Prospect Spotlight 2022: Jeremy Sochan

[Jamaaliver]

Jeremy Sochan

Capable of excelling as an athletic two-way player who can defend all five positions, and if he develops a jump shot he has limitless potential

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Height: 6'9"
Weight: 230
Age: 19.1
Year: Freshman

Ben Simmons, Draymond Green, Aaron Gordon

PLUSES

• Elite defensive prospect who can defend across all positions. He’s super active, a total pest for offenses. NBA switching schemes are perfect for his skill set. He has the toughness and strength to handle bigger players inside, plus the length and mobility to handle quicker players on the perimeter. He hustles hard, communicates, and displays excellent awareness all over the court. He can serve as a rim protector in pick-and-roll or defend at the point of attack. There is nothing he can’t do.
• Active on the boards and consistently boxes out. Following a defensive board, he’s a talented open-floor passer who rewards running teammates.
• He’s a playmaker with a fluid handle that features misdirection and sudden movements to generate space. At 6-foot-9 and 230 pounds, he’s too big for smaller players to contain. And even though he’s a limited shooter, defending him with a big means he’ll just drive right by them. He’s a potential mismatch nightmare with his combination of size and speed.
• Skilled interior player. He can score with either hand around the rim or take off from the dunker spot when he’s hit with a dump-off pass. When he attacks, he leans on a spin move. With a deep bag, he’s able to draw a ton of fouls. If paired with a knockdown shooter, he could feast on the short roll due to his combo of passing, handling, and finishing.
• Unproven shooter but his potential is intoxicating when he’s making turnaround jumpers from the elbow area. He has a high, unblockable release and the coordination to unleash tough shots. But his efficiency is an issue.

MINUSES

• Lacks a reliable shot. He’s made just 31.7 percent of catch-and-shoot 3s and only 57.5 percent of his free throws. He has a slow, methodical release off the catch that doesn’t look nearly as fluid as his pull-up. He’s shooting 35.7 percent on pull-up 2s and floaters, but hasn’t taken many pull-up 3s. Without a proven jumper, defenses will dare him to shoot.
• He hasn’t displayed the ability to successfully post up, which would be a valuable tool considering his size. Being able to post up a smaller player or draw double-teams would also mitigate the need for him to improve as a shooter, which is a much tougher task.
• Takes some occasional risks on defense, including mistakenly jumping passing lanes. And he’s not always on point with his fundamentals, such as closing out without proper technique. Then again, his risk-taking is also what makes him so disruptive.

PTS 8.7 .550 TS%
3P% 29.9 67 3PA
REB 6.1 14.4 REB%
STL 1.3 0.7 BLK

The Ringer

[Jamaaliver]

Jeremy Sochan, Baylor, Freshman



6-9 | PF | Baylor | Age: 18.8 | Big Board: No. 13

Sochan showed quite a bit of character during the Bears' short-lived NCAA tournament run, averaging 15 points, nine rebounds and three assists in 30 minutes while shooting 50% from 2 and 3-of-9 from 3. Sochan's energy, competitiveness, defensive versatility and toughness shined through in the second half against UNC and it's become increasingly clear that he's not only the best NBA prospect on his team, but a potential lottery pick if he can convince teams of his shooting throughout the pre-draft process. He fought until the bitter end against the Tar Heels, flying around at the top of the Baylor press, switching onto guards, battling inside, crashing the offensive glass, diving on the floor for loose balls and trying to change shots around the rim.

Sochan naysayers will question his elite NBA skill, which is fair. He has nice size at around 6-9 and 230 pounds with solid agility, yet he's not long (7-0 wingspan), isn't overly quick or vertically explosive and he's not much of a threat to score in the half court, which we saw against the Tar Heels.

UNC bigs dared him to beat them from 3, which limited Sochan's downhill attacks and led to some underwhelming possessions that highlighted his lack of a reliable jumper and somewhat limited burst off the bounce (4-for-14 from the field). If he can turn himself into a league-average shooter, then he'll be able to unleash the ballhandling and passing we saw this season and so regularly with the Polish junior national team.

Sochan has a chance to be an instant NBA contributor defensively as he's comfortable switching out onto guards, tracking big wings and has at least shown the willingness to slide up to the small-ball 5. He doesn't quite have the sheer reach and bounce to be a full-time protector at the 5, but the instincts are there (2.0 steals and 1.1 blocks per 40 minutes), and he's a solid positional rebounder who gravitates toward the ball and isn't afraid to mix it up in traffic. Being able to shift up to the 5 also makes him a far tougher cover offensively.

At 18 years old with the type of versatility NBA teams covet, I'd fully expect Sochan to be a potential riser in the pre-draft process as teams get to know him, dive into his FIBA tape and unearth his shooting potential. Even if he doesn't evolve into a reliable half-court scorer, Sochan could thrive in a Boris Diaw-like role as a playmaking forward who makes his teammates better, adds value with his defensive versatility and does a lot of the little things that impact winning.

ESPN Insider

[Jamaaliver]

2022 NBA Mock Draft

Atlanta Hawks: Jeremy Sochan



Forward -- Freshman -- 6-9 (Baylor)

Baylor’s Jeremy Sochan isn’t getting as much hype as his freshman teammate Kendall Brown. However, he is a comparably impressive prospect despite mostly playing in the second unit for the defending champions.

Sochan ranks as one of the best freshmen in the impact metric defensive box plus-minus. Plus, opponents are shooting just 5-for-35 (14.3%) on jump shots while averaging only 0.40 points per possession on those looks when defended by Sochan. That ranks in the 98th percentile among all D-I players, via Synergy.

To put it kindly, the Hawks could use a ton of help on the defensive end of the floor. Their scouting department could find that in Sochan. But he is also a willing shooter who has had no trouble hitting his shots off the catch, which makes him a dynamic prospect.

USA Today -- January

[raleigh]

He'd be a true "wild card" selection, wouldn't he? I know that Sam Vecenie has spoken about him (with mixed feelings) quite a bit over the past 2-3 months.

Last month, it was mostly positive:

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[Jamaaliver]

He'd be a true "wild card" selection, wouldn't he? I know that Sam Vecenie has spoken about him (with mixed feelings) quite a bit over the past 2-3 months.

Last month, it was mostly positive:

My only concern, is there too much overlap between Jalen Johnson and Jeremy Sochan?

Playmaking, 6'9" combo forwards with questionable shooting?

I might lean towards a SG/SF who can create his own shot...or a true defensive Center to bang against Giannis/Embiid. (Like Duke's Mark Williams.)

[Jamaaliver]

It’s just exceptionally difficult to ignore what Jeremy Sochan has done in the second half of the season for Baylor, as he’s entered the rotation at an even higher level and become an integral part of their attack. Over Baylor’s last 11 games, he’s averaging 10 points, nearly seven rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.4 steals. The numbers don’t look amazing. But it’s the flashes of what he could be capable of at some point that are tantalizing. He’s one of the most versatile chess pieces in the country, capable of handling the ball for stretches and creating offense as well as playing as Baylor’s anchor at the center position with Baylor’s big depth compromised because Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua is out for the rest of the year.

He’s the prototypical mismatch nightmare, a “positionless” 6-foot-9 wing who can attack bigs off the bounce with some hesitation and shake moves to get downhill and finish at the rim or with a floater. He loves to grab and go to put pressure on the defense and has the fluidity and balance to be able to do so. If a smaller guard picks him up in transition, he’ll bully that guy to the rim. If it’s a big, he can blow by. He can be the screener, or he can be the ballhandler out of ball screens. He’s going to have to improve as a shooter, but he’s already shown some real flashes in that respect this season despite making just 30 percent from 3.

More than that, Sochan’s defense is outstanding. He’s switchable and physical at the point of attack, plus he has good enough feet to slide with guards and enough length to contest in recovery. Baylor switches basically everything when he’s out on the court with Kendall Brown, and the two of them have allowed Baylor to essentially see no drop-off in defensive level despite losing three All-Big-12 defenders from last year’s national championship team. His hands are constantly active, and he gets deflections. I’m a believer in Sochan being really useful on that end. Maybe not quite All-Defense team level, but genuinely a plus and impactful.

All of that leads to a lottery grade right now in large part due to a lack of other options out there. But don’t get it twisted: Sochan’s upside is real, even if he might be a bit of a project early in his career while he works the jumper out. I’d bet coaches will buy into him playing early even despite that, just because he plays hard and has enough of a versatile skill set that he’ll help almost any team he’s on while playing unselfish basketball.

The Athletic

[Jamaaliver]

It's official. Now that I see JS is actually an international prospect with collegiate experience, I like him even more!!!

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[CP War Hawks]

Seems like a decent prospect, but I have other forwards of his elk above him: Liddell, Dieng, PBJ, Eason if they still are on the board. Then JJ is already on board, so there's that.

[Jamaaliver]

His all around game is reminiscent of AL Horford...for better or worse.

Ranking The Top 15 Bigs in the 2022 NBA Draft

5. Jeremy Sochan (Baylor, PF, Freshman)

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Signature strengths: Two-way versatility

Archetype/projected role: Swiss Army knife, defensive specialist

Jeremy Sochan caught scouts' attention without special athletic ability or much production. It's his projected NBA fit, archetype and role that seem valuable.

The 6'9", 230-pound forward spent time guarding all over the floor, with enough physical strength to match up against bigs, mobility to defend small and the IQ to make advanced reads. He's uniquely switchable from the arc to the block.

Offensively, though still raw, his skill set remains appealing for a power forward, especially if he can keep building on the open-shooting flashes.

Handling the ball around the perimeter, Sochan can put the ball down and score on the move after using a mix of spin moves, deceleration and angles. His delivery is slow but effective. He's shown unteachable counter-shot-making skills around the key that you just can't practice.

And he's a plus passer who likes to move after he dishes, which leads to easy baskets off cuts.

Sochan isn't the most explosive in transition or creative in the half court, so he needs to keep improving his jumper, as he finished 24-of-81 from three and 58.9 percent from the line.

Bleacher Report

[Jamaaliver]

The leader in the clubhouse [for teams picking in the 9-12 range] is Jeremy Sochan, an 18-year-old, 6-foot-9 freshman prospect hyped as a defender of all five positions, who can play small forward and power forward. Greenberg thinks that versatility could help the Knicks Atlanta.

“I really like Sochan,’’ ESPN’s college basketball guru, Seth Greenberg told The NY Post. “The size, skill, versatility, development and he’s got an edge to him...Sochan has a versatility about him and a monster, monster upside as a 3-4 combo...[Sochan] can shoot the ball and is a very good passer,’’ Greenberg said.

“He rebounds his position. His upside is great. He can put it on the floor with skill, has a pretty release. Just a really good feel for a young player and a competitive spirit that I really like. He’s a legit 6-9 player that has a floor game and plays multiple positions. He can step out and shoot, beat you off the bounce. He’s a guy who I think is really undervalued.”

NY Post

[Jamaaliver]

He's now seen as a lock for the lottery. I could see Travis actually making a move to trade up for this guy -- he'll end up in the vein of Ben Simmons and Draymond Green.

Jeremy Sochan, F, Baylor | Freshman

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Height: 6' 8" | Weight: 220 | Age: 18 | Last rank: 11

Teams spent much of the season quietly hoping Sochan would stay under the radar. That didn’t happen, as his immense basketball IQ and diverse skill set constantly popped in a way that belied somewhat modest production. Sochan feels like one of the safer bets in this freshman class to become a valuable contributor, as the rare energy big who also creates lineup versatility on both ends of the floor, capable of playing on the perimeter and guarding multiple positions while rebounding and finishing plays at a quality rate. I wouldn’t run to classify him as a wing, but it doesn’t really matter, which is kind of the point. He competes with a ton of grit and isn’t afraid to mix things up, which should facilitate a quicker adjustment to the NBA. If Sochan continues to expand his offensive game and improve his shooting, he could be extremely valuable in the long run. If he doesn’t, he should still be a longtime valuable contributor.

Sports Illustrated Big Board

[Jamaaliver]

If his 3PT shooting comes around, Sochan could be a two way monster. Think Rasheed Wallace without the temper.
Or Ben Simmons with a jumper.

Top Risers and Fallers in the 2022 NBA Draft

Jeremy Sochan | Forward | Baylor

Current ranking: 12 | Previous ranking: 16

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Intrigue in Baylor's one-and-done Sochan lies in his mystery. Is he a center? A power forward? A wing? A guard?

Answer: all the above?

He does a little of everything as a defender. Has size and physicality to bang in the post and the mobility to defend on the perimeter and match up with wings and guards, too. On offense he's got exciting tools as well, including some above average playmaking and passing for a player his size and the grab-and-go ability that opens up a team's transition offense.

Sochan just makes things happen. Always fighting, always in the mix, always making plays and wreaking havoc. A foxhole guy that teams will want in their corner. Screams lottery potential. As this process rolls along, they'll love his demeanor and work ethic, and it's why I think he's got a real chance in this draft to go inside the top 10.

CBS Sports

[Jamaaliver]

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[Jamaaliver]

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[Jamaaliver]

Man, I would love to get this kid in a Hawks uni!!!

If Travis trades up to #7 with Portland, Sochan or Dyson Daniels are the likely targets.

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[Jamaaliver]

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[Jamaaliver]

Atlanta Hawks Draft Preview: Jeremy Sochan

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Freshman | Power Forward | Baylor

19 years old
6’10”
230 pounds

Should the Atlanta Hawks find themselves in a situation where Ochai Agbaji, Malaki Branham, and Tari Eason are all off the board, and Jeremy Sochan is still available come the 16th overall pick, they shouldn’t hesitate to select the brilliant Baylor prospect and for a couple of key reasons.

The first comes down to the resemblance in-game style Sochan has to that of NBA 2021-22 Rookie of the Year Scottie Barnes. Possessing one big, athletic, towering frame, Sochan put forth an exciting display of his versatile talent in his sole season with Baylor, highlighting a little bit of everything with his scoring package while dominating the paint with elite rebounding and superior defense.

Similarly to that of Eason, Sochan predicated just about all of his success off the bench, averaging 25.1 minutes in 30 games played while only starting in one of them. So whether the Hawks choose to slot him in as a starter or not, Sochan would generate an immediate impact with his defensive resilience and offensive [versatility], something the Hawks would benefit from having.

Offense

Sochan's offensive numbers were nothing particularly flashy, only averaging 9.2 points per game on the season. But the gradual improvements Sochan displayed as the season moved on were very encouraging. In his final eight games of the season, Sochan was posting 12.3 points per game, scoring 17 twice and 15 in his last two games of the March Madness Tournament.

Because of his combined strength, quickness, and burst, Sochan is very difficult to stop when attacking the rim and crashes the glass at an elite level, especially on the offensive front. To add to it, Sochan runs the floor in transition really well and is an underrated passer for his position, nearly averaging two assists per game (1.8) despite averaging only 25 minutes on the floor.

Defense

The defensive talent that Sochan has is simply nothing short of spectacular and is arguably the biggest reason why he could go Top 10 in the draft this year. With the ability to guard all five positions on the floor and match both the physicality and speed both forwards and guards can throw at him, Sochan brings an aggressiveness and competitiveness to his defensive game that can be suffocating to work against, using his long reach to swipe away at steals and interrupt passing lanes.

Though he doesn’t have the best bounce yet to be a big-time rim protector (averaged just 0.7 blocks on the year), Sochan’s leaping ability, instincts, and close-out speed, do make him a dangerous shot-blocker, a skill of his that will only get better as he continues to grow into his athleticism and improve his defensive game.

Sochan's biggest question marks are his streaky shooting and inconsistency from behind the arc. Shooting just 29.8% from 3PT range and an anemic 58.9% from the free-throw line, Sochan will have to improve his effectiveness in those areas if he really wants to reach his full potential as an offensive threat.

Additional concerns are turnovers and foul trouble. Sochan had five games this past season where he logged four turnovers and had seven different games where he had four or more fouls.

Sochan’s upside is tied to his physical traits and overall skillset, and each are major reasons why he could be drafted within the Top 10 of the draft. Considering he’s only 19-years-old, one can only imagine the kind of untapped potential this bright young prospect really has.

Sports Illustrated

[Jamaaliver]

Pro Comparisons for 2022 NBA Draftees

Jeremy Sochan (Baylor, PF/C, Freshman)



NBA comparison: Franz Wagner/Jarred Vanderbilt

Even without creation or proven shooting skills, Jeremy Sochan could earn an immediate role with a team that values his defensive IQ and versatility. In that regard, he's similar to Jarred Vanderbilt, who became an important piece for the Minnesota Timberwolves by providing energy, stops and switchability.

Like Vanderbilt, he's mostly limited to off-ball finishing offensively. But for a 6'9" forward, he teased some Franz Wagner potential with flashes of spot-up threes, drives past closeouts and passing.

Regardless, NBA teams see offensive development worth betting on for a 19-year-old with translatable defense that creates a high floor.

Bleacher Report

[Jamaaliver]

This kid can be our Scottie Barnes.

Jeremy Sochan | 6-9 freshman | PF | Baylor

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A Polish citizen who grew up mostly in England, Sochan offers an alluring combination of present value and long-term upside as a high-energy forward with some shot-creation possibilities. Although he’s 6-9, Sochan can handle the ball and get to the cup with long strides and loosey-goosey quickness. He can make some decent reads as a passer, and he shot 60.7 percent inside the arc in Big 12 games. His shooting is more speculation but wasn’t as bad as the percentages make it seem (29.6 percent from 3, 58.9 percent from the line). His form needs work, but it’s not broken.

Sochan is better east and west than vertically; he’s quick, but he doesn’t pop off the floor. Relative to a player like Banchero, he offers more potential switchability and could even do work as a small-ball five as his body fills out. His tape against guards is very good, playing close enough that they can’t just walk into pull-ups, even contested ones, while still mostly holding his own when they tested his speed. Sochan leaves his feet too willingly and good crossovers sometimes leave him wobbly. He also had problems when dribblers got into his body, something that likely will become less problematic with more strength and experience.

Overall, we’re in a different area now in terms of risk-reward proposition. It’s possible Sochan is never anything more than an energy backup, but his upside scenarios are so tempting that he’s worth grabbing once my top seven names are off the board.

The Athletic

[Jamaaliver]

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