2019 NBA Draft: 5 reasons Jaxson Hayes should be first round pick

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 22: Sterling Manley #21 of the North Carolina Tar Heels shoots against Jaxson Hayes during the 2018 Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational basketball tournament at the Orleans Arena on November 22, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images) /

4. Protecting the rim

The advanced metrics are very friendly to the case that Hayes is posting to be an early selection in the 2019 NBA Draft. Hayes is seeing his role steadily increase under head coach Shaka Smart, so his per game averages will come along as time moves along throughout the regular season. However, his per 40 minute averages are very indicative of what he’s able to do at the rim already.

Hayes averages 19.8 points per 40 minutes, 9.7 rebounds, 4.9 blocks, and 1.2 steals. He’s leading the team in blocks per 40 minutes by a large margin this season. Sophomore forward Jericho Sims is second on the team in blocks per 40 minutes behind Hayes at 1.5. That shows the value that Hayes gives the Horns as a rim protector on defense.

The production Hayes gives the Horns as a standout rim protector is further exemplified by the amount of blocks and rebounds he’s racking up per 100 possessions. He’s leading the Horns by an even larger margin in blocks per 100 possessions, over Sims, than he does per 40 minutes. Hayes averages nearly seven blocks per 100 possessions while Sims has just over two.

The NBA is starting to have more of a need for rim protectors with the speed and athleticism that Hayes has with the way the game evolved in the last five years. The only issue that Hayes has to iron out before he can see an even bigger jump in his 2019 NBA Draft stock is the personal fouls. He leads the team in personal fouls per 40 minutes with 6.4.

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