Jeremy Lamb Could Be The Steal of the Lottery
As the Draft looms closer, shooting guards like Dion Waiters and Terrence Ross are moving up draft boards, leaving more experienced prospects like Lamb in the shadows; had the long string bean of a 2-guard entered the Draft last year, after UConn's run through the Big East Tournament and NCAA Tournament, Lamb most likely would have been a Top 10, perhaps even Top 5 pick. With his huge wingspan, long first step, Lamb proved to be a potent scorer, especially with his deadly mid-range jumper and slashing abilities. But he chose to return to school for a shot at defending the Huskies' national title out from behind the shadow of Kemba Walker. It certainly wasn't a huge success in terms of a title defense or the first-team All-American prediction we had made, but at this point, he is certainly better than his late-lottery status is suggesting.
On paper, UConn had the talent to repeat, But starting with point guard Shabazz Napier, the roster was full of overrated players who generally underachieved. Napier was a ball-dominant guard who seemingly would rather see his own shot rim-out than pass the ball to Lamb. Not helping the matters, Andre Drummond and Alex Oriakhi clashed inside, with little consistency and energy or a post presence to keep defenses honest. As a result, Lamb didn't shine as brightly as we thought, but he handled the ball, running the point from time-to-time or created offense for himself and his teammates when Napier moved off the ball. His sweet stroke was still every bit evident as last year, despite getting the full defensive attention without Walker in uniform. Lamb is extremely long, quick and has smooth athleticism.
By NBA-DRAFT.com Staff Writer - 6 - 5 - 12
