Potential Bucks draft pick profile: Justin Patton
Leading up the NBA Draft, FOX Sports Wisconsin will take a look at some options for the Milwaukee Bucks with the No. 17 overall pick. We conclude the series with Creighton big man Justin Patton.
Jarrett Allen | Terrance Ferguson | Harry Giles | T.J. Leaf| Ike Anigbogu
FRAME: 6-foot-11 1/4, 7-foot-3 wingspan
POSITION: Center
2016-17 STATISTICAL AVERAGES: 25.5 minutes, 12.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.9 steals, 1.4 blocks, 67.6 FG%, 57.1 3PT%, 51.8 FT%
TROPHY CASE: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award finalist… Big East Freshman of the Year… Three-time Big East Freshman of the Week… Second-Team All-Big East.
TALE OF THE TAPE: Patton was a late-bloomer in high school and an under-the-radar recruit in college who burst onto the scene last season after redshirting his freshman year at Creighton. A supremely athletic big man with speed to spare, Patton remains an unrefined yet tantalizing talent heading into the draft.
GET TO KNOW HIM: A native of Omaha, Neb., Patton received just one scholarship offer during his junior year at Omaha North High School. It was the only one he needed. "I didn't have any other offers," he told Sports Illustrated. "I was just sitting here hoping I could play for this school." Sticking around proved to be the right choice for the budding big man, who emerged as one of the most intriguing bigs in the country.
WHY IT WORKS: A mobile center despite his height, Patton could be a major factor in transition and a good complementary piece next to proven scorers like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton. His rebounding didn't show up much in college, but his size and toolset mean those skills could still develop. The same is true of his defensive potential, an area where athleticism is at odds with an unrefined skillset.
WHY IT DOESN'T: Patton's size and ability are intriguing, but he remains something of a project. His rebounding ability didn't show up much in college, and his lanky frame was outmuscled consistently on the glass during his single year at Creighton. Patton struggled with his positioning off the glass, a trait that could present problems as his length becomes less pronounced against similarly-sized players. A young player at just 20 years old, Patton's maturity was a question mark during his first season with the program.
FILM ROOM: Check out some looks at Patton's athleticism and quickness, as well as a rare 3-poiner.
https://youtu.be/sucSwzQN0c8
https://youtu.be/QwnLYUTvwrA
