The 2021 NBA Draft is set to kick off on July 29. LWOS continues its draft profiles with Alabama’s Herb Jones. Jones was one of the key cogs in the resurgence of the Alabama basketball program. The 6’8 forward nearly left for school early last summer, but the decision to stay paid off and he was rewarded with a boost in his draft stock.
Herb Jones 2021 NBA Draft Profile
College
After leading Hale County to it’s first state title, Jones elected to stay home and attend Alabama. He showed incremental improvements throughout his first three years in Tuscaloosa before breaking through during his senior season. As a junior, Jones became a menace on the defensive end and he averaged 7.9 points per game, 6.6 rebounds per game, 2.3 assists per game, and he was named to the SEC All-Defensive Team.
Jones nearly tested the NBA waters before returning to Alabama, and the Crimson Tide went on to have one of the best seasons in school history. They posted a 26-7 record and won both the SEC regular season and tournament championships, and he was one of the catalyst to their success. Jones went onto win both the 2021 SEC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year Awards, after averaging 11.2 points per game, 6.6 rebounds per game, 3.3 assists per game, 1.7 steals per game, and 1.1 blocks per game. He turned into quite the swiss-army knife during his final season, and that versatility will be coveted by the NBA.
Trademark Game: 20 pts, 13 rebs, 4 asts, 3 stls, vs. Tennessee (SEC Tourny)
Strengths
Jones’ enters as one of the best two-way players, and his versatility is what will set him apart in this draft.
The SEC Defensive Player of the Year has a motor that will allow him to be disrupt who opponents constantly. Jones has the ability to crash the boards, defend the rim and guard positions 1-5 effectively. He can provide perimeter and interior support and he fits the mold as a small-ball 4 in today’s NBA perfectly.
During his senior season Jones showed strides on the offensive ball. He was the swiss-army knife for an offense that ranked second in nation in scoring. The 6’8 forward is a physical attacker with the ability to finish at the rack, create second chance buckets, facilitate and distribute.
Weaknesses
The one glaring, apparent weakness in Jones game is the trey ball. After shooting 35 percent on less than two attempts per game, he’s going to have to develop a three-point shot. He checks all of the NBA’s check marks, but the ability to shoot is at the very top of that list. He’s the prototype 3&D build, with one side of that oozing even more upside.
Jones struggled with foul trouble throughout his career, and while he may not run into as a pro early, he does lean heavily on physicality. The pros will be much more physical than college, so Jones will experience growing pains on the offensive side of the ball. It won’t be as easy to finish, so a jump shot would really take his game to the next level.
Herb Jones Pro Comparison
Jones is such a well-rounded player, he has a lot of Shawn Marion and Draymond Green in his game. He’s plays with physicality and high energy, he can rebound and defend really well, and he can finish at the rack strong. His ability to facilitate an offense in spurts and protect the rim bring even more dimensions to his game.
2021 NBA Draft Projection
Jones should go in the early second, but he has the potential to latch on with a contender late in the first.
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