NCAA Basketball: Top small forwards for 2016-17 season

Mar 27, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Justin Jackson (44) reacts during the second half against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the championship game in the East regional of the NCAA Tournament at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

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Mar 30, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; McDonald’s All-American East forward Jayson Tatum (22) brings the ball up court during the McDonald’s High School All-American Game at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Jayson Tatum, Duke

2015-16 Season (high school)
29.5 PPG
9.1 RPG
3.0 APG

Jayson Tatum, the number-four recruit in the nation according to the 247Sports Composite rankings, joins a star-studded cast of incoming Duke freshman in 2016.

Tatum is joined by power forward Harry Giles, point guard Frank Jackson, center Marques Bolden and power forward Javin DeLaurier. Four of the five players are ranked in the top 15 and none lower than 39th. In all, that’s good for the top-ranked recruiting class in the nation (depending on the recruiting outlet).

Tatum, a 6’8”, 208-pound small forward from St Louis, Missouri chose to attend Duke over Kentucky, North Carolina and St Louis. He attended Chaminade College Prep where he averaged nearly 30 points and nine rebounds per game. He was voted the 2015-16 Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year.

He’s got great size, length and athletic ability. He can play multiple positions and handles the ball extraordinarily well for a small forward. He can penetrate the lane, take defenders off the dribble and score in traffic. He can hit shots from outside the arc, but it’s not his strong suit.

If Tatum can put on some additional weight, and develops a more consistent jumper from outside, he will be virtually unstoppable. He’s already has the height, length, athleticism and drive to be one of the best players in the country at the college level.

Fortunately for Tatum, Marshall Plumlee graduated and Brandon Ingram left for the NBA after just one season. Both he and Giles should walk into starting roles at Duke and have every opportunity to showcase their abilities before following Ingram to the NBA in 2017.

Next: 3. Malcolm Hill

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