NBA Draft: Is Kevin McCullar’s Shooting Jump Legit?
Kevin McCullar Jr. has long been on NBA Draft radars.
So much so, that he’s tested the waters in the past few years, eventually opting for a move to Kansas and subsequent stay with the Jayhawks for his final college year.
The latter has yielded tremendous results: a massive statistical jump in nearly every major offensive category. He raised his points per game from 10.7 to 20.0, his assists from 2.4 to 4.7 and across the board his shooting splits have blossomed. A four percent jump in overall field goal percentage, and a whopping seven percent jump in 3-point shooting despite more attempts per game.
Suffice to say, McCullar seems to have taken a major leap. And with his long-revered defense, that makes him a pretty special NBA prospect.
But can we trust the immediate jump of a career 31% 3-point shooter?
There’s a few things to touch on regarding his shooting long-term, which is going to be the decisive factor in keeping him on NBA courts, especially in April.
The first indicator of potential is his free throw shooting percentage, which has never dipped below 70% in his five-year collegiate career and has blossomed to 84% this season. While it’s not a given that good free throw shooters remain good shooters, it’s certainly something to factor in.
McCullar has long been known as a gym rat, too. With an affinity for honing his craft every offseason. For some, putting in the necessary work has lead to concrete results in the box scores.
Lastly, while McCullar’s shooting form leaves plenty to be desired, his confidence gleams through. And that’s sometimes half the battle in regards to a prospect’s percentages.
It will be something to monitor in his final season with the Jayhawks, but McCullar’s success from deep could lead to a major boost on the draft front.
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