PJ Haggerty
Frame: 6’3”, 192 lbs
Position: Guard
Team: Kansas State Wildcats
2026 Draft Age: 21
Stats via sports-reference.com

Offense

Haggerty is a creative, aggressive guard with a strong instinct for downhill scoring. He is one of the leading scorers in the country at 23.0 points per game, with a career average of 20.6 points per game over four seasons across four different programs. His strong touch around the basket and in the short midrange, paired with his aptitude for finding the ball in advantageous positions, makes him one of the more productive scorers in this year's draft class.

With his understanding of driving angles to get to his preferred spots on the floor, Haggerty has multiple counters once he gets to his spots and a strong ability to draw contact, keeping the defense off rhythm and off balance. He is patient and typically plays off two feet under the basket. He uses body bumps and pump fakes to get his shot off against shot-blocking bigs. He also has an elite midrange jump shot using lift, a high release point, and soft touch to finish. He can become overly focused on drawing fouls, hindering his ability to convert when calls aren't going his way.

Haggerty is versatile, showcases his ability to play off the ball, and finds teammates when the defense collapses. One of his many innate scoring traits is his pursuit of loose balls and his ability to make timely cuts. He’ll frequently come up with 50/50 balls around the basket, which helps him stay in rhythm when his shot isn’t falling. He also displays impressive court vision. He is a willing passer who has great ability to drive and kick.

He has improved as a jump shooter over his career, but his shot mechanics leave something to be desired. His release point drops closer to his chin with range, and he has a tendency to flare his legs. This leads to a rushed release and occasional short-arming. His midrange shot, which looks very different mechanically, suggests he can develop his long-range shot. Haggerty is a methodical scorer who can operate within a variety of actions. He likes to run off floppy play types, curl tightly, and receive the ball near the elbows, where he can get to his midrange shot. He is very comfortable playing out of a pick-and-roll, where he likes to have a runway to get downhill.

Defense

Haggerty is a good defender with an athletic frame. His quick-twitch muscles and lower body strength help him get around screens. He slides his feet and understands driving angles well, allowing him to funnel his matchup toward help or the sidelines in isolation situations. Haggerty's compete level and motor are inconsistent at times, likely because his team relies on him heavily on offense. He has shown the ability to fight through screens and stay connected; however, he lacks consistency in this area. He is very difficult to beat one-on-one in late-game moments.

He understands help concepts such as nail and stunting off the ball. He demonstrates an ability to get out to shooters, chopping his feet with control and urgency. However, he can leak out early at times to get in transition, leading to missed box-outs or losing his man on late cuts.

Haggerty likes to point switch off ball actions frequently. At times, this can punish his team as late calls present opportunities for slips and seals. However, one of his underrated abilities is guarding multiple positions. He is hard to overpower when guarding bigger players both in the post and in off-ball situations.

Looking Ahead

Haggerty is currently projected to go undrafted in the 2026 NBA draft, but he profiles as a strong candidate to earn a Summer League contract, where he can showcase many of his unique traits. He has showcased his ability to produce within different systems and against a wide variety of coverages over his four college seasons.

His ability to find ways to score in low-usage sets will allow his scoring ability to translate. Haggerty will be asked to operate more out of the pick-and-roll, which he has shown comfort with. However, in situations where the defense goes under, he will need to showcase himself as a consistent three-point threat.

Haggerty has all the tools to be an elite defender in the NBA, making him an attractive prospect to any team willing to give him a chance. He is a smart defender, and with increased focus, a slightly lower offensive load, and game reps, he will be able to improve his off-ball consistency.

He must stay engaged on both sides of the floor despite not getting as many opportunities on the ball as he is used to. Haggerty has a pathway to becoming a productive two-way guard if he can.