UNC Basketball: Jeremiah Francis scouting report for 2019-20 season

Scoring Package: Crafty Handle & Downhill Finishing

Defensive shortcomings and red flags aside, what made Jeremiah Francis such an intriguing prospect in terms of his on-court impact as a college lead guard – and, if his upward trajectory continued without interruption, a small guard in the NBA — was his do-it-all nature as a multi-faceted scorer and floor general with plus-size due to his strong, broad frame.

From a physical standpoint, the 6-foot-3 Francis makes up for what he lacks in height with girth, as he’s notably wider than his peers and boasts what seems to be a pretty solid wingspan as well. A bit doughy as a freshman and sophomore, there’s some upside to be had in further physical maturation and development, especially as he benefits from access to UNC’s top-of-the-line weight training and athletic department.

In terms of raw athleticism, Francis doesn’t blow spectators away with sheer speed nor above-the-rim bounce, but his speed is still a positive trait that he uses well in the open court and when taking defenders off the bounce (via a pretty good first step), and his strength is functional to a point that allows him to drive and finish through contact with an array of layups and floaters.

Jeremiah Francis is perhaps best known for his downhill scoring, possessing a coveted package of crafty ball-handling that enables him to dust defenders in creative fashion as well as damn good touch that he shows off on a variety of layup attempts. He can hit scoops, finger rolls, push shots, floaters, up-and-unders, difficult extension finishes, and various other forms of shots around the rim, both through and around defenders, at times utilizing his core strength to adjust mid-air to get tough shots to fall.

Comfortable with both hands, Francis is able to string together several dribble moves in order to knife his way past defenders and through double teams, at times taking on defenses completely by himself in spectacular fashion.

Examples of his improvisational ball handling can be found here, where he uses a right-left cross to evade the reach, a lefty in-and-out to force the help defender to open his hips and move out of his way, and a behind-the-back gather (!!!) to protect the ball, all before finishing the finger roll on his wrong foot…

…and in the following transition scenario, where, in a full sprint, he strings together a few quick stutter steps and hesitations before finishing at the rack with a contested floater and a friendly whistle to top it off.

(Whew, those highlights.)

He routinely shows good patience with his live dribble, taking advantage of the slightest mental or spatial lapse from whoever is defending him. If a defender reaches, he shows the slight of hand needed to dart the ball between his legs or behind his back to avoid a strip; if someone’s hips are opened up, he’ll push toward the rack for a layup; if someone takes their eyes of him for a split second, he’ll make a move to make the defense pay.

If these few games and highlight reels are to be indicative of his on-ball tendencies, then it’s fair to say that Francis is quite fond of using his left hand to break down defenders and break presses, as he often relies on a lefty in-and-out dribble to manufacture separation and breathing room.

Ambidextrous ball-handling is nonetheless a positive trait for any player, especially when said player is capable of stringing together complex moves with both his strong- and 0ff-hand, but his reliance on his left hand is something to keep an eye on. From my limited viewing, it seems as if Francis is almost over-reliant with his left, at times taking up entire possessions using only his left hand:

This is more so something to watch in the future than something to fret over. Tendencies can be picked on by opposing teams, and, although it wasn’t present in the available film sample, it’s possible that a coach could advise his players to sit on Francis’ left hand, forcing him to go right. While I’m not worried about Francis’ ability to go right and maintain his live dribble (since he’s a fine ball-handler), I am worried about how he could react to additional defensive pressure.

Although patience is a virtue he’s quite familiar with (which will be sussed out in greater detail in one of the following slides), there are still instances where the then-15 and 16-year-old would find himself rushed, uncomfortable, and scrambling uncontrollably when dealing with pressure.

His downhill tendencies often result in smooth layups and kickouts to teammates, but they can result in ill-timed transition pushes such as this one, with Francis careening up the court and ultimately losing the ball out of bounds.

The spin move to blow past the defender is filthy, but he drives too far into the paint and looks up to skip to the corner far too late, ultimately getting swallowed up by the defense and getting the pass picked off just as it leaves his fingertips.

And, at times, the younger Francis would force the issue entirely, as seen here, with the then-freshman point guard initiating a grab-and-go and driving right into the defender’s chest before throwing up a hapless shot that has no real chance of falling.

Much of these lowlights are the result of inexperience and youth, as they are correctable with maturation and coaching. Knowing when and when not to attack the defense is something that is gradually picked up over time and, as mentioned before, Jeremiah Francis does possess a solid head above his shoulders and flashed promising patience during his two years of high school basketball.

Highs and lows aside, there is still more to Jeremiah Francis as a bucket-getter than his imaginative handle and tough downhill finishing. There is significant skill and ability tied into his knack for getting shots around the basket to fall and for creating scoring avenues with his handle, and he shows them off in more ways than mere rim attacks and transition pushes.