Johnny Furphy Could Take Advantage of 2024 Draft Class Perception
With the 2024 NBA Draft Class perceived to be weak, Kansas' Johnny Furphy can take advantage of a fluid draft board with his stock rising toward the end of the college basketball season.
As a 6-foot-9 swingman from Melbourne, Australia, Furphy has shown an ability to space the floor, shooting 37 percent from beyond the arc. His 75 percent mark at the line projects him to improve as a shooter while turning in 51 percent from the floor overall. The Jayhawk guard averages 8.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.1 stocks per game.
In conference play, those numbers jump to 11.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.5 stocks per game while shooting 38 percent from 3-point land and 53 percent from the field.
Furphy runs the floor at a high level, turning in 1.295 points per possession in transition, knocking down 43 percent of his spot-up shots, and has flashed an ability to cut to the rim on a small sample size.
The freshman shoots 38 percent on catch-and-shoot looks and 44 percent when left alone on those chances while converting at a 79 percent clip at the cup.
His ability to flash through the lane with a high-catch point and soft hands makes him an easy option to get the ball over the top of the defense. Off the catch, he can run, turn the corner hard and get downhill using his frame to gain leverage on his defender. With soft touch, and creative arc he can finish over bigger matchups.
He rarely sits still in the half-court, which allows him to work for open chances to score; at the next level, his first step on cuts should be utilized more as teams gear up to take away his shooting ability.
Furphy's ability to get into the paint and finish, mixed with his shooting stroke, makes him a high-end two-level scorer who can finish plays with a pinch of creating as needed.
Defensively, he is not going to be a player to write home about, but he can be utilized in a team defense style without being played off the floor. He understands rotations and how to play a pick-and-roll, using his size to get over screens, wall up at the rim, or close out on a late late to a popping shooter. With what he brings on the offensive end, the serviceable defense adds to his resume.
Another year of college seasoning could be good for Furphy, but with the raw skills and polished pluses, there might not be a better time to jump in a draft than this 2024 class.
As of now, I have a first-round grade on the Kansas product, and I would not be shocked if many more do. While he will not be a star at the next level, he can develop into a solid starter in the NBA.
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