2023 NBA Mock Draft: Spurs land franchise PG, tanking pays off for Pistons
Jalen Hood-Schifino is this draft class’ other jumbo point guard along with Arkansas’ Anthony Black, and while it’s true they both possess good length for their positions and can defend multiple positions as a result, beyond that, differences in their games begin to emerge.
While Black’s offensive game largely revolves around his rim pressure and playmaking as opposed to scoring for himself, Hood-Schifino can be thought of as a more balanced scorer and playmaker. Like Black, Hood-Schifino plays with excellent pace in the pick and roll, but he’s more willing and able to pull up in the midrange. And despite the stats indicating he only hit about 33% of his three-point shots on the season, Hood-Schifino’s range does extend to the three-point line and he’s capable of getting hot after seeing one go through.
What may keep Hood-Schifino from being a bonafide lottery prospect comes down to consistency, particularly as a scorer. If a team believes they can turn Hood-Schifino’s streaky shooting into something consistent, even if it means only being an above-average shooter, this could dramatically open up the rest of his game.