Sixers preliminary profile: Jared McCain has 3-tier scoring potential originally appeared in NBC Sports Philadelphia
The Sixers selected Jared McCain with the 16th overall pick. Below is our pre-draft NBA profile, originally published on May 30, on the Duke guard. Follow to learn more about the choice.
A scouting report on NBA draft prospect Jared McCain:
McCain is the latest in a long line of five-star recruits to enter the NBA draft after playing one season at Duke. His role in Duke’s offense increased as the season progressed and he became the first Blue Devils freshman since Zion Williamson to have multiple 30-point games in the NCAA tournament. He was more efficient than a typical freshman, shooting 46.2% from the field, 41.4% from three-point range and 88.5% from the free throw line en route to 14.3 points per game.
Forces
McCain is a natural scorer and does so in a variety of ways. He attempts nearly six three-point shots per game and is comfortable shooting, dribbling and step-back dribbling.
Duke had a senior point guard in Jeremy Roach, so McCain was used primarily in an off-ball role early in the season. But late in the season, especially in the NCAA tournament, McCain had more opportunities with the ball in pick-and-roll situations and scored efficiently both by driving and making shots when defenders went under screens. He displayed a beautiful tentative dribble that can freeze defenders running toward the arc to contest shots.
McCain’s mid-range game is impressive and gives him the potential to become a three-tier scorer in the NBA. When he overcomes an initial lockout, he is excellent at finding space to make elbow jumpers. Without getting too crazy with an All-Star comparison, he’s a bit reminiscent of Devin Booker in that facet of his game.
McCain is a surprisingly good rebounder for a 6-foot-1 guard; he averaged 5.0 rebounds for the season and grabbed double-digit rebounds six times in 36 games. He also has quick hands as a help defender and has recorded 1.1 steals per game.
Weaknesses
McCain was primarily used as a point guard at Duke, but at 6-foot-2 he excels more as a point guard in the NBA. He showed flashes of talent as a point guard in his only college season, but averaged just 1.9 assists. Teams will have to make some projections to determine if McCain can flourish as a playmaker at the NBA level.
He is not a great vertical athlete, which could affect his ability to score points at the basket and his mid-range game. It all worked in college, but will it work against bigger, faster, stronger NBA athletes?
Defensively, McCain has a strong build, weighing over 200 pounds, but he will have to prove he can stay in front of the speedy guards he will see in the NBA because he doesn’t have the height to defend bigger wings.
Adjust
I can’t shake the idea that McCain could be a 20-PPG NBA scorer hiding in plain sight, both because his college usage was low for a player of his talent and because of questions about whether he’s a point guard or a point guard. I think he is a highlighterperiod.
He knows how to get open and can become a lethal send-off option for Joel Embiid when the big man draws double teams.
McCain could also play with or without the ball, like Tyrese Maxey does. Maxey and McCain would be a small backcourt, but McCain is basically the same size as De’Anthony Melton and we’ve seen Maxey and Melton have a lot of success sharing the court. While McCain is unlikely to generate turnovers at the same rate as Melton, McCain has the potential to be a significantly more impactful offensive weapon.
