NBA Draft 2016: BTBP Big Board 1.0
By Adam McGee
29. Juan Hernangomez – Small Forward/Power Forward (Estudiantes)
Words by Adam McGee
Hernangomez’s 2015-16 season: 10.5 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 0.5 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 46.6% FG
With a nice combination of size and athleticism, it seems very likely that Juan Hernangomez will follow in the footsteps of his brother Willy (drafted by the Knicks last summer) and hear his name called out on NBA draft night.
Hernangomez may not jump out of the box at you from a numbers or skills point of view, but he’s incredibly well rounded and already performing with minimal fuss at a very high level considering he’s only 20 years old.
The Madrid native possesses pretty much everything that NBA teams are now looking for in stretch combo forwards. He’s well built, but moves effortlessly across the floor, has a high IQ, provides relentless effort and has to potential to hone his jump shot to a point where he can add real range to his game.
A lot of Hernangomez’s biggest weaknesses are workable too. Whether it be stopping him from overplaying on defense, or getting him to expand his solid mid-range game beyond the arc, the Spaniard is certainly a nice prospect for teams late in the first round or those looking to stash a high potential project.
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