Atlanta Hawks: Hawks select John Jenkins and Mike Scott in draft
The Hawks selected Vanderbilt sharpshooter John Jenkins and Virginia forward Mike Scott in the draft.
Jenkins was projected to go later in the draft than No. 23 but Larry Drew said the Hawks didn’t think he’d even make it to them.
“When Boston made the No. 22 selection, there was a lot of happiness in the room that John would be there,” Drew said.
That presumably means the Hawks weren’t waiting on Syracuse center Fab Melo. It definitely means they preferred Jenkins, 21, to prospects that might have more potential to improve such as Tony Wroten and Perry Jones.
At first glance, that doesn’t seem to fit with Danny Ferry’s focus on long-term development. But Drew said Jenkins has room to improve while providing an NBA skill now.
“He is a guy that has potential to get into rotational lineup,” Drew said. “But being a young kid, he’s a guy that can grow and provide some youth for us. He is a kid that wants to be the best. We have to think about not just the present but the future”
No doubt Jenkins was an elite shooter at Vandy.
“I like people that can shoot and he can definitely do that,” Ferry said. “He plays hard, hes’ a competitive kid, really tries to play the right way. When he’s on the court he will make shots and make it almost make it a four-on-five games because you can’t leave him. He’s got decent length for his size. We were encouraged he was there when we were picking.”
At Vanderbilt Jenkins wasn’t much of a passer, didn’t get to the free-throw line and didn’t rebound. All of those things will be much more difficult to do in the NBA.
There’s also a question of whether Jenkins is athletic enough to be an effective defender.
“He cares, and if we have a good system where he can play five-man defense, I think he will be a good job,” Ferry said. “He will play smart. I think he will compete every play. Again, you will have to go around to the other and and chase him around. He’s a dangerous weapon.”
Scott is an undersized, over-aged (24 next month) power forward who was awarded a fifth year at Virginia because of a medical hardship. He was a decent rebounder who increased his scoring efficiency during his time at Virginia as he developed a jump shot.
Ferry said Scott is strictly a power forward.
“He’s got the strength to be able to play the four position,” he said. “He’s got the strength. He’s a good 16-foot pick-and-pop player that can also finish around the basket and rebound. I think he’s got a chance to be a good player. He’s going to have to come in and compete both ends of the floor, do what coach Drew wants him to do.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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270 comments Add your comment
Rod from College Park
June 29th, 2012
11:12 am
“My only issue with the Mike Scott pick is if we re-sign Ivan to backup Josh, when will Mike Scott play? In blowout games, or if Ivan gets in foul trouble?”
It means Ivan is gone. The one guy on the team that played with toughness, and scared everyone except Zaza is gone. I think he a Drew had problems anyway after the season started. We got more ‘NICE GUYS”. Don’t know much about Scott, but it hard for me to believe that is is more NBA ready than Ivan. Maybe it is a money thing.
Rod from College Park
June 29th, 2012
11:21 am
“I wonder what Grandmaster Jeje (GM) and Rod From College Park gots to say about the draft.”
Not impressed Clyde. Not impressed. We have seen this before. Salim, Ed Gray, Rodney Monroe. Undersized 2 guards who can shoot. Being a shooter means nothing if you dont run plays to get shooters open.
Rod from College Park
June 29th, 2012
11:23 am
LD said Jenkins shot light out when they worked him out. Where have I heard that before (Marvin). Wonder did they have anyone guarding him?
JD Swampfox
June 29th, 2012
11:32 am
Love the Jenkins pick. The kid is a gamer. Saw him play several games at Vandy; he’s shoots lights out. Reminds me of Reggie Miller and Ray Allen with his release. His game will open up things down low for Josh and Al. Plus he’s a gym rat, works his butt off, strong family guy with family in Atlanta. A good, hard working kid who can score tons. Let’s give him and the team a chance. Go Hawks!
SteveW
June 29th, 2012
11:32 am
It’s like the Hawks were using NBAdraft.net to make their selections. Jenkins was rated 24 with them, and Scott 40.
Jenkins it likens to Dell Curry and JJ Reddick – I can live with that, especially Curry. He was a favorite player of mine.
Scott it had no NBA comparison, meaning they don’t think he’s going to make it….
I don’t like NBADraft.net’s rankings – it had Derrick Williams #1 and Irving #3 last season. It hit on Kawhi Leonard – had him at #13.
Had Faried at #22
I do like their graphic on strength’s and weaknesses however.
The conclusion on both Jenkins and Scott according to NBADraft.net? Both are 8’s as far as being ready to play right now – and both are 6’s as far as future potential goes.
Jenkins is only 21 I think – turns 22 in March – so at least we got another young player.
You Should Stop Posting
June 29th, 2012
11:34 am
Scott is a pf not a sf people.
A few others have made the same point I was making last night. The Hawks couuld have gotten a shooter later in the draft. I still think Lamb can do what Jenkins does but is a better ball handler.Lamb went at 42 we took Jenkins at 23. I hope Jenkins turns out to be a good player but I still would have preferred Jones or Moultrie.
Jaded Hawks Fan
June 29th, 2012
11:34 am
That’s the key, Rod. I’ve seen a lot of great college shooters who could barely get a shot off in the NBA. The level of defensive intensity is on another level compared to college. No doubt Jenkins can shoot, but is he athletic enough to create his own shot? I have my doubts.
He looks to me like a pure spot-up shooter, a one-trick pony. I hope I’m wrong.
Astro Joe
June 29th, 2012
11:34 am
Jenkins shot well throughout his 3-year college career. And Jenkins bbrings an NBA ready skill set needed in the NBA. It does NOT preclude the Hawks from signing a FA that pushes Marvin to the bench. They could sign Matt Barnes to a cheap deal and do that. I hope we keep Ivan. They could send Scott to the D-League while they sort through the Josh issue.
You Should Stop Posting
June 29th, 2012
11:35 am
And I think some of you are forgetting how good Ray Allen was coming out of Uconn. Jenkins can shoot but his overall game is not even close to what Ray’s was coming out of college
Rod from College Park
June 29th, 2012
11:37 am
So I assume most of the people here that think John Jenkins was a great pick assume he will shoot a higher percentage from 3 than Willie Green did (44%).
Grandad
June 29th, 2012
11:39 am
Look Folks;
*[PJ III and his meniscus problem]
meniscus is code word for ” Lazy “.
same for Moultrie.
That is -why- they dropped.
____________________________________________
For those saying this was LD`s draft:
That is the most ” Goofy ” statement I`ve read on this blog
-today-.
_____________________________________________
Finally:
I still cannot believe I did not check out Mike Scott:
San Antone was trying to trade up to get him !
This kid is a * Steal * !!!
He is as near Andrew Nicholson as one could get.
Slimjr … I hope you`re reading
He is not as long / but / very similar to our Guy A. N.
*Crafty in the Post
*Not particularly athletic
*Undersized [4]
*High B-ball IQ
*-and- Oh can he ever Shoot !
**Danny Ferry is the Man / old yawl it was a Deep Draft
____________________________________________
Anybody thinks JJenkins can`t play ask the UGA folks;
I think he hit 17 three ptrs every time he played the DAWGS.
SteveW
June 29th, 2012
11:40 am
Stupid if we don’t re-up Ivan.
Very unexcited about this draft. The only plus I see is that Jenkins was the focal point of the Vandy offense the past 2 years, so he had alot of focus placed on him, and still found a way to score.
I think he’ll be an ok pro. And at 6-4 212 – he’s not very undersized as a SG – and with his shoulders, he’ll probably end up around 225.
Buddy Grizzard
June 29th, 2012
11:41 am
“When he’s on the court he will make shots and make it almost make it a four-on-five games because you can’t leave him.”
Same can be said on defense, not in a good way.
Grandad
June 29th, 2012
11:43 am
*[old] yawl it was a Deep Draft
should have said
* [ told ] … yawl it was a Deep Draft ……………………..
The Real cp
June 29th, 2012
11:45 am
I actually like Scott. The dude can play but sometimes he relies too much on that jumper.
Rod from College Park
June 29th, 2012
11:47 am
“Reminds me of Reggie Miller and Ray Allen with his release.”
Glad you said with his release. Ray Allen and Miller were scorers and shooters. Jenkins is just a shooter. Allen and Miller were much better players than Jenkins and were bigger.
Najeh Davenpoop
June 29th, 2012
11:48 am
If Jenkins turns into JJ Redick, I could live with that most years at pick #23. In a draft this deep, though, you gotta wonder whether someone the Hawks passed up will turn out to be better. I am not enamored with PJ3 or Wroten, but someone else who got taken after Jenkins could surely turn out to be a viable starter (which I don’t think Jenkins will be).
Buddy Grizzard
June 29th, 2012
11:48 am
“LD said Jenkins shot light out when they worked him out. Where have I heard that before (Marvin). Wonder did they have anyone guarding him?”
No further comment.
Rod from College Park
June 29th, 2012
11:49 am
“Anybody thinks JJenkins can`t play ask the UGA folks;
I think he hit 17 three ptrs every time he played the DAWGS.”
Not saying much.
Buddy Grizzard
June 29th, 2012
11:49 am
“someone else who got taken after Jenkins could surely turn out to be a viable starter”
Ezili, possibly teague. PJ3 could turn into an all star.
Najeh Davenpoop
June 29th, 2012
11:51 am
“Is Jenkins bigger and better than Heinrich at two? If so that is huge for this team and a scenario I could be real happy about. We should compare him more to that than green or reddick who turned out pretty good as I had doubts about him thinking he was a great white hope dookie type.”
I am not a fan of (the current version of) Kirk but Jenkins (from what I have seen) is nowhere near the defender Kirk is now, let alone what Kirk was in his prime (when he was a good all around player).
Rod from College Park
June 29th, 2012
11:51 am
“I actually like Scott. The dude can play but sometimes he relies too much on that jumper.”
Perfect fit for the Hawks. That describes our whole team, except for Teague. Live by the jumper, die by the jumper.
Astro Joe
June 29th, 2012
11:56 am
I agree with Najeh. Getting a Reddick type player at 23 making around $2M for the next 3 years would be a very good pick. Especially if he is able to help the team by the All-Star game of his first year. Willie Green may have had a career year shooting the 3 last year, I would not expect that to happen moving forward.
Najeh Davenpoop
June 29th, 2012
11:56 am
It’s funny, in 2010 Sund identified his guy and traded down from #24 to get him and picked up a second rounder for his trouble. We vilified him (rightfully so) for then selling the 2nd rounder for cash, but moving down and still getting his man was a savvy move. I’d probably feel better about Jenkins if the Hawks had moved down and got him, and you gotta think some team below them was eyeing Perry Jones and might have gotten scared that he would be off the board by the time they picked. Pretty weak of Ferry to not be able to pull that off.
Najeh Davenpoop
June 29th, 2012
11:59 am
In any event, what Ferry does in free agency and with this “core” will say a lot more about him than this pick in my opinion. Picks this low are trade assets as much as they are players. Even if Jenkins isn’t the best player available at #23, if he turns into a viable contributor early in his career, that may in itself justify the pick because he can be used in a potential trade. Maybe, for example, Jenkins starts off his career hot and Ferry manages to package him with Joe in a cap-clearing move.
Astro Joe
June 29th, 2012
11:59 am
Funny, it’s like “if any single player of the 37 picked after Jenkins is better than Jenkins, then the Jenkins pick is a bad one”. That is silly.
vava74
June 29th, 2012
12:05 pm
Jaded Hawks Fan
June 29th, 2012
11:34 am
Not saying that he will be good, but look it up on Youtube and you’ll see that during his freshman season, he was strictly a catch and shoot, then the highlights of his Sophomore season are mostly with him pulling up and even some plays of him going to the rack.
Kingyon
June 29th, 2012
12:07 pm
You people must not watch every game if its any body that should be traded its no don’t Joe Johnson 18 pts a game and he’s making more money than Lebron d wade and other elite player i say call Memphis and offer Joe for Rudy gay and oj mayo er get younger and better and if send Marvin Palin to to say anythang about trading smoove I’d stupid he is tha team you build around him and Al and why er hire Danny ferry whaand note tha hawks Erroll do something stopping again like trade him like they did Dominiquet had he ever fine as a GM o thas right never got a quality player for Lebron to play wit josh Smith carried tha team all year was snubbed on tha star game
Just Joe
June 29th, 2012
12:07 pm
Sekou has a good article up on Ferry and the draft process, and what happens next. Said he wants a team that defends, shares the ball, and can shoot. Said these were Sunds picks (basedscout’sanalyss analysis), but it sounds like he agreed with the picks.
Grandad
June 29th, 2012
12:08 pm
Quit worrying about positions:
Mike Scott is a Basketball Player
-while-
JJenkins is a Specialist … who in time could become much more.
____________________________________________
Positions are relative:
Mike Scott can defend the pick and roll.
Mike Scott can defend the post.
exp. Melo is a post up [3]
Mike Scott could defend Melo as well as anybody.
-meaning- at least he could slow him down in the post
*[no one actually stops Melo]
Final note on Scott:
He`s better than Marvin – Today, Yesterday, or Tommorow !
Just Joe
June 29th, 2012
12:09 pm
Should say “based on his scouts’ analysis”.
vava74
June 29th, 2012
12:11 pm
Grandad:
“Final note on Scott:
He`s better than Marvin – Today, Yesterday, or Tommorow !”
Unfortunately, that is not saying much… but on the upside, it good enough for a second round pick to be considered positive!
Grandad
June 29th, 2012
12:13 pm
I do not care what Mr Ferry says; nor am I disputing his integrity:
Mike Scott was a [classic] San Antonio Spurs choice.
The Real cp
June 29th, 2012
12:16 pm
lol yea Rod pretty much. Scott can play though. I forgot what game it was but the game announcer (Len Elmore) was really getting on Scott because he was settling for the jumper although he had a clear mismatch in the post. I thought Gordon would have been a good pick because he is such a good rebounder or even Darius Miller but im not mad at the Scott pick.
vava74
June 29th, 2012
12:17 pm
Ferry should run for Congress:
““This was unique,” Ferry said. “I’ve been here a few days and was not part of the initial preparation that they had. I threw myself into what they were doing and really just tried to observe and participate, when appropriate, ask good questions and let the process play out. I thought the scouts that [his predecessor] Rick [Sund] was organizing did a nice job of doing their work and walking into the Draft with their decisions made and ready to go.”
Way to detach himself from the draft
but at the same time leaving space to pick part of the laurels if things go well… 
Just Joe
June 29th, 2012
12:18 pm
On nba.com, there’s a video (one of three) of LD talking about that day’s workouts (a day that included Andrew Nicholson), and LD just goes on and on about Scott’s mid-range game.
vava74
June 29th, 2012
12:19 pm
Beautiful sentences on Scott, in particular the last one!!:
“Again, Mike Scott, when we were picking, was a good value for us being able to score, rebound and having proved himself at the highest level in college.”
“You want guys with fiber.”
“And clearly Jenkins has that, he’ll come in and compete every game.”
“I talked to him and he said he was going to the gym and shoot just to celebrate. A guy that loves to hoop is always good to have on your team.”
terrell
June 29th, 2012
12:19 pm
Calm down Rod. We had the 23rd pick, not the 3rd pick. lol. I’lL take Jenkins over Willie Green anyday. And Scott was a decent pick. Not all bad guys. No where near the curse of 2005.(Marv) Btw, werent you one of the people on here saying JC2 would be a future Allstar in this league?? Heck, Washington’s already replacing his azz. lol
hawks_4_life
June 29th, 2012
12:20 pm
Vava but its true, when you consider the guy was hired only a few days ago.
Just Joe
June 29th, 2012
12:23 pm
Scott remind me a lot of Al Harrington.
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
June 29th, 2012
12:25 pm
SMH at people trying to justify our picks last night.
In the NBA you have to be able to do more than just jack up 3’s.
In the NBA if your a power forward you have to be tall enough to get you shot off.
Just Joe
June 29th, 2012
12:28 pm
Worldwide Clyde….looks like Scott has developed a nice fade away to help him get his shot off against taller players.
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
June 29th, 2012
12:29 pm
“Sekou has a good article up on Ferry and the draft process, and what happens next. Said he wants a team that defends, shares the ball, and can shoot. Said these were Sunds picks (basedscout’sanalyss analysis), but it sounds like he agreed with the picks.”
How many “Sund’s Picks” have worked in the NBA?
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
June 29th, 2012
12:30 pm
Just Joe
June 29th, 2012
12:28 pm
Worldwide Clyde….looks like Scott has developed a nice fade away to help him get his shot off against taller players.
lmbao
Just Joe
June 29th, 2012
12:32 pm
Laugh all you want, this guy can play a role off the bench.
hawksfancents95
June 29th, 2012
12:35 pm
after harping all night on these picks ive concluded a grade of C is appropriate for our draft. i think john jenkins was larry drews pick and LD influenced this pick. Jenkins seems to have the righ mindset and if he can shoot over 40% from thre and play 5-15 minutes a night then he is a better willie green. i really would of liked to see PJ3 in the hawks uni especially since he was projected in the top 13 but if his meniscus is really that risky im ok with passing on him.
mike scott is the pick i really dont care for. even if we dont resign ivan there are some big guys we could insert at the backup PF spot, why do the hawks continue to draft 6′8 PFs? i thought darius miller was the guy to get to backup marvin at the three and play good fundamental basketball and good perimeter D.
we really need to make a trade and sign some key free agents because a bench of zaza john jenkins mike scott does not sound very reliable.
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
June 29th, 2012
12:36 pm
With no center and no real post up players I guess the Hawks are going to rely heavily on the 3 ball this season. Teague and sometimes Jsmoove are the only ones that can take their man off the dribble.
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
June 29th, 2012
12:39 pm
Just Joe
June 29th, 2012
12:32 pm
Laugh all you want, this guy can play a role off the bench.
On offense all he is going to do is stand on the perimeter and shoot jumpers because he won’t be able to finish in traffic. On defense all people are going to do is shot right over him.
Just Joe
June 29th, 2012
12:41 pm
I think the Hawks are definitely moving toward a team that depends on 3-pt shooting. Moved from 17 attempts per game in 10/11 to 20 attempts per game in 11/12. Spurs usually attempt 21 or more per game. I think LD and Ferry both want things to move that way.
Jaded Hawks Fan
June 29th, 2012
12:42 pm
I agree Jenkins can play a role, but Perry Jones III is the kind of guy who, if he fully committed himself to the game, could elevate your franchise. He’s 6′11 with superior athletic ability. That’s the kind of guy you win with in today’s NBA.
Jenkins would not have been a bad pick in a vacuum. In fact, he’s probably better than what you’d normally be able to get at 23 in most drafts. But context is everything. Jones would have given us a lot more flexibility in trade discussions involving Josh Smith, and he carries star potential. A guy like that is almost NEVER available at 23. That’s why I see Jenkins as a disappointing pick.