Overview:

Jaime Jaquez Jr. is a Play Making Wing that can also score.  A true bucket getter at the highest level of collegiate basketball, he will need to adapt to a secondary role at the NBA level.  Fortunately, Jacquez Jr. has the vision to be a playmaker and connector on the second side.  Jaquez Jr. is not a floor spacer which cast some doubt on his role especially when combined with his below average defensive lateral quickness.  Jaquez Jr. makes up for his deficiencies with craft and IQ that translates into winning basketball. 

NBA Skill: Utility scorer

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Offense

Jaime Jaquez Jr. is a “skill set tweener”.  He can score in a variety of ways; attacking closeouts with pull ups and even creating his own shot on the mid post.  But given that it’s unlikely that he will be a primary ball handler/scorer he will need to be a floor spacer (last year, just 32% 3 FG% in low volume of 2.8 3FGA) or finisher at the rim.  Neither are his strengths. However, Jaquez Jr. timely cuts, connective passes, patience and overall feel for the game demands consideration in the late first round/early second round.  

Throughout his career at UCLA he has been an advantage scorer when the defender is smaller.  Jaquez Jr. has proven he can score against NBA level 7 foot defenders when HE is at the size disadvantage.  This is a transferable skill at the NBA level.  Athletically, Jaquez Jr is rated as slightly below average.  However, he has shown a remarkable ability to pressure the rim and was even 17/21 on dunks the past season.  The benefit of the doubt is often given to elite athletes who are not efficient shooters.  Jaquez versatility should be given the benefit of the doubt to be a solid contributor at the NBA level.

Jaquez Jr. is proficient at all the primary actions of NBA teams.  His spot up needs to improve but his lack of athleticism shows up in his below average finishing at the rim, but he is capable of creating his own shot both in late-clock situations and in limited isolation post ups. 

Assists and decision making

Jaquez Jr. has great feel for the game and vision.  He has shown elite passing with a menu of advanced passes; transition touch passes, one handed dribble passes or weak side passes or lobs out of P/R.  Jaquez Jr. makes good reads as seen by his low turnover and high Ast/Tov ratio when compared to previously drafted NBA wings. 

Rebounding and defense

Jaquez Jr. can struggle with lateral quickness and his close-outs are attacked constantly.  Jaquez Jr. is not particularly long so compensating with short close-outs will lead to open threes at next level.  To his credit, Jaquez Jr. more than makes up for his athleticism with a high motor and nose for the ball.  As a wing, Jaquez Jr. is an elite and productive rebounder – 8.2 RBG which is elite for wings by every measure.  Jaquez Jr. is an elite wing rebounder because of his guile and craft despite his athleticism.  Defensively, creates a lot of extra possessions with steals.  He is a solid weak side defender that could use some improvement in his rotations.  Jaquez Jr.’s sneaky athleticism shows up in his weak side and chase-down blocks.  There are no perfect players but there should be a place in the NBA for consistently productive players like Jaime Jaquez Jr.

Projection: Late first round

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Signature game: UCLA v Colorado

Jaime Jaquez Jr. is a crafty small forward who can score in a variety of ways. His footwork in the midpost is exceptional. But inefficient 3 point shooting (27%) could be a non starter for being drafted in the first round.  2022-23 will be Jaquez Jr’s senior season for the UCLA Bruins.  

NBA skill: Scoring versatility

Offense:

Jaime Jaquez Jr. has a crafty menu of shots.  His mid post up package (18% of his shots) of bump offs, Dirks, right shoulder fades, up and unders always keeps the defender off balance.  Post Ups are his best Play Type, 1.12, Excellent. Unfortunately, this may only be useful at the college level since Post Ups only account for 4% of NBA Play Types while he has shown the ability to score against longer defenders with “herky jerky” style.  Jaquez Jr. is in line with the measurables of previously drafted NBA wings in every area except 3 point shooting.

As efficient as Jaquez Jr. is, 47 / 27 / 76, it’s remarkable that he is not a better 3 point shooter.  To his credit he only shoots 2.2 3PA, but 27% 3P% must be improved. His free throw shooting may be enough to get teams to give his three point shooting time to develop.  

Jaquez Jr’s three point shooting footwork needs to be reworked.  He has a wide base but still seems off balance on landing. 

Jaquez Jr’s is one of the few wings who have five Play Types in double digit percentages.  It’s remarkable and speaks to Jaquez Jr’s versatility:

Post Up 18% 1.12 Points Per Play, Excellent  

Pick and Roll Handler 16% .87 PPP, Very Good

Spot Up 15%, .9, PPP, Average, 

Isolation 1.1PPP,  Excellent

Transition 10% 1.1 Good

Jaquez Jr. needs to improve his 3 point shooting during the 2022-23 season. His NBA stock will rise or fall according to his 3 point shooting efficiency.

Wanna sees:

Improved three point shooting

Improved handle and shiftiness

Assists and Decision Making

Jaquez has good vision and playmaking ability for a wing.  He is a willing passer despite being the second leading scorer for the Bruins in 2021-22. He shows a variety of passes: One handed off the dribble passes, touch passes and interior passes.

Jaquez Jr. makes good decisions with the basketball.  He plays at his own pace and is rarely sped up.  This is evidenced by his low turnover rate; just 1.4 TOV.

Wanna see

Continued playing making

Grab and go transition

Addition of advance passing:  transition touch pass, lobs

Drive and kick, weak side skip

Rebounding and defense

Jaquez Jr. is a solid rebounder.  He is in line with previously drafted wings.  

Defensively, usually high IQ players with average athleticism usually have high steals but lower block rate. Jaquez Jr. is an adequate on ball defender, a good off ball defender who understands rotations.  Jaquez Jr. also got 1.1 steals which is solid in comparison to previously drafted NBA wings.  He only gets one block every three games which is very very low.  

Wanna See

Commitment record just 2 more rebounds per game

Increase blocks

Tier of 2023 draft prediction:  Second round