Kuran Iverson

From “Revisiting ‘Under the Radar’ College Freshmen”
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Kuran Iverson | Memphis
SF, 6-9, 205
20 years old

Season (9 mpg): 2.5 PPG, 1.6 RPG
19-45 field goals, 19- three-point
172 total minutes

*Kuran is cousins with Allen Iverson, although they do not maintain a close relationship.

Trending: Unknown

Outlook: I can’t figure out why Iverson hardly played this season. He ran the gamut of injuries, though none of them lingered or were serious, making his absence on the court suspect.

Iverson possesses natural talent, and if this list was ranked purely on talent, Iverson would rank near the top. He’s 6-9, lanky and athletic, with a tight handle and great first step. These qualities make him a mismatch as a versatile and well-sized forward who can handle the ball on the perimeter, slash and finish in the lane, and defend multiple positions.

But again, he hardly played this season, and because Iverson is playing for Coach Pastner—who frankly doesn’t have a history of developing players—I’m concerned.

Iverson has a broken jump shot right now, which needs to be fixed.

I think Iverson has potential NBA talent, but it may not be properly cultivated at Memphis. Will Barton and Adonis Thomas didn’t develop as expected, and Joe Jackson—a 2010 McDonald’s All-American—is in school still, as a senior. Iverson always had a cloud looming over him off the court, and it seems to have carried into Memphis. Just a baffling situation. So far he’s underachieved, and as I’ve seen in the past, these things can snowball quickly.

Let’s see if he plays more next season.

Video

Versatile Scoring Ability

Poor Shooting

From “‘Under the Radar’” College Freshmen

Kuran Iverson | Memphis
SF, 6-8, 205

Quick Thoughts: Iverson was heavily recruited as sophomore (ranked in the top-5 nationally), then while dealing with tendinitis in his left knee during his sophomore and junior summer, he missed many tournament events and fell out of the recruiting picture.

Now, he’s fully healthy and should make an immediate impact in college. Iverson is a versatile forward in the same mold as Jermaine Lawrence—he can play either forward position, with a developing handle that allows him to take bigger defenders out to the perimeter, which creates a mismatch. There is a lot of overlap in each player’s skills, but what differentiates Iverson is his strength and ball handling. Iverson has the ability to grab a rebound and lead the fast break.

The next step in Iverson’s development is for him to be more assertive and focused, as he’s prone to “coast”. When he’s locked in, though, Iverson’s size and skill-set make him a dangerous weapon.

How He Fits:

Projected Starting Lineup
F — Shaquille Goodwin (So)
F — Austin Nichols (Fr)
F — Chris Crawford (Sr)
G — Geron Johnson (Sr)
G — Joe Jackson (Sr)

Memphis showcased a balanced scoring attack last season, with four players scoring in double-figures, including returnees Joe Jackson, Chris Crawford and Geron Johnson. They weren’t the most efficient, as the four aforementioned players all ranked below the 80th percentile in points per possession, but nonetheless they were balanced.

The Tigers’ strength was–and will continue to be–their supreme athleticism, which allows them to play uptempo and score in transition. Memphis feeds off steals, deflections and rebounds to get out in transition, and Iverson fits in perfectly. Regardless if he starts or comes off the bench, Iverson can realistically spell any position other than point guard, and should have no problem playing 15-25 minutes per game as a freshman. Because Iverson can set up anywhere (top of the key, wing, high post, baseline, front of the defensive press), coach Josh Pastner can get creative in utilizing his versatility, which is exciting.