The 2024 NBA Draft has been widely discussed as a subpar class. In such situations, the focus turns to finding sleepers or diamonds in the rough. The sport of basketball is too global, too successful, and too talented for this class to be as bad as some make it out to be.
It is about finding the talent, like every year. While the 2024 NBA Draft will lack eye-popping star power at first glance, do not throw the baby out with the bath water. There are still many soon-to-be high-level NBA contributors in this class.
One sleeper might be right under our noses at a Blue Blood program like the University of Kansas. KJ Adams Jr. is not widely discussed in draft circles; in fact, he likely has not been discussed at all despite helping the Jayhawks win a National Championship as a Freshman in the 2021-22 season.
While age and shooting are the glaring red flags for Adams Jr., he still does enough to warrant some NBA Draft buzz.
For his career, Adams Jr. is averaging 7.4 points, three rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.1 stocks per game while shooting 63 percent from the floor and 60 percent at the charity stripe. He has not logged a career 3-pointer yet.
Adams Jr. has increased his averages this season to 12.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.9 stocks per game. He has been one of the best players for the Jayhawks this season despite some frustrating losses for KU along the way.
According to Synergy, Adams Jr. ranks in the 84th percentile in points per possession on all offensive possessions while dominating as a play finisher, cleaning up the glass on putbacks (95th percentile), scoring in the high-post 94th percentile), and his elite off-ball cutting ability (72nd percentile) using his athletic ability to speed run past guys and leap to the ring.
His fluid, calculated movements, bounce, and physicality allow him to shoot an impressive 70 percent at the rim, given his volume. He uses his body well to seal off defenders on the catch or initiate contact at the rim to bump an opponent off his spot and convert.
His soft hands allow him to smoothly corral passes from lead guards and quickly adjust to his next action. He can make up for some wild passes with his unique catch ability and strength to gather and bring the ball up through traffic.
