NCAA Basketball: Takeaways from Team USA in 2021 FIBA U19 World Cup

Jaden Ivey – Sophomore – Purdue – 6’4, 200 lbs – February 2002

Ivey ended the 2020-2021 college season on a hot streak, signifying he is a potential breakout candidate for this upcoming season. Well, that breakout started in Latvia, as Ivey showed why he’s an NBA talent, earning World Cup All-Star Five honors.

Ivey’s burst and athletic ability were on full display. With the ball in his hands, he’s quick getting downhill. He had a few impressive finishes contorting his body and finishing through and around contact. Defensively, he used that speed in the passing lanes. He nabbed 1.6 steals per game, frequently reading the passer’s eyes, jumping the ball, and finishing at the other end with a dunk. He also had this absurd block.

Ivey’s 25% three-point percentage is what held him back last season, but he looked much more comfortable shooting the ball this past week. The numbers weren’t great, but Ivey flashed range, versatility, and the willingness to pull up when left open. The volume alone should draw enough shooting gravity for him to get downhill. He’s got solid mechanics and law of averages suggest he’ll shoot a much better percentage next season.

Ivey was also an impressive cutter. He does a great job of recognizing when his man falls asleep, and the angle he needs to take to get to the basket. He scored a bunch of points off of USA’s willing passers.

Ivey’s cutting should continue to mesh well with Purdue’s Trevion Williams, one of the best passing bigs in the country. Expect to see Ivey handle more on-ball reps this season and be put in more opportunities to score.

Purdue brings back a large chunk of their roster, and while Williams is a reigning All-Big Ten player, it’s Ivey who has the skills and explosiveness to have Purdue contending for a Big Ten title. He should be the best guard in the Big Ten next season and is projecting toward a late-lottery to mid-first-round pick in next year’s NBA Draft.