rebounds per game last year as a member of the Red Storm.

The Good:
Sampson is an incredible athlete. He can absolutely jump out of the gym. He has good size and length as a 6'9" small forward as a next level to match his athleticism. He has a decent jump shot, but it is not nearly good enough to be a next level jump shot. He knows he is not a great shooter, and he takes most of his shots inside, leading to his 49.5% clip from the field. Sampson is a good rebounder for a small forward, and he can score off of putbacks easily. His handle is good enough for him to blow by defenders and get to the rim, but he is not a great finisher. He uses his speed and bounce to make it to the rim to get most of his baskets. He made 84.9% of his two-point field goals, which ranked 11th in the nation last year.

The Bad:
Sampson's jump shot. He has a decent mid range shot, but he is nowhere close to being a deep threat. He made one of his five three point attempts last season at St. John's. He has never really had a jump shot, or a free throw shot even for that matter. He only shot 56.5% from the free-throw line last year. His shot can be drastically improved.

The Low-down:
A small forward prospect without a jump shot, Sampson is one of the most athletic players in the draft. He will come off of the bench and provide rebounds and inside points for an NBA team.

Pro Comparison:

Rudy Gay

Draft Slot:
Second Round-Undrafted