Name: Jerian Grant
Position: Point/Shooting Guard
School: Notre Dame
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 204 pounds
Current Prospect Rank: No. 19 (Chad Ford), No. 27 (DraftExpress) and No. 18 (NBADraft.net)
Projected Draft Position: Mid-to-Late 1st Round
Player Comparison: Reggie Jackson
Feature Game: Saturday January 10 vs. Virginia Cavaliers
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Strengths:
Jerian Grant is a fifth-year senior who has been an integral part of the University of Notre Dame basketball team. As a 6’5″ guard, he has been known for his awareness on either end of the floor as well as his scoring and distributing skills on offense.
Throughout his time with the Fighting Irish, Grant has averaged 14.2 points, 5.5 assists and 1.4 steals, while playing 36 minutes a game. He plays with a high IQ in the half-court and helps push the ball in transition on the offensive end. As a long guard who plays up top in a 2-3 zone, Grant does a good job of using his length to disrupt and step into passing lanes.
Grant has continued to score at an efficient rate shooting 43 percent overall from the floor, 36 percent from beyond the arc and 80 percent from the free-throw line in his collegiate career. This season has seen Grant improve in his ability to create and convert shots throughout the first 15 games, making tough turnaround jumpers usually seen made by NBA veterans.
Weaknesses:
Grant has had academic issues, but also has a few questions pertaining to his game that need answering before he is considered one of the best players in the upcoming draft.
Although he has the physical tools, one part of Grant’s game that needs work is his rebounding. Grant needs to use his 204 lb. frame better to box out and fight for loose balls. Throughout his time with Notre Dame, he has only averaged 2.8 rebounds per game.
Grant’s second issue is his defense. While playing under Mike Brey, Grant has played in a zone defense, which will bring up questions of whether he’ll be able to play one-on-one defense and consistently stay in front of his man. Since Grant is not known as a freak athlete, he has at times had trouble stopping dribble penetration.
Fit with Lakers:
With Kobe Bryant in the final years of his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, the team will need cornerstones to build upon for the future. Grant can be a guard who can compliment Julius Randle’s style as well as score and facilitate for the team.
The son of Harvey Grant and nephew of NBA Champion Horace Grant, Jerian can join a Lakers team in need of a young guard who can consistently score and run the offense.
Grant and the Fighting Irish will next face the University of Virginia this upcoming Saturday. The Cavaliers have Justin Anderson, an explosive 6’6″ guard/forward who’s been averaging 15.1 points a game this season.
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