Jordan Bachynski | Arizona State | Senior, 24 years old
C, 7-2, 250
Last season (25.4 MPG): 9.8 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 3.4 BPG, 21.5 PER
Breakdown:
Jordan Bachynski is a tough prospect for me to evaluate. He enrolled as a 21-year-old freshman at Arizona State, after spending two years on a Mormon mission.
So, is he a grown man playing against boys, or is he merely catching up to where he should be? Has Bachynski already reached his ceiling, or is he still trending upwards? I am honestly unsure of how to approach his evaluation.
Age notwithstanding, Bachynski emerged on the radar during his “junior” season. Offensively, he is a traditional back to the basket center, priding himself on setting screens, finishing in the paint and blocking shots on defense. The lefty showcased nice touch inside, utilizing hook shots over his right shoulder to score. He has strong hands and consistently leverages himself to catch the ball deep in the paint, minimizing the distance between himself and the basket, in turn creating easier scoring opportunities.
Bachynski is an above-average rebounder for his size. 15.4% of his shot attempts last season came on offensive rebounds, where he shot a very good 1.225 PPP (78th percentile). His most promising skill, though, may be his shot blocking ability—Bachynski’s 13.5 block percentage was 7th best in the country. He possesses a rare skill set (the “traditional” center skill set), which has intrigued scouts.
Let’s take a look at some film:
POST-UPS
Bachynski shot 58% from the field last season, with over 90% of his shot attempts coming in the paint. As mentioned, Bachynski gets in position and finishes with a soft touch inside. That being said, he must continue to get stronger, as he will face more physical (and more skilled) defenders if he gets an NBA opportunity. Bachynski must also develop his right hand, as he shot with his left hand on 80% of his post-up attempts.
PICK-AND-ROLL
Standing at 7-2, operating out of the pick-and-roll will be essential to Bachynski’s NBA prospects. 13.6% of Bachynski’s offense came in pick-and-roll, where his 1.426 PPP ranked in the 95th percentile nationally.
As the film shows, he has impressive timing and finishing ability off the pick-and-roll, and he should continue to develop this skill while playing with Jahii Carson. His pick-and-roll skills, combined with his defense, could be his potential calling card.
SHOT BLOCKING
He stands his ground in the paint, slides his feet well and has great timing on blocks. Great footwork, patience, and defensive instincts make Bachynski one of the best shot blockers in the nation.
OVERALL
Bachynski has something you can’t tech (size), and two NBA skills (finishing on the pick-and-roll and shot blocking) that teams often covet. With Arizona State looking like a legitimate NCAA Tournament team, Bachynski will have a chance to assert himself both in-conference and nationally this season. I’m not sure if he’s already past his prime, but if Bachynski can get physically stronger and improve his right hand, a team could take a flyer on him in the second round.