This post was updated on June 28 at 6:37 p.m.
Two months after making headlines when he announced he would enter the NBA Draft almost two weeks after announcing he would return to school for a third season at UCLA, Jordan Adams’ change of heart appears to have paid off.
The former UCLA guard was selected by the Memphis Grizzlies with the 22nd overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NBA Draft Thursday night.
With the pick, Adams continues a busy night for former UCLA guards after he became the second Bruin to be drafted. Fellow guard Zach LaVine was chosen by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the 13th overall pick earlier Thursday night.
Adams’ selection is one th
at some may have not expected two months ago, let alone two years ago, when he was the lowest-ranked recruit – No. 62 overall according to Rivals.com – in the Bruins’ much-heralded 2012 recruiting class. As a freshman, he was overshadowed by that class’ headliner and 2013 14th overall pick Shabazz Muhammad, despite averaging 15.3 points per game and leading the conference in steals with 73.
A year later, it was Anderson – the third overall prospect in the 2012 recruiting class – and LaVine – the Bruins’ top incoming freshman – who received the majority of draft buzz. Adams improved on virtually every part of his game in his second year, bettering his field goal and 3-point percentage, while totaling more rebounds, assists, points and steals than his freshman year.
While Adams lacks the athleticism and potential of LaVine and sheer uniqueness of Anderson, he makes up for it in productivity. The two-year starter averaged 16.4 points per game as a Bruin, including a team-leading 17.4 points per game a year ago in a season that earned him All-Pac-12 honors.
“Jordan, he’s a guy that just plays both ends of the floor. He’s an effective scorer,” said Tyus Edney, the Director of Operations for UCLA men’s basketball who played guard for UCLA from 1992-95 and was a second round selection of the Sacramento Kings in 1995. “I think it surprises me that he’s not just a three point shooter, or a guy that only shoots threes. He scores from all over the floor.”
Indeed, Adams heads to Memphis as one of the more natural scorers in the draft. He topped double figures in 56 games and surpassed 20 points 24 times in his collegiate career. Adams also enters the league as one of the better rookie shooters after shooting over 48 percent from the field last season. Adams joins a Memphis backcourt in need of another scoring option opposite point guard Mike Conley.
“He knows how to use screens, he’s a very good guard-rebounder,” said ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas following Adams’ selection. “He’s a really good finisher around the rim, he’s just one of those guys who knows how to score.”
The Grizzlies also get a competent defender in Adams, who set the UCLA single-season steals record last year. While some have knocked Adams’ athleticism, he does possess good size and quick hands, which allowed him to collect 95 steals a year ago. Alford however, doesn’t share the concerns about Adams’ athleticism, citing both the guard’s basketball IQ and toughness as reasons why Adams has the ability to contribute at the next level.
“I think athleticism is way overrated for the most part … you can either play or you can’t play and Jordan really understands how to play,” Alford said in a conference call with the media Friday morning. “You can give me the most athletic guy that we played against collegiately here this year, and Jordan probably outplayed him because of being smarter and being tougher. He’s very physical. He’s one of the most physical guards I’ve had the opportunity to coach … He just has a really good knack and feel of how to play the game.”
Though it remains to be seen just how much playing time Adams will get in his first year in Memphis, he will most likely come off the bench for starter Tony Allen, he should have the chance to contribute as a rookie.