2017 NBA Draft - Brew Hoop Community Draft Board #16: Lengthy with much to learn, Jarrett Allen

The penultimate pick in the Community Draft falls in line positionally with the swatch of players projected to be selected in this region. Coming in 16th is the physically gifted southerner who flashed some serious potential, but his young game needs serious polish to reach his potential: Jarrett Allen - C, Texas.

Allen’s lone Longhorn season wasn’t perfect, but he finished the season playing much better basketball en route to an 11-22 record and an All-Big 12 Third Team selection. The 6’10 big man’s 19-year old body is his most promising feature. A 7’5 wingspan is the most deadly weapon in his arsenal, but he’s shown an overreliance on his length rather than developing his game, playing with greater intensity or refining his fundamentals. At 234 pounds Allen shows an ability to use his body sometimes, but he’s easily pushed around by bigger men inside. The body he has now though displays the potential to easily bulk up with age.

Allen’s offensive game lies solely inside the arc -- he missed all seven three-point attempts he took this season. So what can the mustachioed boy do? He shows solid footwork in the post, where he labored most frequently, with hook shots or up and unders. Allen controls his body with ease for such a young big man, spinning and pivoting to get himself a good shot at the rim where he shot 71% on his 135 shots at the rim. In the post he’s prone to rely on his length to finish around defenders which worked well at the college level, but against the lengthier pro-level bigs he’ll be under more duress inside.

In the pick and roll Allen projects to be a good rim runner by using his wingspan and massive hands to manhandle the ball on lobs and secure the ball on a cut to the rim. Averaging only 1.0 assist per 40, Allen won’t be a playmaking big for a few years, but he can attack the rim if he doesn’t have to move laterally too much. And he showed a solid mid-range jumper throughout the season. With his lengthy frame he can easily snag entry passes, but his low intensity accentuated a lack of desire to push deep into the post for position, preferring to rely on his size and length to overcome that underwhelming energy output.

That low intensity shows up in the little things an offense needs him to do. Despite his massive hands and tight grip he’s lackadaisical with the ball, averaging 3.2 turnovers per 40, a 20.1 turnover rate. His screens are soft, and he struggled to finish through contact against smaller competition in college boosting a 47.2 free throw rate, according to barttorvik.com, where he shot only 56% on 149 attempts. He’s got some offensive skills and there’s room to grow, but he can’t stretch the floor or dominate on the block.

On the defensive end Allen passes the eye test. He’s got quick feet, overwhelming length and quick explosiveness to rise off the ground. He should be able to switch onto smaller, quicker forwards and stay in front of them on the perimeter fairly well, but he’ll be bullied inside by bulkier big men early on in his career. He’ll turn to his long arms first to compensate for foot speed or size mismatches rather than tightening up his defensive stance and fundamentals which need serious work. Even with those lanky limbs Allen only blocked 2.0 shots per 40, pace adjusted, highlighting his struggles with reading and anticipating a defense.

Allen doesn’t have a great feel for the game and his basketball IQ is below average. It seems like he would struggle to grasp the Bucks current, frenetic defensive scheme reliant on intelligent play and communication, but if he picked it up he could be a solid cog in the scrambling machine on defense with increased intensity.

If Allen was playing center for the Bucks he would be also leave a huge gap on the boards. He’ll get bullied on the glass, and just as he struggles to get position on offense, defensively he’s often out of position and unable to body his way into position. Larger players will control the inside real estate while Allen will leap, reach and grasp for boards from a disadvantageous position. There’s potential -- he notched an 11.0 offensive rebounding rate -- for him on the glass, but his unwillingness and average defensive rebounding further compounds his lack of desire and intensity.

Allen recently turned 19, and he’s shown some obviously intriguing flashes, but there are holes in his game. He would slot into the Bucks scad of centers bringing no mastered skill. His post game is good, but Greg Monroe’s is better. He’s physically built to play defense in the modern NBA, but his IQ level isn’t built for the Bucks system and Thon Maker can move on the perimeter and protect the rim better than Allen. Henson is on the team. Hawes can shoot, I guess. Allen’s talented with plenty of room to grow, but the question arises of whether the Bucks need/want another center. With Monroe’s impending player option decision still to be made the Bucks center slot remains a wavering question mark. Allen did come in for an individual workout, but that shouldn’t be read into too much.

Finally, we’ve reached the fateful day where you, our loyal Brew Hoop brethren must select the #17 prospect, and by extension, the player you would most like to see the Bucks pick. Choose wisely folks, and we’ll have a write-up on the winner tomorrow to cap this series.

The 2017 Brew Hoop Draft Board

1. Markelle Fultz - PG, Washington - DraftExpress Profile
2. Lonzo Ball - PG, UCLA - DraftExpress Profile
3. Josh Jackson - SF, Kansas - DraftExpress Profile
4. De’Aaron Fox - PG, Kentucky - DraftExpress Profile
5. Jayson Tatum - SF, Duke - DraftExpress Profile
6. Malik Monk - SG, Kentucky - DraftExpress Profile
7. Jonathan Isaac - SF/PF, Florida State - DraftExpress Profile
8. Dennis Smith - PG, N.C. State - DraftExpress Profile
9. Frank Ntilikina - PG, Strasbourg - DraftExpress Profile
10. Lauri Markkanen - PF, Arizona - DraftExpress Profile
11. Zach Collins - PF/C, Gonzaga - DraftExpress Profile
12. Donovan Mitchell - G, Louisville - DraftExpress Profile
13. OG Anunoby - SF/PF, Indiana - DraftExpress Profile
14. Luke Kennard - SG, Duke - DraftExpress Profile
15. Justin Jackson - SF, UNC - DraftExpress Profile
16. Jarrett Allen - C, Texas - DraftExpress Profile