Scouting Report: Jarnell Stokes, PF, Tennessee
Here's a sound piece of advice for any team in need of some help on the boards picking after, say, No. 20 in the draft: Relax and take Stokes. That would be Jarnell Stokes, the Tennessee forward who is a bit undersized at the four but grades out as one of the steals of the draft if you're a believer in analytics. He's a terrific rebounder, is still just 20 years old despite being a junior, and has reportedly had several impressive pre-draft performances.
Background
| Position | DX Rank | ESPN Rank | Height w/o Shoes | Weight (lbs.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PF | 41 | 29 | 6' 7" | 263 |
| Wing | Vert (in.) | Standing Reach | Hand Length (in.) | Agility (sec.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7' 1.25" | 36 | 8' 7.5" | 9.75 | 11.92 |
| NCAA Stats | PPG | RPG | APG | FG% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-14 | 15.1 | 10.6 | 2.0 | 53.1% |
| 2012-13 | 12.4 | 9.6 | 1.3 | 52.8% |
| 2011-12 | 9.6 | 7.4 | 0.7 | 53.4% |
Scouting Report
Strengths: Stokes is a banger - a strong, well-built brute who does the dirty work that coaches often beg for. As a result, he can rebound with the best of them and can use his strength to create scoring space, ranking among the top bigs in the country in performance on post-ups and put-backs. He is also a solid defender when not facing a lengthy four opposite him.
Weaknesses: The biggest knock on Stokes is his size, as there's a good chance he struggles against length on defense at the next level. Undersized fours have a decent track record of recent success in the league, however, and Stokes has an average jump shot to help if size in the post becomes a problem. Stokes has taken some knocks about his overall game but has performed well enough to negate them as late as he's projected.
Highlight Reel
What to Expect on Draft Day
Stokes began the year mocked in the late first round, fell off, re-appeared after the college season ended, fell off again after the combine and re-emerged late in the pre-draft process. In short, he is the ultimate first-round bubble player, someone that quality teams could jump on with a late pick but may pass on for higher upside, depending on their individual needs. He probably won't go any higher than No. 25 but it would be tough to see him sliding too deep into the second round on draft night.