Jared McCain

[FarBeyondDriven]

someone remarked in another thread that we seemed to lack dedicated threads for some of the lottery talents beyond the half dozen we have. Well, here's one for McCain.

He's a very interesting prospect. Like with Sheppard and Dillingham he's playing combo guard. Like them, he's very capable of running an offense in college and like them he's excellent off-ball as either a scorer or secondary facilitator. I think talent-wise these three are very closely stacked. Great shooters, high BBIQ and hard workers. That said, I have McCain higher on my board for a few reasons.

1) he's the best off-ball of the three. Sheppard and Dillingham certainly perform well on C & S threes but they're mostly stationary as Kentucky slashers (them included) collapse the defense and it leaves guys wide open. McCain on the other hand is running all over the court, sideline to sideline, through screens and various actions. Like them he gets his fair share of wide open C&S threes but he also comes off curls resulting in mid-range jumpers and attacking the basket. Dillingham does some of this too but it's very rare for Sheppard. I think McCain is among the best off-ball players in the draft along with others like Karaban and Knecht. This ability guarantees him (and them) roles at the next level.

2) He's bigger. He's probably only 1/2 inch plus taller but he's wider with a more powerful base. This will allow him to defend better against bigger guys on switches. It's also surprisingly allowed him to post guys up though this will likely be limited to college

Here's a photo for size comparisons:

https://breaking-the-press.com/2023-mcdonalds-all-american-game-recap/

He's clearly taller and has tree trunks for legs. I'd say 6'2.5" to Sheppard's 6'2" and Dillingham's 6'1". Bronny at 6'3" and Collier at 6'4" to the left btw.

3) he can create for himself. Obviously not as good as Dillingham off the dribble but just as effective at getting by guys and creating for himself. Much better in this than Sheppard

4) he's a better rebounder. It's not just that he's bigger but it's that he takes pride in it.

Like with Sheppard and Dillingham it's unclear what will translate to the NBA. I think more of his game will than theirs which is why I have him in the lottery. I think he's Desmond Bane 2.0. There's a greater chance he replicates Bane's role but there's also a chance he improves his handle and lateral quickness enough to be able to play point guard and defend the position.

[The Moose]

He's the real deal, and should be firmly in top 10 discussions if not top 5 imo

Ability to get to the rim: shot 61% at the rim in the halfcourt on good volume and 77.4% unassisted

Elite shooter: 41% on 11 3pt/100, over 200 attempts. 88.5% FT. 61% TS for the season

Production against elite teams: 9.2 BPM vs top 50 teams in 14 games this season (only other guys at this mark since 2010 are Suggs, Smart, Mclemore, Beal and Simmons, all top 7 picks)

Wish he was a few inches taller, but still a very decent prospect

[Chuck Everett]

Need to see those measurements. I am a skeptic. He can shoot the ball though. I'm also not sure he can guard anyone without flopping.

[BigGargamel]

He was my pick to be the best guy taken outside of the lottery, but now I think he goes in the lottery, especially if he can show teams he can run the point.

[Notanoob]

On the negative side, he really looks like a straight up SG to me, but with PG size, and he's a sophomore aged freshman, and he can't defend anyone. All serious things to consider.

On the positive side, the shooting is absolutely legit. I feel like there are a lot of these guys these days, who you say "pair him with a SG sized dude who can run the offense for you". If you've got one of those, like Dallas, you fit him into the Seth Curry role of off-ball menace.

[namlede]

I mean he put up multiple 30 point games in the tourney as a freshman that’s got to count for something. How many freshman have done that? Not many I assume.

[esvl]

He lacks NBA size; he doesn’t nave any elite skills, even one. Meh at best.

[RyugaFan]

The shooting is pretty elite, it might be enough to keep him on a team. But yeah not enough to be a serious difference maker.

[76ciology]

McCain has short arms and has average vertical athleticism at best, but his great leg strength allows him to secure good rebounding positions and excel in lateral defense. Defensively, he has the potential to reach the level of Donte DiVincenzo and Josh Hart, who share a similar defensive archetype.

It would be ideal to complement him with lengthy players at the 3 and 4 positions who can roam on defense.

Offensively, he’s an elite shooter, with a game reminiscent of Seth Curry and J.J. Redick. He excels in shooting during transitions, catch-and-shoot situations, and pick-and-roll plays. However, unlike Curry and Redick, McCain also possesses a strong midrange game, featuring moves like up-and-unders, step-throughs, and turnaround jumpers.

Similar to Tyrese Maxey, during non-Embiid minutes, he needs to play alongside a power forward who can punish the defense if they switch.

In terms of potential, he’s on the same level as Knecht and Jakobe Walters. All three are likely to become borderline stars at best, with a slim chance of achieving full star status.

Jakobe Walters is not projected to contribute soon due to his low field goal percentage. McCain also shows way more maturity to his game than Walters. Meanwhile, Knecht's defensive flaws as a small forward might be harder to mask compared to McCain's as a shooting guard.

McCain is also easier to fit at the 2 if we’re aiming for the Paul George and Brandon Ingram sweepstakes at the 3. Drafting McCain would allow George or Ingram to play their natural position. On the other hand, if we draft Knecht, we would be forced to play George or Ingram at the 4, with Knecht at the 3, which might not be an ideal fit.

[The Moose]

4th straight 20+pt games, he's looking fantastic

[HadAnEffectHere]

I had McCain and Missi in my top 5 and I'm honestly shocked at how well my big board is holding up, lmao.

It was like

Sheppard
Topic
Missi
Risacher
McCain

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2311437&p=113496853&hilit=missi#p113496853

"
Reed Sheppard, Jared McCain, Nikola Topic, Yves Missi, and Cody Williams are the only guys with semi-realistic star potential (though none are likely to get there).

The draft just has very few players with high end skill or tools."

I don't think I have literally ever called my shots better before a draft.

[zimpy27]

He's looking like the ROY as of right now. Been very impressive.