*If the videos do not appear, please “refresh” the webpage once

Syracuse 68, St. John’s 63

Sunday, December 15, 2013 | Madison Square Garden (New York, NY)

Jerami Grant — SF, 6-9, 210
Sophomore, 20 years old

Season (26.2 mpg): 12.9 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 1.8 APG
54% field goal percentage

Game (34 min): 14 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists

Outlook: Grant made headlines with his improvement this past summer, when he was selected for the USA U19 National Team, before sitting out due to unforeseen illness. He still has a long way to go—and a lot of holes in his game—but it’s clear Grant has drastically improved over the past year.

STRENGTHS

Proven Development

Freshman: 14.3 MPG, 3.9 PPG, 3 RPG
.68 PPP on Spot-Up attempts, .97 PPP on offensive rebounds/put-backs

Video: Spot-Up Last Season

Sophomore: 26.2 MPG, 12.9 PPG, 5.7 RPG
1.1 PPP on Spot-Up attempts, 1.7 PPP on offensive rebounds/put-backs

Video: Spot-Ups This Season

Elite Athleticism

Standing at 6-8, Grant is a freakishly athletic combo forward who impacts the game on both ends of the floor. He plays with great activity and energy, and has added muscle to his frame which allows him to score and rebound from various spots. Vertically, he’s ahead of his peers. This is apparent when blocking shots, and also when rebounding. His 1.69 point per offensive rebound ranks in the 97th percentile nationally. He’s also posting a solid 8.7 rebounds per 40 minutes. On film, it’s clear Grant is an elite athlete with great rebounding potential.

Video: Athletic Blocks

Video: Wing Rebounding (Crashing Boards)

Slasher

While 18% of Grant’s offense comes off offensive rebounds, 17% comes off cuts, where he’s also been excellent this season. This is another way Grant uses his athleticism and developing touch.

Video: Slashing

Transition Potential

Considering he’s an elite athlete with a high motor, Grant is a threat in transition. He needs to develop more of a “touch” around the rim (he can’t just rely on dunking the ball every time he jumps toward the basket), but the potential is there. The potential is also there defensively, where Grant has good timing to pin down shots in transition.

NEEDS TO IMPROVE

Offensive Moves / Shooting Range

Grant is an all-world athlete, but right now he’s still very raw in terms of creating shots for himself. He’s posting a below average .69 points per isolation attempt, which ranks in the bottom 70th percentile nationally. Grant’s limited offensive repertoire is apparent on film. He either pulls up for a jump shot, or puts his head down and tries to overwhelm opponents with his athleticism, which won’t suffice in the NBA.

Video: Isolation

In addition to developing some go-to moves, Grant needs to extend his jump shot. He’s currently 0-for-4 from three-point range this season. His form is flat and inconsistent. There’s not much bend in his knees—he jumps straight up and releases the ball. If he can develop his jump shot, I see some Thaddeus Young in Jerami Grant.

Video: Shooting (small snippet)

OVERALL

Grant’s skill level has a chance to catch up with his all-world athleticism. If that ends up being the case, well, I think his long-term potential is as promising as any small forward in the country. His combination of athleticism and graceful touch are matched by few others in college.

04/21/14

Overview: Following a strong summer turning heads at the USA Under-19 tryouts, Syracuse small forward Jerami Grant—at least in nominal terms—continued his improvement as a sophomore. Grant increased his per-40-minute scoring from 10 to 15 points, maintained solid rebounding numbers, and slightly improved his 2-point efficiency despite increased usage.

Freshman (14.3 MPG): 4 PPG, 3 RPG, 0.5 APG
46% FG (3 attempts), 6-15 three-point
56% FT (1.8 attempts)

14.8 PER, .91 points per possession

Sophomore (31.4 MPG): 12 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 1.4 APG
50% FG (8.4 attempts), 0-5 three-point
67% FT (5.6 attempts)

21.6 PER, .99 points per possession

Led team in win shares per 40 min (.185 – average is .1oo)
78 offensive rebounds (1st on team)
139 defensive rebounds (2nd)

From an NBA perspective, Grant’s track record of improvement is encouraging. However, when you consider how raw Grant is, and how much he still needs to improve, his projection is equal parts exciting and unsettling. Grant is merely scratching the surface of his potential, but only time will tell if he can attain said potential. He won’t survive in the NBA as currently constructed; he must evolve offensively.

Yes, Grant produced for this Syracuse team—using his length and athleticism to run the floor and finish around the lane—but it’s clear he lacks a requisite offensive skill-set to contribute at the next level.

Right now Grant’s calling card is his elite athleticism and length. He’s a 6-9 combo forward, who plays with great activity and athleticism, allowing him to contribute in and around the lane, as well as in transition. His current range is limited to 15 feet, if that.

Grant’s length and vertical leaping ability make him a terrific offensive rebounder in the half court, and he’s an astute cutter from the foul line to under the basket. If you give him an open lane, Grant will gladly take off for an aerial jaunt towards the basket. He scores on hustle and athleticism, with the occasional open jumper/straight-line drive.

Great athlete, but right now he has very little in the way of an offensive skill-set. A 6-9 small forward, Grant doesn’t shoot 3-pointers (0-5 on the season), and isn’t creative—or yet to show he’s capable—off the dribble. His only offense in the half court is straight-line drives, with an occasional mid-range jump shot (he’s shooting a putrid 29% on overall jumpers). Essentially, Grant’s impact is predicated upon hustle and athleticism, which can take you but so far as a scrawny swingman. Defenders routinely backed off Grant and dared him to shoot, resulting in several wasted possessions every game.

Thus, with terrific physical tools but lacking small forward skills, it’s difficult to definitively project his future. Is Grant more than just a freak athlete? He’ll struggle to crack an NBA rotation—especially on a winning team—if he can’t score.

But if Grant lands in the right system—where he can develop in the D-League and is properly nurtured— and if his perimeter skills eventually take shape, Grant’s long-term ceiling is as high as any wing in this Draft.

Grant is still very moldable (only 20 years old), which again, causes excitement but also concern. He’ll get drafted based on upside, with hopes that he’ll eventually tighten his jump shot and refine his ball handling. At worst, he could potentially be a high-energy slasher/lengthy defender, who contributes with defense/rebounding/transition buckets.

His ability to explode off the ground, quickness and length are rivaled by few of his peers. And he has a strong motor and aggressive intentions, which bode well for his upside. Defensively, Grant looks like he should be able to guard 2s, 3s and potentially some 4s.

But Grant must develop offensively. A 3-point shot would be a major improvement, but at this point in his career, Grant must take baby steps, first learning how to compose himself against simple defensive resistance. Right now when pressured, he either pulls up for a jump shot, or more often, lowers his head and frantically drives with no real purpose or direction, resulting in an abundance of turnovers/wasted possessions. He made zero 3-pointers this season, and converted only 50% from 2-point range.

Again, if Grant’s skill-set can catch up with his all-world athleticism, his long-term potential is as promising as any small forward in the country. But the holes in his offense—poor jump shot, poor handle, lack of control—are certainly apparent.

Video Breakdown: Jerami Grant

*If the videos do not appear, please “refresh” the webpage once

Physical Profile

6-9, 210 pounds. Good size for a small forward. NBA athleticism, long arms, solid lateral quickness. Looks the part of an NBA SF.

Offense

Strengths

Elite Athleticism

Grant is an elite athlete with impressive bounce. He finishes above the rim, and defensively he can contest shots at the rim. Terrific help defender from the weak side.

Video: Athleticism

Video: Finishing Through Contact

Grant led Syracuse with 22 “and-ones” this season. Great body control and can finish through contact.

He accumulates and-ones in transition, or driving the lane in the half court. By comparison, Andrew Wiggins recorded 15 and-ones, Marcus Smart 19, and Jabari Parker 28.

Video: Transition (running the floor)

Only 9.2% of Grant’s offense was in transition, but he runs the wings very well and can finish above the rim.

Attacking the basket/ Driving

Grant is not a “reliable” or “efficient” driver at this point. His .95 PPP in spot-up attempts ranks in the 58th percentile nationally, and .75 PPP in isolation ranks in the bottom 60th percentile. He’s capable but inconsistent; right now, he struggles creating off the dribble.

There is potential, though.

Video: Capable Driver

Grant usually sets up at the foul line, drives the ball hard, and uses body control and length to finish.

Video: Spin Move (makes)

When Grant faces any defensive resistance, he instinctively uses a right-to-left spin move.

He’s not consistent in finishing the spin move, but this is his go-to move at this point.

Video: Pick-and-Pop

Grant scored 1.23 points per possession when driving on pick-and-pop attempts, which ranks in the 86th percentile nationally. If Grant can develop a consistent jump shot, his pick-and-pop threat could be very dangerous.

Pick-and-pops create a ton of straight-line drives, which is Grant’s strong suit.

Cutting / Slashing

16% of Grant’s offense (the second largest contingent) comes off cutting, where he uses his length and athleticism to finish in and around the lane. Grant is converting nearly 60% of his cutting attempts.

Video: Flash Cuts

Video: Basket Cuts

Good offensive rebounder

16% of Grant’s offense came from put-backs this season, and he led Syracuse with a total of 78 offensive rebounds. He doesn’t have great awareness locating the ball, but Grant corrals boards with his long arms and vertical leap. His 1.22 points per put-back attempt ranks the 71st percentile nationally.

Not an elite rebounder, but certainly above average.

Occasional Mid-Range Jump Shot

Grant is shooting a putrid 29% on all jump shots this season. But he’s most effective from the mid-range area, where he’s converting 38%, and posting .76 points per mid-range attempt (56th percentile).

Simply put, Grant’s ability to develop a mid-range jumper is vital to his future. He must continue to hone this aspect of his game.

Video: Capable Mid-Range

Weaknesses

Poor jump shot, and struggles creating off the dribble.

Shooting Struggles

As mentioned, only 24% of Grant’s attempts this season were of the jump shot variety, where he converted a putrid 29%.

Video: Unguarded Jump Shot Misses

He was 3-14 when left wide open this season.

Video: Missed “short” jumpers

1-12 this season. Lacks touch around the basket. Explosive to get into the lane, but will his shot develop? Defenders clearly back off Grant.

Video: Pick-and-Pop Misses

Grant was 0-9 “popping” for jump shots this season.

Developing a mid-range jumper would help Grant establish a pick-and-pop game. Grant could stretch the floor, force mismatches, and maximize his athleticism with less-clogged driving lanes.

Poor Handle / Creating Off the Dribble

Video: Spin Move Misses

As mentioned, when facing defensive resistance, Grant’s go-to move is a right-to-left spin. But more often that not, he picks up his dribble and prematurely relies on this move.

Video: Forces Drives / Avoids jump shots

Defenders often sag off Grant, daring him to shoot. Because he seemingly doesn’t have confidence in his jump shot, he often forces drives, and drives into a wall of defenders.

Video: Out of control / Turnovers / Poor Handle

Grant often prematurely picks up his dribble, and lunges towards the basket, resulting in an abundance of turnovers. He instinctively wants to get close to the basket.

He incessantly drives into traffic, and struggles to compose himself. A semi-reliable jump shot is necessary at the next level.

Defense

— Difficult to fully assess within Syracuse’s zone. Doesn’t accumulate many steals or deflections. Overall good defensive awareness, but Grant sometimes gambles on close-outs.

Video: Blocks

Grant recorded only 18 blocks (0.6 per game) this season, but still—he’s athletic, and has good timing on his blocks. He could be a good help defender in this regard.

Video: Poor Close-Outs

Grant has a tendency to frantically rush out to shooters, along the way biting on shot-fakes. He needs to stay lower in his defensive stance, and trust his length to contest shots.

Video: Defensive Rebounds

4.34 defensive rebounds per game.

Free Throws

Grant led Syracuse with 5.6 free throw attempts per game. He converted 67%—it seems his shooting struggles extend to the line, albeit in a small sample size.

Made FTs

Missed FTs