Ht/Wt: 6' 6" / 212 lbs
Position: SF
Team: Arizona
Class: Sophomore

2015 Draft Profile - Rondae Hollis-Jefferson

Strengths
Hollis-Jefferson is one of the premier defensive players in college basketball, and a case could be made for him being the top perimeter defender in the country. His lateral quickness, long arms and defensive discipline and instincts make him a nightmare for the offensive players he's matched up against. Those characteristics combined with his size make him extremely versatile and able to defend several positions comfortably and effectively. Coaches at all levels love players that can defend, and Hollis-Jefferson takes an incredible amount of pride in his defensive efforts.

His athletic ability helps him offensively as well. When a transition opportunity presents itself, he fills lanes accordingly and has the ability to finish strong when attacking the basket. Hollis-Jefferson has a high motor, always playing with a ton of energy and effort, which resonates well with coaches and teammates. That effort translates on the glass, where he is an excellent rebounder offensively and defensively for his position.

Weaknesses
He's fantastic on the defensive side of the basketball, but on the other end of the floor, Hollis-Jefferson is immensely limited. He's a very poor shooter from the outside, connecting on only 23.8 percent of his three point tries this season with the Wildcats. Although he can thrive out in transition, there isn't much he brings to the table offensively in terms of scoring in a half court setting. He's a decent ball-handler but needs to get better so he can more effectively attack the basket under better control and cut down his turnovers.

Overall, his offensive game simply needs a lot of work. His presence could hinder floor spacing with the defense not respecting his jumper. He'll need to spend countless hours in the gym ironing out the many kinks in his shooting mechanics. Doing so would likely help raise his free throw percentage from a meager 69.6 percent. He's shown flashes of a good midrange game, but it still needs plenty of polishing.

NBA Player Comparison
Hollis-Jefferson's skill set that includes sensational defensive prowess and limited offensive abilities is very reminiscent of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. Their physical tools are very comparable when you consider their height, wingspan and overall athletic ability. Both players have terrific work ethics as well, on and off the court. Drafted in 2012, Kidd-Gilchrist still struggles with his outside shooting, although he understands it's not part of his game, so he rarely takes shots from too far out. If Hollis-Jefferson isn't able to further develop his jump shooting ability, he should be smart enough to adjust his game around it.

Defensive stoppers will always hold a fair share of value in any level of basketball. In today's NBA, it's especially important to have one out on the wing, which makes Hollis-Jefferson the type of player capable of making an impact at the next level. If his offensive game molds into form, he could be a steal for whoever drafts him. If it doesn't however, his defense alone will make him a valuable asset to a team.

Statistics
PPG: 11.1 RPG: 6.8 APG: 1.5 SPG: 1.1 BPG: 0.9 FG%: 53.1 FT%: 69.6 3PT%: 23.8




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