Tennessee basketball: Jordan Bone undervalued and overlooked in 2019 NBA Draft
Last week Jordan Bone entered his name in the 2019 NBA Draft. Thus far mock drafts are undervaluing and overlooking the junior point guard.
Mock drafts aren’t everything. Anyone could fill one out without knowledge from NBA executives and predict the draft more accurately than so-called “experts.” But, those experts usually have discussions with NBA scouts and executives on what teams are thinking. So far that doesn’t bode well for Jordan Bone.
However, that doesn’t mean Bone won’t be drafted. In fact, like the rest of the Tennessee basketball team, Bone strives when being doubted and undervalued.
Just take a look at this season for example and in particular the three games against the Kentucky Wildcats. Truthfully this might have been when the national media jumped on board with Bone being the best point guard in the SEC.
Of course, we were saying it from the opening tip against Lenoir Rhyne. I even wrote multiple articles screaming Bone’s importance last season.
Despite losing 86-69 in Rupp Arena, Bone had himself a game on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. Ashton Hagans, not so much. Bone scored 19 points on 3-for-4 from the three-point line with six assists.
It took that long for the national media to give credit where credit was due.
Even still, the mock drafts don’t love Jordan Bone. Take a look at these numbers per 100 possessions.
Player A: 23.5 points, 10.2 assists, 3.4 turnovers
Player B: 15.0 points, 8.5 assists, 2.4 turnovers
But, that’s not it, take a look at the shooting percentages.
Player A: 2P% – 52.5, 3P% – 35.5, FT% – 83.5
Player B: 2P% – 48.6, 3P% – 26.2, FT% – 75.8
Clearly Player A is the better talent, right? And, clearly it’s Player A with the high 2019 draft grade, right?
Well, that’s wrong, and Player A is Jordan Bone. Player B is listed as the fourth best point guard available in a lot of mock drafts.
Player awards for the 2018-2019 season. dark. Next
However, this doesn’t mean Bone is stuck behind the eight ball. He will be able to display his talents in NBA workouts, and different teams will even offer him time to have one-on-one work outs. That is when Bone will shine. I’m being 100 percent objective when I say I find it hard to believe Jordan Bone won’t be on an NBA roster next season.