New York Knicks: Five best NBA Draft prospects in 2019 Final Four
3. Ty Jerome, Virginia
Age: 21
Height, Weight: 6-foot-5, 195 pounds
Slash Line: .435/.399/.744
Season Averages: 13.3 PPG, 5.4 APG, 1.6 SPG, 2.1 3PM
Ty Jerome has played for a handful of terrific Virginia teams, including averaging 10.6 points and 37.9 percent shooting on three-pointers in 2017-18. With a slightly larger role and experience garnered, he delivered another very good campaign in 2018-19.
Standing out for shooting and ball handling, Jerome made 2.1 three-pointers and just missed 40 percent shooting behind the arc entering the Final Four. That includes hitting 11 of them in the NCAA Tournament.
Jerome’s standout performance was the Elite Eight win over Purdue, when he had 24 points (one shy of his season high), five rebounds and seven assists.
A 6-foot-5 frame plays to Jerome’s advantage, which is above average for a point guard and partially makes up for his lacking athleticism. Despite the size, he only has a 6-foot-2 wingspan. That leaves defensive potential to be desired.
If anything, Jerome’s best chance to stick is as a spot-up shooter. The shot is there, and he makes them efficiently, even as the shot attempts rise.
How much does that push his draft stock? A fringe first-round pick seems possible in this class, with the floor as a mid-second-round selection in June. The New York Knicks can use depth from behind the arc, but is this enough to offset the physical questions?