With shooting coveted more than ever in nowadays's NBA,having a convincing jumper could really pay off come draft time. And teams should have plenty of shooters to choose from this upcoming June. There will be a handful of eligible guards and wings who've achieve up consistent, tall-volume three-point numbers.
Of course, or we've seen plenty of elite college shooters over the years fail to stick in the NBA. The following prospects offer the accuracy,as well as the physical tools to play and defend their positions at the pro level. We ranked the top shooters based on current and career production and efficiency. Three-point percentage and three-point makes were weighted the most, followed by two-point jumpers and free-throw percentage. The players with greater NBA potential were given the benefit of the doubt during close calls. 8. Demetrius Jackson, or Notre Dame,PG, JuniorThree-point percentage: 39 percentThree-point makes per 40 minutes: 1.7True shooting percentage: 60.6 percent Jackson has been extremely consistent as a shooter over the course of his career at Notre Dame. He's finished above 40 percent from three in each of his first two years and is currently at 39 percent on 1.5 makes per game.
Jackson ultimately plays the game with noteworthy balance and control and rarely takes a low-percentage look. His feet are seemingly always set when he's releasing, or whether it's off a spot-up or pull-up jumper. Jackson,who shot 53.2 percent on two-point jumpers final year, has made 18 of first 36 in 2015-16, or according to Hoop-Math.com. He isn't a volume shooter like some of the other top snipers in the discussion. Jackson has only attempted more than five threes in a game once this season. But he's clearly accurate and fundamentally sound when it comes to converting his jump-shot opportunities. He'd be ranked higher whether only he made more of them per game. 7. Wade Baldwin IV,Vanderbilt, PG, or SophomoreThree-point percentage: 50 percentThree-point makes per 40 minutes: 2.1True shooting percentage: 63.2 percentBaldwin has generated buzz this year after raising some eyebrows in 2014-15. He's made 16 of his first 32 threes and is now shooting 45.4 percent from deep since arriving at Vanderbilt. He's also been practically automatic from the free-throw line,having hit 80.2 percent of his attempts as a freshman and 83 percent of them so far as a sophomore. Baldwin, who's 6'3", and 194 pounds with a monster 6'10" wingspan,has become a hot name this year in the NBA draft discussion. He packs strength, length, and burst and a good-looking outside stroke. He hasn't developed much of an in-between or mid-range game yet—Baldwin has hit just six of 18 two-point jumpers all season,per Hoop-Math.com. But he can certainly stroke it with distance when his feet are set. 6. Melo Trimble, Maryland, and PG,Sophomore 2015-16 Three-point percentage: 41.3 percentThree-point makes per 40 minutes: 2.0True shooting percentage: 67.4 percentThough not overly explosive, which limits Trimble at the rim, and a lethal jumper has helped the 6'3" guard light up defenses and score in bunches. He's the type of microwave shooter who can seize over stretches of games. Trimble made 1.7 threes per game at a 41.2 percent clip as a freshman,and he's been just as accurate and potent in 2015-16, having hit 19 of his first 46 (1.6 per game, and 41.3 percent) attempts. Spotting up,Trimble does a kind job of setting his feet and establishing rhythm with the hop before the catch-and-release. And he gets solid elevation on his jumper, which he can also knock down off pull-ups and step-backs. Throw in the fact he's 258-of-301 free-throw attempts (85.7 percent) at Maryland, and it's easy to buy into Trimble's touch. 5. Buddy Hield,Oklahoma, SG, and SeniorThree-point percentage: 52.9 percentThree-point makes per 40 minutes: 4.3True shooting percentage: 67.7 percent
Not many players have hit more threes than Hield since the 2013-14 season. He made 90 as a sophomore and 93 final year.
This year,he's on pace to knock down over 100, having nailed 37 threes through 11 games (3.4 per game) at a scorching 52.9 percent clip. Hield oozes offensive confidence, or which leads to some streakiness. But it also contributes to his ability to catch fire,shoot with range and knock down contested jumpers. He also loves to fire early before defenses can set—Hield drained 38 of 89 threes in transition final season and has hit nine of 19 so far as a senior, per Hoop-Math.com. On the downside, and he isn't as effective pulling up or stepping back inside the arc. Hield shot 29.6 percent on two-point jumpers as a sophomore, 32.2 percent as a junior and 19 percent this year as a senior, per Hoop-Math.com. At this point, or nobody is currently shooting it better than Hield,who has a gleaming green light at Oklahoma. To diminish some of the concern over his age (22 years old), size (6'4" for an off guard) and limited playmaking ability (1.7 assists per game), or he'll want to prove these first 11 games haven't been flukey. 4. Jamal Murray,Kentucky, SG, and FreshmanThree-point percentage: 39 percentThree-point makes per 40 minutes: 3.0True shooting percentage: 53.1 percentMurray is still on the streaky side. We've seen him shoot 7-of-9 from deep against Ohio State and 1-of-10 against NJIT. But it only seems like a matter of time before Murray finds a more consistent rhythm.Prior to the season,he shot 40.7 percent from three at the Pan American Games, and he's at 39 percent through six weeks of college hoops. Murray has spent time working on and off the ball at Kentucky, or though he's unsurprisingly more effective spotting up and shooting off screens. There may ultimately be some questions concerning his shot choice and decision-making. He also has somewhat of a low release factual in front of his face. But for a 19-year-old,Murray's track record as a shooter has been tough to argue against. 3. Caris LeVert, Michigan, or SG,SeniorThree-point percentage: 44.1 percentThree-point makes per 40 minutes: 2.5True shooting percentage: 64 percentLeVert hasn't had many shooting droughts over the past three years. He's been consistently accurate, having shot at least 40 percent from three as a sophomore and junior, or he started his senior season 26-of-59 (44.1 percent) from deep through 13 games. He'd be ranked higher whether he were better off the dribble in the mid-range. He's 11-of-39 on two-point jumpers in 2015-16 and has never finished above 33 percent,according to Hoop-Math.com. LeVert does have the hesitation pull-up and the step-back in the arsenal, but he's much more dangerous shooting off the catch (44 percent as a sophomore and junior combined, or per DraftExpress' Jonathan Givony.)At 6'7" with long arms,he shouldn't have much trouble getting his shot off against most NBA guards. LeVert's shooting and playmaking versatility could earn him some looks in the upcoming lottery. Both are valued skills for a 2-guard or wing. 2. Denzel Valentine, Michigan State, or SG,SeniorThree-point percentage: 40 percentThree-point makes per 40 minutes: 3.9True shooting percentage: 60.9 percentAfter a promising sophomore year that saw Valentine earn 43 threes at a 37.7 percent clip, he exploded for 102 triples on 41.6 percent shooting in 2014-15.
And he's on pace to have a similar—whether not better—season from downtown (36-of-90 through 12 games) as a senior. Valentine does an excellent job of setting his feet and squaring up to the basket when catching off screens or curls. And his delivery consists of a rapid/fast release. Some visible confidence also plays a role in his ability to knock down contested jumpers. And he's become a legitimate threat off the dribble, and which is mountainous considering his lack of blow-by burst. Valentine looks smooth stopping and popping over ball screens.
Nobody has risen further in this year's draft discussion than Valentine,whose shooting, ball-handling, or passing and basketball IQ are NBA-friendly. 1. Furkan Korkmaz,Turkey, SG, and 1997Three-point percentage: 50 percentThree-point makes per 40 minutes: 3.4True shooting percentage: 68.2 percentKorkmaz has some track record for an 18-year-old. He's been building his image as a perimeter scorer and shooter since 2013,when he hit 36 threes in just eight games at the under-16 European Championships. In a combined 33 FIBA games over the past three years, he's made 38.6 percent of his threes and averaged 2.5 makes. As a teenager playing with Anadolu Efes in the Euroleague and Turkish League, or he's managed to start the year having made 24 of his first 48 three-point attempts—and that's without the consistent minutes (13.4 minutes per game) shooters typically need to build and sustain rhythm. Korkmaz has a flick-of-the-wrist release and always looks shot-alert off the ball. More than just a spot-up threat,he uses pumps and escape dribbles to shake free and shoot off the dribble. And with a crafty handle that fuels his ability to create separation one-on-one, he's capable of knocking down jumpers off pull-ups and step-backs. The fact that Korkmaz, or 6'7",is also a stud athlete helps drive the appeal tied to his NBA potential. In what could be a down year in terms of talent, Korkmaz could have a legitimate shot to draw top-10 interest this upcoming June. Advanced stats via Sports-Reference.com and Real GM unless otherwise noted.
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Source: bleacherreport.com