Texas Basketball: 3 NBA prospects to watch in the NCAA Tournament
1) Texas basketball NBA Draft prospects to watch in March: Kai Jones
No single Longhorns player had a more spirited discussion surrounding the rise in his draft stock in the last couple of months than the former underrated four-star recruit and breakthrough sophomore power forward Kai Jones. This 6-foot-11 and 220 pound Nassau, Bahamas, native is having a true breakout season in his second-year on the Forty Acres.
Jones was both named an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention selection and the Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year award recipient for his efforts so far this season. He’s played very well in more of a sixth man role coming off the bench, but the did get a trio of starts which came within the last five games.
As a whole, the lengthy, insane athleticism, and versatile nature of Jones’ game makes him a very valuable prospect that is likely going to be a lottery pick come the 2021 draft. No one was a faster riser in this Longhorns program up draft boards than Jones since the current New Orleans Pelicans big man Jaxson Hayes.
So far this season, Jones has averaged 8.8 points per game, 4.9 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.8 blocks. And he’s shot an efficient 57.2 percent from the field, 39.4 percent from beyond the arc, and 68.6 percent from the free-throw line.
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Jones is a very good outside shooter, has turned into a capable scoring threat from almost anywhere on the offensive end, and he’s a very solid defender down low. He’s a tremendous fit as a modern big man in the NBA.