For the next month before the 2024 NBA Draft, we’ll take an in-depth look at different prospects here at Liberty Ballers and try to figure out which players would be the best fit for the Sixers at Nos. 16 and 41. Next up in this series is Duke’s Jared McCain.
Jared McCain was one of the top recruits in the country and delivered during his lone season with the Blue Devils. McCain was one of the best shooters in college basketball while showing plenty of feel, competitiveness and poise during Duke’s NCAA Tournament run.
Profile
2023-24 Stats: 36 games, 31.6 minutes, 14.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.1 blocks, 46.2% FG, 41.4% 3P, 88.5% FT
Team: Duke
Year: Freshman
Position: PG/SG
Height & Weight: 6’2.0” | 203.2 lbs
Born: February 24, 2004 (20 years old)
Hometown: Sacramento, California
Strengths
The easiest skill to see and the one that makes McCain a viable option in the top 20 of the draft is shooting. He’s good off the bounce, off movement and everything in between. He can hit threes. He can attack overaggressive closeouts by hitting midrange jumpers or crafty finishes near the rim. He’s not a point guard by any means, but he has excellent feel for the game and has a great understanding of spacing for a young player. While some of his teammates seemed to shrink in big moments, McCain often displayed great poise.
What he lacks in size defensively he makes up for with basketball IQ and a willingness to guard. He proved to be an effective pest for guards and is a savvy team defender. He plays with a controlled edge that’s mighty impressive for a 20-year-old.
Weaknesses
McCain is undersized at 6-foot-2 and doesn’t boast much of a wingspan or elite athleticism like a Devin Carter. While he’s a willing and smart defender, competing with NBA size will likely present a challenge. He also doesn’t have the requisite skills to run an offense — he’s not a great ball handler or facilitator.
Positional Fit
He’s definitely an undersized two with his ability to shoot the basketball but not much experience running an offense. Given his basketball IQ and work ethic, perhaps he could develop into a player that can give you minutes at the one, but as of now he’s best as a movement shooter with secondary playmaking skills. Given his toughness and smarts, he might be able to guard up as his NBA career progresses, but he’ll likely have to defend smaller guards exclusively early on.
Draft Projection
SB Nation mock draft: No. 18, Orlando Magic
McCain is likely not a plug-and-play player, but that’s OK. Daryl Morey spoke at his end-of-season presser about simply needing a pool of young talent to join the likes of Ricky Council IV. He also talked about shooting being the only thing a team absolutely needs in the modern NBA.
McCain has an elite NBA skill with his shooting and room for development in other areas. He also seems like a winning player with a great attitude. The future fit next to Tyrese Maxey could be murky, but McCain would be an outstanding prospect for the Sixers to invest in.