Atlanta Hawks: Prospect focus: Vanderbilt’s John Jenkins
The first time Larry Drew saw John Jenkins play live, during a workout in Santa Barbara, the Vanderbilt guard didn’t shoot well. The second time Drew saw him, at the Chicago pre-draft camp, Jenkins was “just OK” shooting it.
That changed during Jenkins’ workout at Philips Arena.
“He came here and he shot the hell out of it,” Drew said. “He has an NBA skill. He’s a guy that, watching him play and the way teams play him, it’s kind of that J.J. Redick feel. If he’s on the court, you better be with him at all times. It would be great to have a guy like that.”
Jenkins’ shooting display during his Hawks workout was no fluke. He was an elite shooter in college, posting the best effective field-goal percentage among D1 perimeter players.
Jenkins will have to prove he can do enough other things well enough to help offensively once defenders crowd his jump shot–presumably John Hollinger’s draft rater doesn’t like Jenkins (Insider) because of concerns about his ability to do so. His assist rate ranks last among DraftExpress.com’s top shooting guard prospects and his free-throw rate wasn’t much better.
The more pressing questions regarding Jenkins are his potential as a defender because he’s not particularly quick or athletic. Not surprisingly, Jenkins said teams have keyed in on testing his defensive ability during workouts.
“I’m a good shooter,” Jenkins said. “They know I can shoot and score the ball but they need to know if I can play defense. This league is so good, you have got to be able to defend, too. I just want to prove that I can.”
He apparently made a good case during his Hawks workout. Drew, Dave Pendergraft and Rick Sund all used the word “deceptive” to describe Jenkins’ athleticism.
Jenkins said he’s heard that a lot along the workout trail.
“They really underestimate it,” he said. “I didn’t show it so much at Vandy because that wasn’t my role and I didn’t get enough opportunities. But now that I’m in my individual workouts I can show that I can dunk the ball and do a lot of good things athletically.”
Jenkins rarely missed while putting up shots after his workout, but that was expected. I was surprised to see that Jenkins has good size. He’s legitimately 6-4 with long arms and broad shoulders.
Drew, Pendergraft and Sund all said they believe Jenkins has the potential to be an adequate NBA defender.
“I think so,” Drew said. “I think he’s got the package. It’s just the know-how. Knowing personnel, knowing how to defend certain guys, what they like to do. This kid, he’s a smart guy.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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182 comments Add your comment
High-sider
June 21st, 2012
10:10 am
O’Brien,
I’m going to ease up on the “blame game” rhetoric. Basketball is, in fact, a team sport and a team loss is ultimately on the team and not on one or two individual players.
Buddy Grizzard
June 21st, 2012
10:14 am
“If the Hawks are looking at a Vandy guy, they should pick Ezili.”
Major sleeper. This guy never saw a basketball before he was a teenager. Could have huge upside.
“LD evaluating in the draft? That’s a joke. Why I’m I even on this blog?”
Yeah this is the guy who thought Josh Powell should be the first big man off the bench in a playoff game, thought Bibby should play ahead of Teague and thought Pargo was a better option in the 4th quarter of Game 3 vs. the Celtics than Hinrich. Not the guy I want evaluating talent.
“If he gets past Houston and Orlando, the Hawks need to draft Marquis Teague.”
I’m already on record saying the Hawks better not sleep on Teague when backup point guard is the greatest area of need for this team with Hinrich’s departure and the marginality of Pargo’s abilities as a point guard.
Buddy Grizzard
June 21st, 2012
10:33 am
“With Jeff Teague being the incumbent Starting PG, I don’t think I would draft his brother to be his backup, unless his brother was heads and shoulders above who was left on the board.”
If Teague lasts until 23, he WILL BE head and shoulders above anybody left on the board. There’s a very good possibility that he could end up being the best pure point guard in this draft. Lilliard is a scorer. Marshall could be a bust. You’re telling me you wouldn’t want a player as fast as Jeff Teague with a similar skill set as your second line point guard? Backup point guard is this team’s greatest need. Who would you pick at 23 if Teague was still available among players you think will be there?
MsDee
June 21st, 2012
10:46 am
Totally agree with ya, Buddy Grizzard!!
OB,
Buddy Grizzard had a great question, “Who would you pick at 23 if Teague was still available among players you think will be there?” You mean to tell me we should NOT draft him due to the fact that, “Marquis is a rookie, he only played one year of college ball?” So the same should apply to the #1 draft pick, Anthony Davis, as well since he too only played 1 year of college ball. And Anthony PLANS ON STARTING! We just need Marquis to backup is brother who pretty much has the same skills.
Melvin
June 21st, 2012
10:49 am
Buddy,
I think Hawks have greater needs than a backup PG. If you could play Marquis and Jeff in the backcourt together than I would be ok with drafting the younger brother but I dont think either are big enough to play SG and their skill sets are similar (speed/quickness of the dribble) therefore I would rather look to draft a player that fills a position of need.
Astro Joe
June 21st, 2012
10:55 am
OB, Bill Simmons had this great editorial a few years ago about how the NBA “sells hope”. It was around the time that teams like the Knicks and Nets were dumping salary in “hope” of landing lebron or Bosh or Wade or one of those mega free agents. New Orleans is a huge market for people selling “hope”.
O'Brien
June 21st, 2012
10:57 am
From espn;
The Orlando Magic have hired Rob Hennigan to be the team’s new general manager.
Hennigan spent the past four seasons with Oklahoma City, including the past two seasons as the Thunder’s assistant general manager/player personnel. Prior to joining the Thunder, Hennigan spent four seasons with the San Antonio Spurs..
If I am an Orlando fan, I am loving this move. As a Hawks fan, it is disappointing that we are stuck with Rick Sund.
Astro Joe
June 21st, 2012
10:59 am
Melvin, I agree. I always think that your back-up PG should have a different skill set than the starter. In our case, i would prefer a bigger more traditional PG to back-up Teague… not a junior version of the same skill set.
Ra'mon
June 21st, 2012
11:07 am
MsDee, I think what he is saying is two vital points. One Teague is a rookie who has been shaken in big moments, so he would prefer to have a back up PG who has some type of experience with the NBA season. Also, you want to draft a player who has a CHANCE to develop into a starter with in the next two seasons. If Teague is going to be the point guard of the future, drafting another point guard now, is you essentially drafting a bench player, when you have bigger concerns at the wing position, and center depth.
Rick
June 21st, 2012
11:07 am
We dont need another person who can put the ball in the basket! Draft Fab Melo, stick him in the middle and watch the Hawks put Al at the 4 and Josh at the 3.
Melvin
June 21st, 2012
11:08 am
OB,
I agree. I think that’s a good move by the Magic. Hiring a guy that’s been apart of winning organizations (Spurs/OKC). I wish the Hawks would have done the same this summer. It’s time to part ways with Sund (and LD). However, I think the ASG is trying to keep things afloat until they can sell this team rather than making basketball decisions that would improve this team.
Najeh Davenpoop
June 21st, 2012
11:24 am
“It’s funny I’ve heard people call out Westbrook for being dumb and what not, but the fact still stands the Alpha Dog in the locker room is not Durant it is Westbrook unless Durant goes through a major overnight change I doubt that will happen this will remain the case.”
I don’t think KD’s problem is mental. He has made plenty of big shots and has actively taken a leadership role all season to try to deflect criticism from Westbrook. KD’s problem is purely physical. He is nowhere near strong enough to get open against physical defenders like LeBron. That is the reason the Thunder are losing.
Najeh Davenpoop
June 21st, 2012
11:24 am
“So far:
PG John Wall
SG JC2
SF Ariza
PF Okafor
C Nene”
I think they will draft Beal if he is available, and if they do, he would be the opening day starter.
Najeh Davenpoop
June 21st, 2012
11:25 am
^over JC2 I mean.
Najeh Davenpoop
June 21st, 2012
11:28 am
“I always think that your back-up PG should have a different skill set than the starter. In our case, i would prefer a bigger more traditional PG to back-up Teague… not a junior version of the same skill set.”
I would add to this that I’d prefer the starting and backup PG to be at least five years apart in experience. In other words, if I have a young PG like Teague, I’d prefer a veteran backup, and vice versa.
Najeh Davenpoop
June 21st, 2012
11:30 am
“If I am an Orlando fan, I am loving this move. As a Hawks fan, it is disappointing that we are stuck with Rick Sund.”
Really amazing that it is so hard for teams to figure out that coaches and front office people from successful organizations will generally be successful. The Magic get an executive from one of the best drafting organizations in the league. The Hawks get a retread executive from an organization that had just blown three consecutive drafts and finished in the lottery three years in a row.
Not that getting people from successful organizations always pans out as expected (I am not a big fan of Tom Dimitroff for example) but it seems to work generally.
MsDee
June 21st, 2012
11:32 am
@Ra’mon,
I understand what u are saying but again I go back to Buddy’s question, if Marquis is still available at #23, u mean to tell me u would NOT draft him simply because of skill sets the same as the starter?? And look, u have to craw b4 u walk. @23, coming off the bench would be pretty fair. Im sure if Marquis is drafted to us, Jeff would have rather been in Marquis’s shoes..atleast Marquis WILL get playing time due to the need of a backup PG verses Jeff who came when he wasnt needed.
Also u said, “One Teague is a rookie who has been shaken in big moments, so he would prefer to have a back up PG who has some type of experience with the NBA season.”
Playing Jeff in those moments IS what makes a veteran PG in the future, not to continue to take him out and replace him with some ‘OLD FART’ to eventually start having more starter minutes than him..I say, NO THANK YOU
Just Joe
June 21st, 2012
11:37 am
I think we would all prefer a veteran backup PG, but how do you get one to sign in Atlanta when we’re offering the veteran minimum just like all the other teams that are already better than us?
We saw it last year. The best veteran PG we could find was Pargo. We tried to get Watson, and he chose Utah. I don’t see us attracting a veteran to run our second unit. Drafting a player capable of filling that role would be huge. It doesn’t have to be Teague, but if he is available at 23, I think you take him. Wroten is also a possibility.
MsDee
June 21st, 2012
11:40 am
Now, dont get me wrong, I would LOVE to draft a SF/PF @#23 more than anything cause Marvin isnt going to EVER give us anything and there are more than enough SF/PF in this years draft who could be taking his place as early as yesterday, BUT, we would look like continual fools if we pass on Marquis at #23 only because of his same ’skils sets’ as the starter..just writing that statement makes no sense to me. If we had Chris Paul and we had a chance to draft a mimi me Chris Paul, u mean to tell me we shouldnt get him cause we already have an injury prone starter with his same skills sets????? LOL
Just Joe
June 21st, 2012
11:42 am
Also, PG’s and C’s have the most value in this league. Developing Marquis Teague could be a big time trade asset down the road
Dawg
June 21st, 2012
11:42 am
If we still had our extra 2nd round pick, we could pick Taylor with the 1st round pick, the Center from Vandy with our first pick in round 2 and then Sims with the last pick.
Instead, we paid for our owners to have more cash.
darrell starks
June 21st, 2012
11:53 am
Im a true Hawks fan, who want nothing but the best for this organization and these players, my biggest concern for the fans are we being short change from the product on this team, the Hawks have talent but can this coaching staff take them to next level.
One thing for sure i do no this Melo is the perfect fit for the Hawks a player who is legit 7′0 that can defend the paint better than any one this draft, he is getting a bad rap because he from Brazil and just now really learning the game of basketball, when first came America he couldn’t speak english but every year he has improve his english the same in basketball before he wasn’t in game shape that need much improvement, so what did he do in the off season work on his game and became big east defensive player of the year, school was very hard for him because of english so he had let it go and work more on his english and basketball.
Melo is the number #23 pick who is getting better in his game.
Draft him and starte him day 1 and move Horford 2 PF and Josh SF this will be a dominate defensive team in the NBA.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Najeh Davenpoop
June 21st, 2012
11:54 am
I would draft the best player available at #23 regardless of position. I think in nearly every case, drafting the best player regardless of position is the best strategy in the NBA, where positions are more interchangeable than in other sports. If the best player at #23 is Marquis Teague, so be it. No, he is not the ideal complement to Jeff Teague as the backup PG, but if he is the best player available at that time, at least you are getting a valuable asset you can use in a trade. Much better than reaching for someone at a particular position who turns out to be a bust with minimal or nonexistent trade value.
Just Joe
June 21st, 2012
11:55 am
The fact remains that we have two guards on this roster, and both have had recent injury concerns. This team needs depth in that area and won’t likely attract or be able to afford the better free agents on the market. Guard talent will have to be drafted.
Astro Joe
June 21st, 2012
12:02 pm
Let’s say that LD has to take Jeff out of the game because Deron Williams or Jeremy Lin is backing him down into the paint and scoring against him, what are you going to do, put in his little brother?
What if LD has to take out Jeff because Rondo or Jameer Nelson is using every trick in the book to use screens and picks to penetrate into the paint and cause havoc for the defense. What are you going to do, put in his younger and less experienced brother?
Hawks have too many holes to spend their 1st round pick on developing a player to be traded later (while other gaping holes exist).
Marcus
June 21st, 2012
12:03 pm
Sidenote:
New GM for ORL Magic – They hired from Rob Hennigan from OKC.
Can’t remember if he was one of the hot candidates, but he is from the OKC/San Antonio management tree.
Michael Cunningham
June 21st, 2012
12:04 pm
new blog posted. shutting down this thread.
darrell starks
June 21st, 2012
12:07 pm
http://youtu.be/D1gpQTUJgsQ
cp
June 21st, 2012
12:07 pm
I doubt Marquis Teague is there at 23. I could see Orlando, Dallas, Houston, or Denver taking him. If he is there I dont think you can pass on him.
I honestly dont think Taylor will be much better than Marvin. His biggest weakness is his lack of handle. I would love to get another guy in here who can create his own shot. They have a vid on Taylor showing his ball handling ability and it is not pretty. Although Green is seen as versatile the dude is a tweener. I dont think he is quick enough to defend sf’s and not big enough to defend pf’s.. Take the guy with the most upside at 23. Im hoping Moe Harkless falls to the Hawks.
MsDee
June 21st, 2012
12:08 pm
Exactly, Just Joe! No decent vet wants to come here to a bunch of owners who doesnt know how to run a basketball franchise, who runs their BIG mouths at the wrong time of the post season just to fire up a hungry future Hall of Famer, and also who is dumb enough to sell Kobe Byrant jerseys’ in the middle of Philps Arena when we are trying to support the Hawks. Where were the Joe Johnson’s, the Josh Smith’s and Horford’s jersey’s?? True, NO ONE would have bought them BUT it STILLS shows the proper support for your franchise!!!
tyger
June 21st, 2012
1:00 pm
1st Domino has fallen…
The Wiz just made the playoffs…
They locked down the low post w Nene, Okafor…
And still hold the #3 pick…Barnes, Lamb, Rivers???
They could still trade down…or out for a vet swingman…
With Walls, Veseley, Seraphin, Crawford, Singleton…
They have assets…
Really like Hawks workout invitees…
Draymond Green wont last until #23…
Neither will Quincy Miller…
John Jenkins in the 2nd round but
A couple of nice BIGs in second round…
What does talk of Jamal Crawford mean for Teague?
Jamal Crawford/Ray Allen – sounds good but doubtful…
JJ slides to SF enough to make it work but…doubt it…
But one thing for sure, the talk of Crawford, Allen, Green…
Tells us that Hawks looking for ballhandling scorers…
Raw size, speed and athleticism isnt good enough…
They need 5 toolers: Shoot, pass, dribble, rebound, defend…
Hard to run if star players cant go left or right…
Or take more than 3 dribbles without falling down…
Actually makes the case for re-signing Tracy McGrady…
Steve
June 23rd, 2012
10:20 pm
Tru nailed it with the first post. This team is going nowhere with an albatross contract given to a player at the deepest position in the NBA .. and only a slightly better than average, aging rapidly player at that.
No need to even pay attention to the next three drafts.