NBA Draft 2019: Player comparisons for all projected first round picks

30. Ty Jerome, G, Virginia (6-6, 6-4, 194lbs) 

Player Comparison: T-Rex Greivis Vasquez (6-7, 6-7, 210lbs)

Albeit slightly smaller with a shorter wingspan, Virginia’s Ty Jerome is similar to former Maryland Terrapin Greivis Vasquez, who leveraged advanced floor vision, three-point shooting and IQ to overcome natural physical limitations (i.e., subpar burst, strength, and vertical pop). Jerome stands to be the superior shooter and arguably superior player at the next level, but both guards excelled while in college and Jerome, like Vasquez before him, projects to be a solid backup guard in the NBA.

29. Chuma Okeke, F, Auburn (6-8, 7-0, 235lbs) 

Player Comparison: Robert Covington (6-9, 7-2, 225lbs) with ball skills

Robert Covington has really come on strong in recent years as one of the league’s most valuable defenders due to his versatility as a strong multi-positional defender with a legitimate nose for the ball, as well as a (somewhat) reliable outside jumper on offense. Really, he’s a consummate 3&D wing. Auburn’s Chuma Okeke, while not as strong as Covington, offers a similar physical makeup and defensive reputation as a ball hawk — Covington sported a career 3.0 STL% and 4.8 BLK% in college, while Okeke posted a similar 2.8 STL% and 4.9 BLK%, showing a similar ability to create events on the defensive end. Okeke is a superior offensive player, however, due to his fluid movement and skill as a passer and ball-mover. Covington is more raw strength than fluidity, such as Okeke, but they’re similar players nonetheless, which bodes well for Okeke’s transition to the NBA.

28. Carsen Edwards, G, Purdue (6-0, 6-6, 199lbs) 

Player Comparison: bigger, stronger Isaiah Thomas

Comparing Carsen Edwards and Isaiah Thomas is more so a decision based on potential usage in the NBA than it is on physical characteristics, since Edwards boasts a considerable size advantage, length advantage, strength advantage, and athleticism advantage. Quite simply, he’s not as small as Thomas is, but he’s still quite short for his position and thus will be used in a similar style to make the most of his prolific shot-making ability at the next level.

Additionally, both players are really just small shooting guards who lack traditional playmaking skills (i.e., passing vision), so their primary roles on offense are to take and make shot after shot, and thus, whatever team they play for must plan accordingly. To compensate for Thomas’s inability to consistently create his own shot against larger players on the perimeter (and to ease his shot-creating load in general), Boston’s Brad Stevens ran the 5-9 Thomas through a gauntlet of off-ball actions to create separation for him, specifically having him run off screens or utilize handoffs with the Celtics’ big men. Edwards was used similarly at Purdue, and will likely have to be schemed for in a similar manner in the NBA.