JJ Hickson at 16??

[Skates]

Just some chatter from Chad Ford that Hickson is working out very well and might move into the teens based on his workouts. One of the teams he has worked out for is the Sixers. Just a bit of Chad's comments on Hickson since they require Insider access:

"It shouldn't come as a huge shock that Hickson has wowed a few people in early workouts -- he's a very skilled big man who has an NBA body. Plus, he had an excellent freshman season.

"He's just incredibly strong for his age," Suns GM David Griffin said of Hickson after he worked out for the Suns. "He has a naturally thick body. He can bang on the perimeter, and he's also got a pretty quick face-up game."


Talent-wise Hickson is probably an equal to Speights IMO, although possibly even more raw. Reports that Speights does not have a great work ethic bother me. If Hickson impresses the Sixers staff the way Thad did last year I would be happy with him at 16 or maybe even after a move down a few spots and pick him and a second rounder up. Thoughts?

[SouthJersey]

I'm not going to lie, I havent seen nearly anything from him. However I would be willing to draft him at 16 if he shows he can play in the NBA. From what I've read about him, Im concerned with his offense tho.

[Sixers24]

I saw a good deal of JJ Hickson this past year living in an ACC market. I like his game a lot. I think he's got a lot of potential to be a real steal if he goes late in the first round. 16 seems like a bit of a reach, unless he keeps wowing people in workouts...but he's got talent and potential for sure.

[PhilasFinest]

like i said we in previous posts he could be a steal in this draft...
if he stayed in college another season he could be a lottery pick.
His knack for the ball around the basket reminds me of Thads...hes always in the right place at the right time and finishes arund the hoop so well...o and hes only 19.

if speights isnt there...id take Hickson.

[darius08]

Disappointing that we read about sixers workouts from Chad ford rather than on the sixers site.

[dbodner]

Hickson is extremely underdeveloped at this point. Even his strengths (clearly his post game) are very far from being refined. He greatly prefers the left block, and when he's forced to the right block, his effectiveness is severely hampered. He has a handful of go-to moves that he's extremely good at and he does very effectively. When you stop him from getting to those spots, he struggles. This resulted in him losing effectiveness as the year went on as teams got a good scouting report on him.

That being said, his footwork in the post is very good, and that's the hardest to teach. He's not the quickest off the floor, but he's got the strength and the length to play the 4 in the NBA successfully. His jumpshot's not consistent now (his release point is wildly inconsistent), but he seems to have solid touch and looks like he can develop a 17 foot jumper with some work.

I'm in the boat of really liking hickson as well. Probably more than Speights.

I wouldn't expect Hickson to come in and be an immediate contributor, because I do think it's going to be a tough initial adjustment for him, particularly defensively.

(although we said the same thing about Thad)

His game (strengths and weaknesses) remind me somewhat of Al Jefferson pre-draft, although I don't think he has the upside offensively Al has.

[Skates]

I saw him in one game this year and it was just enough to tell that he is an impressive physical specimen and pretty good athlete for his size. When the mocks first started rolling out in earnest he seemed to be chained to the very late first or early second round, which surprised me based on what I had seen and heard to that point. Like Speights he sounds like a very projectable big man with potential to play at a level greater than his likely draft position. Looking at the two of them as being fairly equal on physical terms, I would leave it to the Sixers to take the guy who iworks out and nterviews better and does better on their background review. That worked pretty well with Thad and Jason Smith last year. If we draft a project kind of guy I prefer to go with someone who will put in the work to reach their potential.

As far as learning about the workouts from Chad Ford instead of Philly sources, who cares. The new, more limited workout rules this year are probably going to result in more teams travelling to see guys work out on campus or at training facilities and less guys being brought into town. A lot of these workouts are being attended by multiple teams from what I hear and if they are out of town the lack of reporting locally is understandable. I want to hear who they are looking at as much as the next fan, but I won't mind being pleasantly surprised like we were last year with Thad (mind you I was pretty wary of the pick on draft night).

[PhilasFinest]

sixers.com doesnt have any workout reports lately but they added a few names to the possible prospects to select @ 16 which included:
Mareesse Speights and JJ Hickson...

i honestly wouldnt be mad with either one.They woth have upside and fill a need we really need...

again Hickson is only 19 but i truly think he has a ton of potential... 14.8 ppg 8.5rpg 1.5bpg in the ACC is still a feat imo as a freshman.

[tk76]

Why are you higher on Hickson than Speights? I haven't seen much of either, and am interested in what you have seen of them.

[SendEm]

This guy looks shorter and not explosive enough off of his feet. I can't recall a big body, non explosive, no handle young player like him ever developing to be any good. His skill level inside might be a cause for pause. Sometimes in life players develop advanced skills earlier than their peers to compensate for a lack of physical measurables. At this age you want to see this sort of player touring the country posterizing people like a young Barkley, Karl Malone, or Malik Rose. I get visions of Ike Diogu and Lonnie Baxter when looking at this guy. Also he currently isn't much of a shooter which is another red flag. A guy like Michael Beasley can do all of the same things inside as this guy PLUS push the ball up the floor PLUS shoot the ball with range PLUS penetrate through traffic. Hickson is far behind his 6'8" 19 y/o peer entering the NBA which is telling when projecting where the game is moving towards. Young basketball players in general have been developing faster over the years, it may be best to hold this guy responsible for NOT having more skills instead of looking at how well he makes simple shots inside. No telling what this guy may be after developing in the NBA for a few seasons, but that's with any prospect. What I don't see in him are any aspects of his game that would immediately place NBA men at his PF position at a disadvantage. He's most likely a second round pick unless this draft is far below average in talent.

[The Sixer Fixer]

A small clip and interview of Hickson's workout with Portland....

http://youtube.com/watch?v=trnCca0a2lg

I too like Hickson, but right now I'm kinda up in the air about which big I prefer there (assuming we go PF/C). I like/dislike things about Hickson, Speights, Koufus, McGee, Lopez, Arthur and Thomspson. I also like some late first early 2nd type bigs like Hendrix, DJ White and Hardin. Right now, I can't say I would be that disappointed with any of those guys. Obviously some are not candidates for #16, but if we were to acquire a late 1st/early 2nd rd pick, they would be an option.

Here's some interesting clips from the Suns workouts. Suns VP of basketball operations offers some feedback on guys like McGee, Speights, Lopez, Jawai, Budinger, Alexander and Batum. He seemed to think there is a good change Budinger pulls out of the draft.

Speights said where his next workouts will be...no mention of Philly on the list yet, but he said he would have more scheduled. Alexander announced this was his 4th workout and he has 3 more left then he's done.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=MO3HI3i5al8 (McGee, Speihgts, Lopez, Jawai)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=h5Z-pct9GZI&feature=user (Alexander, Budinger and Batum)

A couple other interviews..

Jawai - http://youtube.com/watch?v=AYOpmxWZL0g&feature=related
Jawai - http://youtube.com/watch?v=fSmcGQaqR3w
Hendrix - http://youtube.com/watch?v=TAiAL9RR_4w&feature=related
Hardin - http://youtube.com/watch?v=vyoEoHVfp6Q

[SendEm]

They might need to check Jawai's birth certificate. He looks like he should be RETIRED from the NBA. He looks like Darryl Dawkins in his late 30's.

[darius08]

why does hickson not have official measurements on draftexpress?

Am I missing omsethign?
http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-pre-dra ... ft=0&sort=

[dbodner]

He didn't attend the predraft camp.

[darius08]

Is it odd that he didn't attend at least to get measured or is that common?

[dbodner]

Well,
For the actual participation of drills/games, most of the people who believe they're top prospects don't attend.

The NBA then invites people they believe to be first round picks for the measurements.

He was invited to participate in the games, but he turned that down (as most top prospects do), expecting the NBA to invite him to the testing, which they did not.

He expected to go for the testing.

[darius08]

Thanks dabods. That's helpful.

[Howardmgm3]

Roll the dice and pick Ibaka at 16 if we cannot move up and pick Love or Randolph.
I do not see Speights, Hickson, Lopez, Koufos, McGee, Arthur as being at their best an average back up in the NBA.
Ibaka's raw athletic skills and size make his upside much higher. Or he might not be anything at all.
But at 16, roll the dice.

[PhilasFinest]

im not sold on Ibakas IQ for the game...we already have the problem with Sammy...i dont think i could go another couple years waiting for someone to "get it"

[Dedicated_76ers_fan]

I would trade out of this draft alltogether for a solid young big man. Like Portland's Channing Fyre. I don't need any more prospects. The chance they work out like Al Jefferson/Sam Dalembert=Really slim.