[The following scouting report is part of a series on potential 2023 draft prospects from Sports Business Classroom alumni.]

Colby Jones
Frame: 6’5” 195lbs
Position: Guard
School: Xavier
Year: Junior
2023 Draft Age: 21
Stats via sports-reference.com

Offense

Jones is a very comfortable and proficient player on the offensive side of the ball. He plays calmly and relaxed, never appearing to be in a rush. Off the ball, Jones focuses on the ballhandler, relocating to the perfect spot for a catch-and-shoot on the kick out. 

While Jones only shot about 30 percent from three-point range through his first two seasons, he jumped to 37.8 percent in his third year. His smooth shooting form suggests he’ll grow into a very reliable NBA shooter.

Jones has room to grow as a ballhandler as he struggles to create space for himself and rarely tries to capitalize on isolation. With a general lack of explosiveness, Jones only sometimes looks to attack the rim in the half-court. He is an effective and capable finisher with his dominant hand when he does. 

While Jones will not be providing highlight reel dunks or flashy finishes, he knows how to convert on tough angles and score on good low-post defense; however, he needs to develop his left hand to become a more significant threat in this area. Additionally, Jones boasts an elite floater and push shot that he can use when given any space to score overtop his defender. 

Jones is a very qualified, unselfish playmaker. He does not hesitate to move the ball if a shot is not there for him. His patience and IQ allow him to orchestrate a fundamental and effective pick and roll. 

 

Defense

Jones plays defense with a lot of effort. When defending off the ball, he always has his head on a swivel between the ball and his man. Jones rarely loses his man off a cut but fights hard to recover and prevent an easy bucket when he does. He also does a great job tracking the nearest passing lanes and effectively jumping them without being overaggressive.

Jones generally does a great job keeping himself square with his man on the ball, although he can be inconsistent. When his matchup is in a triple-threat position, Jones is typically at a disadvantage. He has difficulty predicting the next move and is susceptible to getting blown by. However, if Jones’ matchup puts the ball on the floor and does not immediately look to attack, then he is excellent at controlling the pace and direction of his man.

Jones needs to improve navigating through screens. Both on and off the ball, Jones struggles to recognize the best path to beat a screen and often falls two steps behind his matchup. He’ll need to improve at the next level.

Jones rebounds with heart and grit, often fighting for position to pull the ball down over the top of anyone in his way. At 6.2 rebounds per game over his three seasons, Jones has the potential to be an effective rebounding guard in the NBA.

Looking Ahead

A large part of what determines whether Jones will thrive in the NBA will be his ability to make shots. Without elite athleticism, his offense will come down to his jump shot. He’ll need to adjust quickly to the speed and defense of the NBA and continue to improve offensively. 

Jones displays shades of Gary Trent Jr. Neither is incredibly versatile, but they help as perimeter-oriented offensive and focused defensive players. 

Jones tends to let his game speak for itself as he brings a calm, mature, level-headed stature. Throughout his time at Xavier, he developed his game and continuously played hard. If he can bring that same energy to the NBA, he can carve out a role for himself relatively quickly.