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2017 NBA Mock Draft, Week 22: College basketball is over

By Chris Stone

Jan 14, 2017; Stanford, CA, USA; Washington Huskies guard Markelle Fultz (20) moves the ball against the Stanford Cardinal in the second half at Maples Pavilion. Stanford won 76-69. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 14, 2017; Stanford, CA, USA; Washington Huskies guard Markelle Fultz (20) moves the ball against the Stanford Cardinal in the second half at Maples Pavilion. Stanford won 76-69. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 27, 2016; Stillwater, OK, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Jawun Evans (1) during the second half against the Baylor Bears at Gallagher-Iba Arena. Baylor won 69-65. Mandatory Credit: Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 27, 2016; Stillwater, OK, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Jawun Evans (1) during the second half against the Baylor Bears at Gallagher-Iba Arena. Baylor won 69-65. Mandatory Credit: Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jawun Evans

PG, Oklahoma St.

The Brooklyn Nets have a long ways to go to rebuild a team that was ultimately decimated by the massive 2013 trade with the Boston Celtics. Taking some risks on potentially high upside prospects late in the first round seems like the best option and it is similar to what they did with Caris LeVert last season. This year, Brooklyn can grab a point guard who doesn’t have an injury history, but does have some questions about his size.

Oklahoma State’s Jawun Evans was a maestro for college basketball’s top offense this season. The 6-foot tall point guard compiled a ridiculous 33.4 percent usage rate and the third best assist rate (44.1 percent) in the country, per KenPom. The team roster surrounding Evans was set up to succeed by letting him dominate the ball with pick-and-roll actions while putting shooters around the perimeter. The sophomore’s explosiveness allowed him to dominate opposing defenders in those actions and easily get to the rim where a broken down defense would be forced to give up a layup or abandon a 3-point shooter.

Evans size, though, is a concern. Without elite vertical athleticism, he struggled to finish at the rim this season, making just 43.1 percent of his attempts in the halfcourt there, according to Hoop-Math. Things won’t get any easier for Evans in the NBA where he’ll play against bigger opponents on a nightly basis. He’ll need abandon his brute force approach in favor of more finesse — perhaps a floater — in order to succeed.