Kam Jones
Guard
Seasoned 3-level playmaker who generates paint touches at will.
While his perceived ceiling is limited by his age and subpar athleticism, Kam Jones has the chance to be much better than folks anticipate. Role diversity and historic productivity are the pitch. In his younger NCAA years, Jones’ most pro-ready traits were his movement shooting and off-ball aptitude. But as a senior, Jones took the keys to the offense and turned into a usage machine and star lead initiator. Across roles and usage rates, Jones has remained a productive player, posting 7.4, 8.6, and 9.3 BPMs in each of the last three seasons.
Jones didn’t just excel initiating Marquette’s offense: he turned in one of the most dominant slashing seasons in recent history. He scored 4.84 unassisted shots at the rim per 40 minutes, higher than any of the 200+ guards in my prospect database that dates back to 2011. De’Aaron Fox had 4.25 in his pre-draft season. Ja Morant had 4.03. Shai? 3.08. Jones doesn’t win with a crazy first step, but rather supreme pace, crafty ball-handling skills, and feathery touch. He’s a ground bound finisher, but wins on a diet of scoops, extension finishes, and close-range pull-ups. Even without elite lift, Jones finished a blistering 59.3% of his shots inside the arc for his career on 789 attempts.
But perhaps Jones’ largest development this season was his playmaking ability. Jones used his scoring gravity to set up teammates very well this season, recording a 38.1% assist rate. I’d describe him more as a steady drive-and-kick guy rather than a gunslinger, but he maps the court well and still puts the occasional WOW pass on tape. Despite having the ball in his hands all game, he maintained an exceptional 3.2 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Many will point to shooting as a potential question mark. He did struggle from behind the line this season, finishing 31.1% from three. But going into the year, Jones was at 38.3% on 600+ attempts. Jones is not gun-shy, putting up tough pull-ups from deep and tough off-screen jumpers. This wouldn’t be the first time we’ve seen a good shooter’s percentages dip after scaling up: Austin Reaves shot 27.7% as “the man” at Oklahoma after going 45.1% in an off-ball position at Wichita State.
The real concerns with Jones surround his lack of physical tools, which affect him on both ends of the floor. While he’s a fairly apt team defender, he’s probably merely survivable at his ceiling given his lack of strength and foot speed. And despite being a paint touch machine, he struggles to generate contact and get to the foul line. Regardless, Jones’ encouraging development curve and vast array of offensive skills make him a safe bet to stick in the league. He’s a guy who has found success in a variety of roles, easily adaptable to most pro situations.
Will Morris