JD Davison Appears In New NBA Mock Draft
JD Davison, a point guard from Calhoun High School continues to show why he is was a five-star prospect since he stepped on the court for the Crimson Tide. Davison has worked his way into the starting lineup for some games and averages eight points, four rebounds and four assists on the season.
With so much hype surrounding Davison, it was always thought for him to have a one-and-done season with a year under Nate Oats. In the latest NBA mock draft by the NBA Draft Room, he is projected to be a possible first-round pick as he draws comparisons to Dennis Smith JR for his athleticism and quickness.
Davison has shown flashes of what he can do on the court, but there is still much more he can learn and get better at before going to the NBA.
Athleticism is something that just can’t be taught as Davison excels in this category with amazing hops and a side of quickness. He can explode to the basket and finish at the rim with the best of them just as he did on Auburn's 7-foot-1 Walker Kessler.
His ballhandling is solid, he can move the ball down the court in the blink of an eye and he makes the right reads on fast-break possessions more often than not. Davison has a high basketball IQ and shows it with the excellent passes he makes night in, night out.
Turnovers have been a struggle for Davison as he tends to lose control at times when moving too fast which leads to turning the ball over. Getting a consistent jump shot is also an area that Davison will need to work on.
The SEC has two other freshman players that look league-ready: Jabari Smith of Auburn and TyTy Washington of Kentucky.
The SEC Freshman of the Week has been a battle between those two, but Davison managed to steal an award from them with his career-high 29 point performance against Ole Miss.
Davison shows promise, but with Jaden Shackelford and Jahvon Quinerly running the offense, he has been unable to get comfortable, leading to some struggles in his game. Although Davison is projected as a fringe lottery pick, an extra year of development could make him a surefire one.
If Davison does decide to enter the NBA, he will be a good fit for any team that needs a point guard with great athletic ability and great basketball IQ. For now, Davison will look to continue playing a key role for Nate Oats and the Crimson Tide.