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

Kam Jones
Frame: 6’4″, 185 lbs
Position: Guard
Team: Marquette Golden Eagles
2024 Draft Age: 22
Stats via www.basketball-reference.com

Offense

Jones is a tough shot-maker who does a great deal of his damage from three. He’s a microwave high-volume, off-ball scorer who can get hot instantly from behind the arc (40.6 percent accuracy). Jones has a quick, left-handled release who excels as a threat off handoffs or catch-and-shoot (75.8 percent of his 6.5 three-point attempts per game were assisted, per www.barttorvik.com. 

Jones capitalizes on openings in the defense, navigating off-ball screens, handoffs, and relocating off offensive rebounds. He’s patient, creates his own shot well off the dribble as a pick-and-roll ball handler or in isolations, puts the ball on the floor and attacks the rim (off the catch or poor closeouts). As his confidence increases, so do these shots, occasionally with stepbacks and contested jumpers, but that can lead to poor shot selection.

He has an excellent touch at the rim, shooting 67.7 percent, which is impressive for a player of his size. Jones confidently attacks bigger defenders and is a willing cutter (assisted on 32.5 percent of his at-the-rim baskets). He doesn’t take many mid-range shots (49 two-point attempts not at the rim at 28.6 percent), which may need to improve if he becomes more of a primary ball-handler to combat drop coverages.

When it comes to passing, Jones has a solid basketball IQ and grasp of making decisions with the ball. He finds the open man in transition and swings the ball in half-court sets. It is hard to project him as much of a playmaker at the next level, but he showed glimpses and stepped up when Tyler Kolek missed the final five games of the regular season, including a nine-assist outing against Xavier.

 

Defense

As an undersized two-guard, Jones isn’t versatile defensively. He may get targeted at the next level and needs to improve his off-ball awareness. He can get caught ball-watching and lose track of his assignment, which can cause scoring opportunities to develop.

He does have solid defensive footwork and stays well with players in isolation and against drivers going downhill. He can be disruptive and accumulate steals as a pesky defender, but not consistently. He reads passing lanes well and has a strong defensive IQ in the half-court. He plays with vigor and intensity, which may work to his advantage in a more limited role at the next level.

Looking Ahead

Jones is a very talented scorer from beyond the arc and at the rim who has shown improvement every season with Marquette. After supporting talented playmakers like Oso Ighodaro and Kolek, Jones should be well-prepared for NBA offenses that value fluid ball movement. His ability to space the floor and attack the rim should translate well. 

However, Jones must find other ways to make himself valuable and earn a regular role, specifically as a defender and playmaker. He projects to be a late second-round pick or undrafted free-agent signing with upside as a bench combo guard who provides short spurts of scoring.