2019 NBA Draft: Should Jericho Sims be considered a first round pick?
A big 2018-19 season is needed for Texas Longhorns’ talented to-be sophomore forward Jericho Sims to see a rise in his stock for the 2019 NBA Draft.
It’s only a short time until the 2018 NBA Draft is here, on June 21. However, it’s also not too early to look ahead to what the 2019 NBA Draft will hold considering we know who most of the top prospects are and where they’re going to school. And, you have a few players that are rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors that are looking to make their name known as potential first round picks.
One of those names to watch among players that already have a home in college is rising sophomore Texas Longhorns’ forward Jericho Sims. Much like current NBA Draft prospect in former Texas star center Mohamed Bamba, Sims is valued on his raw athleticism and physical tools.
In the most recent 2019 NBA Mock Draft from nbadraft.net, Sims fell at pick No. 27 in the first round to the Boston Celtics. Sims tends to project as a late first round or early second round pick depending on which pundit you follow.
An encouraging sign for Sims too is the way he improved and came through big for the Horns at the end of the 2017-18 campaign. Texas needed a solid run at the end of the regular season and through the Big 12 Tournament to garner a spot in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. And, Texas was able to do just that behind the efforts of some solid young players.
In his freshman campaign, Sims started in just 11 games. His role was minimized under head Texas basketball coach Shaka Smart. However, he’s very likely to see at least 20 starts this season with some key departures like Bamba, combo guard Andrew Jones (although it’s not official yet), and center James Banks.
In those 11 starts and appearances in 34 total games last season, Sims averaged 5.0 points per game, 3.9 rebounds, 0.2 assists, and 0.5 blocks. He needs to contribute more beyond just points and rebounds. But, his natural athleticism and ability to drive to the rim creates that noticeable gap in his stat line.
If Sims is selected in the first round of the 2019 NBA Draft, it would be with a team that has a clear role for him carved out. However, we’re judging his skill set too early and on too narrow of a basis if he shows some significant progression in the upcoming season.
With the ability to play as a small forward and power forward, Sims fits in well in the NBA given his size at 6-foot-9. He is great at creating space inside and is very slippery once he’s ability to find some room inside the three-point line.
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Given his body of work so far, the highest that Sims should be selected in 2019 is late in the first round. He looks more like a raw pick early or in the middle of the second round. That’s the light he should be regarded in at this point.