Marquette Golden Eagles guard Kam Jones just completed his junior season and for now, has decided not to declare for the NBA Draft. It remains to be seen if Jones is to declare or not. Along with Tyler Kolek and Oso Ighodaro graduating from the program, it would be a big loss for head coach Shaka Smart and the Golden Eagles if Jones left for the NBA.
A season ago with Marquette, he averaged 17.2 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 2.4 APG, 0.1 BPG, and 1.1 SPG in 36 games played. Jones shot 50.1% from the field this season for the Marquette Golden Eagles and he also shot 40.6% from three-point land and had shot 72.4% from the free-throw line.
There is no doubt that his scoring ability would be able to translate to the NBA. Jones is 6’5″ and weighs 200 lbs. He was always the go-to scorer on this basketball team along with Tyler Kolek. Kam Jones is currently 22 years old.
The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor Has Marquette Golden Eagles Kam Jones Ranked #26 On His Big Board For the 2024 NBA Draft
There has not been much buzz throughout the college basketball season about any Marquette players being drafted in the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft. The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor has Kam Jones ranked 26th on his NBA Draft board for 2024.
Some of the positives he listed about Jones were as follows:
“Moves like a veteran NBA scorer, splitting traps in the pick-and-roll, finishing with Euro-steps, and dribbling into side-step 3s. He’s a nifty ball handler who uses crossovers, spins, around-the-back dribble moves, and a deep bag to generate shots all over the court. Savvy at-rim finisher who can use either hand to score, though he usually finishes with his dominant left. Sometimes he can turn his back to defenders to get into a hook shot. He also boasts a soft floater. Good spot-up shooter with deep range and the skills to shoot off screens and handoffs. If the 3 isn’t available, he can drive.”
Some of the negatives were as follows:
“He’s a good athlete, but not a great one. He doesn’t have an explosive first step or vertical leaping ability at the rim. He rarely dunks, and even at the college level, he’s very reliant on his jumper. Playmaking should be a focus for him. We know he can get buckets. But his percentages would likely improve if he looked to pass more and became more of an all-around threat.”
It would not be a bad thing for him to declare for the 2024 NBA Draft but he needs to have his eligibility still in case it wouldn’t work out for him. Kam Jones could use another season with Marquette and maybe become a lottery pick in 2025. Going in the NBA Draft this season may not be good for him. Jones would be starting next year in college and would also be the leading scorer again for the Marquette Golden Eagles.
