NBA Mock Draft 2017, Week 19: March Madness edition
By Chris Stone
Learn more about Justin Patton at The Step Back."
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Justin Patton
C, Creighton
After losing point guard Maurice Watson Jr. to injury mid-season, the Creighton Bluejays have fallen from Final Four darkhorse to No. 6 seed and upset candidate. Their first round game against the Rhode Island Rams will give draftniks an opportunity to see freshman Justin Patton against a physical frontline, which should be fascinating given that the 6-foot-11 center has struggled in those situations this season. Patton redshirted his first year at Creighton in order to add more strength to his frame and he still has a ways to go in order to be ready to compete against NBA-caliber competition. The Rams may expose some of that.
Patton, though, is an enticing center prospect. He runs the floor well, finishes above the rim in pick-and-roll and is great in transition. Patton has an improving mid-range game and has even occasionally stepped out beyond the 3-point arc this season. His post moves and counter moves are quality even if he won’t frequently be asked to use them in the NBA.
Defensively, Patton has been a solid rim protector in college, but he’ll need to measure out well at the combine in order to confirm that the skill will translate against larger NBA players. Patton can also move pretty well on the perimeter. His lack of strength is most concerning on the boards where he struggles to hold position against larger opponents.