NBA Draft 2017 Prospect Watch: Justin Patton

Mar 17, 2017; Sacramento, CA, USA; Creighton Bluejays center Justin Patton (23) celebrates with teammates against the Rhode Island Rams in the first round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 17, 2017; Sacramento, CA, USA; Creighton Bluejays center Justin Patton (23) celebrates with teammates against the Rhode Island Rams in the first round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
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Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

Strengths

As evidenced by his statistics, Justin Patton is an elite shot blocker. He poses a great threat on the defensive end of the floor because he possesses very nice mobility and athleticism for a seven-footer. At just under 20-years-old, he is still a young prospect with lots of room to develop.

On the offensive end, Patton has already shown flashes of talent both inside and outside the arc. He was at his best in close range attempts, and made a fair amount of easy attempts thanks to his point guard Maurice Watson Jr., who was one of the best playmakers in the country before going down with an injury.

As is the case with many of these young collegiate players, a lot of Patton’s game is yet to be polished. He is not likely to be the type of player who can come in and be an impact performer right away, but his potential is off the charts. In fact, of all the talented players in this draft class, Patton could rank near the top in terms of potential.

With the way he has flashed the ability to shoot the three at the collegiate level, he has shown not only the ability to shoot the deep ball, but also the confidence to let it fire. Patton has a lot of skills and versatility, but it will be up to the NBA team that selects him to make sure he makes the most out of what he has been given.