One month until 2024 NBA Draftwe take a closer look at the various Liberty Ballers prospects and determine which players would be the best fit for the team. Sixers 16 and 41. The next player in this series is Jared McCain of Duke University.
Jared McKane is one of the top recruits in the country and has proven himself in his lone season with the Blue Devils. McKane is one of the best shooters in college basketball and showed great instincts, competitive drive and poise during Duke's NCAA Tournament run.
profile
2023-24 Stats: 36 games, 31.6 minutes, 14.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.1 blocks, 46.2% FG, 41.4% 3P, 88.5% FT
team: Duke
Year: Freshman
position: PG/SG
height, weight: 6'2.0” | 203.2 lbs
to be born: February 24, 2004 (age 20)
home town: Sacramento, California
Strengths
The most obvious skill that makes McCain a top-20 draft candidate is his shooting. He's good on the bounce, on the move and everything in between. He can shoot the three-pointer, and he can attack aggressive closeouts with his mid-range jump shot and good finishing around the rim. He's not a point guard by any means, but he has a good feel for the game and a good understanding of space for a player his age. While some of his teammates have seemed to shrink in big moments, McCain has often shown great poise.
What he lacks in size defensively, he makes up for with his basketball IQ and willingness to play defensively. He's proven to be an effective nuisance for guards and a capable team defender. He plays with amazing control on the edge for a 20-year-old.
Weaknesses
McCain is small at 6'2″ and doesn't boast the arm length or athleticism of Devin Carter. Though he's a willing and smart defender, he'll have a hard time competing with NBA-sized players. He also doesn't have the skill set necessary to execute an offense. He's not a great ball-handler or facilitator.
Position Fit
He's clearly an undersized 2 with good shooting ability but not much offensive experience. Given his basketball IQ and work ethic, he could develop into a player who can earn time at the 1, but for now he's best as a mobile shooter with secondary playmaking skills. Given his toughness and smarts, he could be able to play guard up as his NBA career progresses, but early on he'll likely be guarding undersized guards primarily.
Draft Plan
SB Nation Mock Draft: No. 18, Orlando Magic
McCain doesn't seem like a ready-to-play player, but that's OK: Daryl Morey said in his end-of-season press conference that the team needs a pool of young talent to join the likes of Ricky Council IV, and that shooting is the only thing a team really needs in the modern NBA.
McCain has one of the best shooting skills in the NBA, has room to grow in other areas and looks like a winner with a great attitude. While it's unclear where he'll fit next to Tyrese Maxey in the future, McCain is a great prospect worth investing in.
