Texas Tech’s Jahmi’us Ramsey is a fearless shot-taker who has the potential to develop into a microwave scorer off the bench. He should be available around the 18th overall pick when the Milwaukee Bucks are projected to be on the clock in the 2020 NBA Draft.
Jahmi’us Ramsey
Texas Tech
Position: Combo Guard
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 195 pounds
DOB: 6/9/2001
Per Game Stats
Advanced Stats
Overview
Jahmi’us Ramsey might not present the same upside as other players projected to go in this area of the draft (Patrick Williams, Jaden McDaniels, Theo Maledon, etc), but that doesn’t mean he’s not an exciting young player. He can get hot in a hurry and is a walking bucket—he had seven games with at least 20 points last season. He showed the ability to score from all three levels and certainly doesn’t lack confidence to let it fly in any scenario. He’ll need to improve his shot I.Q. in the NBA as well as a few other skills such as his handles, scoring around the rim and defensive awareness.
Strengths
Catch-and-shoot: This is where Ramsey’s game should translate the best at the next level. He’s a courageous shooter who can instantly bomb away with a hand in his face due to his quick release. Contesting his shot doesn’t seem to bother him. He can also hit catch-and-shoot threes both at a standstill and when he’s running off screens. The latter will be the most important aspect of his offensive development to watch. He already flashed NBA range and the ability to hit threes on the move—if he can continue to develop in those areas his NBA career will be a good one. It’s also important to note he’s a hot and cold shooter—he had 10 games of three or more made threes and 10 games of one or fewer.
Diverse skillset: Although Ramsey may not be great at everything he does, he can still do a little bit of everything. If his game develops right, he’ll be a good combo guard who can share ball handling duties, create off the bounce for himself and others and play off-ball as a floor-spacer. He’s also a good rebounder for his position. However, he has a fair amount of work to do on all aspects of his game to be able to contribute at the next level.
Transition: He thrives in the open court, creating easy opportunities for himself and for his teammates. Given his handles aren’t the tightest, it’s easier for him to bring the ball up the court when there is less pressure in transition. This allows him to get in the open floor, stress the defense with his shot-making and athleticism, and find open teammates when the opportunity presents itself.
Weaknesses
Shot selection: He is the true definition of a hot-and-cold scorer, partially due to his inconsistent mechanics, but also partially due to his shot selection. Ramsey doesn’t do himself any favors by chucking quick threes or highly-contested mid-range looks; often lacking the patience to peruse the defense and wait for a better opportunity. This sometimes makes it difficult to build momentum after previous makes and can frustrate his teammates. He’ll need to be more aware of his role on his new team.
Scoring at the rim: Ramsey already demonstrated he can score from behind the arc and in the mid-range. In order for him to become a true three-level scorer, however, he must improve at the rim. He’s a bit better in transition, but struggles to rise and score in traffic around the bigs. He’s extremely right hand dominant and needs to work big-time on his left. He might never be a good inside scorer, but it will go a long ways if he can even get to average.
Other Notes
- Good looking shot
- Good hesi and step-backs
- Forces the issue with his dribble too often
- Fluid athlete
- Some versatility on defense—should be able to guard 1s and 2s
- Only made 64.1 percent of his free throws
Best Trait
Catch-and-shoot
Worst Trait
Shot Selection
Conclusion
Ramsey may be an intriguing prospect for many teams, but he doesn’t exactly fit the mold the Bucks are looking for. General manager Jon Horst has filled his team with players who understand their role and have high basketball I.Q.s. Even young guys like Donte DiVincenzo and Sterling Brown know their job and adhere to it throughout their time on the court.
Although Ramsey could get there, his freshman season at Texas Tech suggests it might be harder to mold him into the Mike Budenholzer way than other players.
That’s not to blame Ramsey, as he’s a talented player. His ability to shoot behind the arc—both on catch-and-shoots and pull-ups—is a great skill to have. He can score from anywhere at anytime and already showed off NBA range in college. He keeps defenses honest and has the potential to continue developing over time.
The potential to turn into a combo guard is also intriguing for many teams. He was only capable of making basic reads and sometimes forced the issue with his dribble too much—resulting in a good amount of charges—but there’s certainly a world where he becomes a tertiary creator for his team.
There’s also potential on the defensive end. Although he lacks awareness of his man in off-ball situations, often losing him and allowing him to get open threes or cuts to the hoop, he’s a solid athlete who can stick with his man when he’s engaged. He’ll be able to defend two positions right away with the potential to add a third depending on how he holds up against bigger and stronger competition.
Unfortunately, that’s too many “ifs” for Milwaukee. Ramsey could very well turn into a microwave scorer off the bench a la J.R. Smith or he could become a back of the rotation player who fires away every opportunity he gets and provides little else for his team.
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