Star Collegiate Guard Once Again Connected To Miami Heat In NBA Mock Draft

Mar 31, 2024; Dallas, TX, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Jared McCain (0) controls the ball in the first half against the North Carolina State Wolfpack in the finals of the South Regional of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at American Airline Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports | Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

The Miami Heat are in position to add one of the biggest personalities in collegiate basketball in the upcoming NBA Draft.

Guard Jared McCain's prominent freshman season at Duke is resulting in a late-lottery landing spot. The Heat hold the No. 15 pick in the draft, where he is once again projected to join Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo in Miami, according to Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman. CBS Sports forecasted McCain to the Heat just a few weeks ago.

"Jared McCain put on some impressive shooting displays during drills at the combine, showing textbook repetition of form," Wasserman wrote. "Shotmaking has and will always be what powers his offense and value, but McCain's effectiveness this year in ball-screen situations, using change of speed, footwork, crafty finishing and vision, point to more on-ball upside with his creativity and feel."

Wasserman compared McCain to Toronto Raptors guard Immanuel Quickley, who plays at a faster tempo with similar offensive traits. Both guards shoot at high efficiency from three-point range, with Quickley shooting 39.5 percent last season and McCain shooting 41.4 percent.

The Heat's last selection out of Duke was Justise Winslow, who didn't pan out after being drafted at No. 12 in 2015. He left the team after five mediocre years. This could partially steer the front office in a different direction, like the experienced Dalton Knecht out of Tennessee.

Anthony Pasciolla works as a contributing writer to Inside the Heat. He can be reached at ampasciolla@gmail.com or follow him on Instagram @anthony.pasciolla.

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