[The following scouting report is part of a series on potential 2024 draft prospects from Sports Business Classroom alumni.]

Johnny Furphy
Frame: 6’9″, 202 lbs
Position: Forward
Team: Kansas Jayhawks
2024 Draft Age: 19
Stats via www.basketball-reference.com

Offense

Coming into the draft, Furphy is still an unknown commodity. During the non-conference season, Furphy averaged under 14 minutes per game. When Big XII play began, that shot up to almost 30 minutes a night. With the opportunity, Furphy was able to showcase more of his game. While his season averages don’t leap off the stats sheet, Furphy revealed a unique understanding of the game, scoring in various ways as a non-jump-out-of-the-gym athlete.

Furphy’s shooting splits are promising as well. He shot over 46 percent from the field, just a shade under 36 percent from three and 77 percent from the free-throw line. Half his attempts were from beyond the three-point arc, where his form is picture-perfect. With his form, Furphy’s free-throw shooting numbers should eventually move into the 80 percent range.

Though Furphy plays more of a below-the-rim game, he does show the occasional explosion to the rim. More often than not, however, if Furphy pump fakes his defender beyond the three-point line and dribbles by them, he prefers absorbing contact and finding a crafty way to finish his layups. His energy, athleticism, and basketball IQ add offensive versatility to his game that teams covet.

As minutes increased, Furphy also showed his ability as the connector piece on the court, constantly keeping the ball moving if his look was not available and never letting things stagnate. He has good court vision, and if he sees some spot minutes at the guard spot (though his natural position will most likely be as an off-the-ball wing), his height allows him visibility over his defender, depending on matchups. His drive game is still a work in progress but has shown some as the season wore on for the Jayhawks.

Furphy will immediately offer a floor spacer at the NBA level with high catch-and-shoot accuracy. Per SynergySports, Furphy had a whopping 88.1 percent of his attempts this season come from catch-and-shoot situations, and his points per shot rank was in the 68th percentile. Adding more muscle to his frame will help his finishing around the rim even more, as he does not shy away from contact. Furphy is a work in progress, but the foundation is there for a highly effective two-way player to emerge.

Defense

On the defensive side of the ball, Furphy’s length lets him rebound effectively, and his toughness factor in securing the glass was on full display this season. Though he is still young, some of the pieces of a budding defender are showing through. Watching Furphy, one can tell he wants to succeed defensively as well as on the offensive side of the ball. The way Furphy attacks the glass is a great start.

Though Furphy has the height and a bit of the length, his footspeed on the defensive end is where improvements can help him long-term at the next level. It’s probably the most inconsistent part of his game. Furphy shows flashes of stellar defense with the ability to stick to his assignment, fight through screens and be at the apex to contest, while on other possessions, he looks like an entirely different player. Finding that engagement and stability throughout his court time will help him remain on the court longer as he won’t be a liability.

That’s not to say Furphy cannot already hold his own in small doses on defense. He’s shown a knack for being very good at closing out to his assignments under control, staying in front without fouling, and even showing quick reaction time to deter a ball-handler from driving. Furphy plays within his own abilities and knows not to overextend himself to the team’s detriment.

Furphy showed growth as a capable defender within the Kansas scheme. Adding muscle to his frame will help him to absorb contact from drivers, potentially allowing him to take more charges and fight through being screened out of plays. His defensive skill set is a work in progress but has a positive trajectory.

Looking Ahead

When Furphy reclassified to join the Jayhawks for the 23-24 season, it surprised some folks, but as minutes increased, he showed he was ready to contribute and make an impact for this Kansas team. With exceptional size at his position, some guard skills when handling, and a growing defensive repertoire, Furphy has shot up draft boards.

He has solidly placed himself as a first-round pick, with some conversations potentially as a late lottery prospect. Teams look at Furphy and immediately see his shooting and size versatility. He can play both forward spots and flourish as a jumbo-sized off-guard, not tasked as the primary ball handler. Furphy’s shooting mechanics pop out as they are fluid, repeatable and very translatable to the NBA level. He can handle in a pinch, get to the rim and dazzle with a flurry of fakes to get his defenders in the air and finish with a solid layup package.

With his basketball IQ, Furphy will continue to grow his game on both ends. His mentality already lends itself to his desire to succeed. Adding weight to his frame and continuing to play the game he has shown he has will allow him to become a 3-and-D type player as his defensive skills develop further.