Wildly Unnecessarily Lengthy 2015 NBA Draft Board, Part 4: NCAA Centres
Ethan Jacobs
A decent player on a very small basketball program, Jacobs is included here for one reason and one reason only. As a 6'11" has-to-be-a-centre, Jacobs boasts a very nice jump shot. Be it through spotting up from the corner or wing, or when shooting a turnaround in the post, Jacobs boasts a soft touch on his jumper and a form as nice as any two-guards. With a decent eye for when are where to cut to the basket or spot up from the outside, as well as being big enough to throw over the top to, Jacobs creates these jump shot opportunities, and also shoots well from the line. As a pick-and-pop option and willing corner option, Jacobs spreads any floor.
Looking elsewhere reveals not much. A poor rebounding big man on a poor rebounding team, Jacobs's game is his offense, and his offense is his jump shot. He does not rebound outside of his area, does not try to, is slow and a bit unmotivated on the glass, and has little athleticism, leap or lateral foot speed. He is therefore not much use defensively - soft, below the rim and flat of foot, Jacobs cannot keep up, contest on the interior, close out on the perimeter, or do much other than stand in the paint with his hands up. Offensively, Jacobs's interior touch are almost all of the turnaround variety; he lacks other post moves, rarely gets to the line, struggles badly when contested at the rim and rarely handles the ball. Jacobs is frequently outpaced, outleapt or out-toughed, and he hasn't the extra level of effort to compensate for it.
T'is a good old jump shot, though. And having a corner three specialist centre is a fun claim.
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A decent player on a very small basketball program, Jacobs is included here for one reason and one reason only. As a 6'11" has-to-be-a-centre, Jacobs boasts a very nice jump shot. Be it through spotting up from the corner or wing, or when shooting a turnaround in the post, Jacobs boasts a soft touch on his jumper and a form as nice as any two-guards. With a decent eye for when are where to cut to the basket or spot up from the outside, as well as being big enough to throw over the top to, Jacobs creates these jump shot opportunities, and also shoots well from the line. As a pick-and-pop option and willing corner option, Jacobs spreads any floor.
Looking elsewhere reveals not much. A poor rebounding big man on a poor rebounding team, Jacobs's game is his offense, and his offense is his jump shot. He does not rebound outside of his area, does not try to, is slow and a bit unmotivated on the glass, and has little athleticism, leap or lateral foot speed. He is therefore not much use defensively - soft, below the rim and flat of foot, Jacobs cannot keep up, contest on the interior, close out on the perimeter, or do much other than stand in the paint with his hands up. Offensively, Jacobs's interior touch are almost all of the turnaround variety; he lacks other post moves, rarely gets to the line, struggles badly when contested at the rim and rarely handles the ball. Jacobs is frequently outpaced, outleapt or out-toughed, and he hasn't the extra level of effort to compensate for it.
T'is a good old jump shot, though. And having a corner three specialist centre is a fun claim.