Kentucky Basketball: Jarred Vanderbilt is a major 2018 NBA Draft sleeper
Jarred Vanderbilt is one of the biggest uncertainties in the entire NBA Draft. What makes him such an appealing, but risky prospect?
One of the biggest question marks in the NBA Draft is Kentucky big man Jarred Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt is far from an unknown prospect as he was a consensus five-star recruit coming out of high school, but his lone shortened collegiate season has raised significant concerns.
He has great size for a PF or a small-ball center at 6’9” with a 7’1” wingspan and is very mobile and athletic. Vanderbilt plays with a strong motor and is an absolutely elite rebounder on both the offensive and defensive glass.
According to KenPom, Vanderbilt had a 23.2% offensive rebounding percentage which, if he played in enough games to qualify, would have made him the best offensive rebounder in the country by a wide margin. Michigan State center Nick Ward is the official qualified leader with an 18.2% offensive rebound percentage.
Vanderbilt also made his presence felt on the defensive glass as his 27.9% defensive rebounding percentage would rank him just behind DeAndre Ayton and Angel Delgado if he qualified. Being able to rebound like a traditional post player and having wing-like mobility makes him super intriguing.
Counting stats can also illustrate his rebounding prowess as Vanderbilt averaged 7.9 rpg in just 17 minutes per game. Also, these rebounding numbers are not inflated by games against cupcake non-conference opponents as he was hurt for the entire first half of the season.
These are staggering statistics which show just what kind of impact Jarred Vanderbilt can make on the glass with his motor and nose for the ball. Rebounding is a skill that usually translates to the next level, especially when you have Vanderbilt’s physical profile. NBA teams will know that they can rely on him utilizing this elite skill at either the four or small-ball five if healthy.
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However, that brings us to one of the biggest red flags with Vanderbilt, his health. He has suffered numerous injuries to his feet and lower body that has already caused him to miss extended periods of time throughout his early career. Many people have also speculated that he is currently not 100% healthy and that is why he skipped the combine.
That is not the only question mark with Jarred Vanderbilt as a prospect. There are also legitimate concerns about his shooting ability or lack thereof. He is a complete non-shooter who only shot 63% from the free throw stripe. Vanderbilt relies on a variety of push shots around the basket, but only shot 43% from the field which is extremely low for a big man who doesn’t shoot from the perimeter.
These are undoubtedly major concerns that limit him as a player and as an NBA prospect, but the positive aspects of his game make him a legitimate sleeper. Teams in the early-mid second round should definitely take a flier as he has potential to be an excellent role player.
His elite rebounding has been explained above, but he also has the rare ability to handle the ball and push the break himself. This is such a valuable skill that makes the offense so much more dynamic and allows teams to play at a faster pace. If he is playing center this is even more coveted as his athleticism could force opposing centers off the floor.
Vanderbilt could occupy a similar role to Kevon Looney on Golden State. Looney is a far superior offensive player to Vanderbilt, but at the NBA level it will not matter because both players will be placed in very limited offensive roles. Golden State never lets Looney create for himself and for good reason as he plays with three of the best offensive players in the NBA.
Looney’s primary role is to finish dump offs around the rim, defend in pick and roll, and rebound. Vanderbilt can thrive in this role as he does these things better than Looney which means it will not matter that he is inferior in terms of offensive skill.
Teams in the second round who could use a small ball five should be lining up to take a chance on Vanderbilt. A long athletic small ball five who can handle the ball and rebound at an elite level is a rare package. These skills make Vanderbilt a great second round sleeper and an intriguing option for almost any franchise.
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Jarred Vanderbilt’s stock is hard to gauge because there are so many question marks, but teams in the second round should be willing to take the risk. Even if he does not last in the NBA, a second-round investment is so minimal that there is little to no risk from the team’s perspective. Hopefully, Vanderbilt can provide a good team the much-needed versatility in today’s NBA for smaller lineups.