Throughout the season, many thought the top NBA prospect on Purdue was sophomore center Isaac Haas, a 7-2 big man who scouts had pegged as a prime contender to break out after a strong freshman campaign. However, Purdue’s other 7-footer has brought most of the attention of NBA scouts, as senior A.J. Hammons is having his best season for the Boilermakers.
Hammons considered leaving for the NBA after both his sophomore and junior seasons, but his decision to stick around West Lafayette has proven to be wise. He’s averaging 14.7 points and 8.2 rebounds on 59.2 percent shooting from the field and 73.4 percent from the free throw line (all career highs):
What makes him attractive to NBA scouts? At 7-0 and 260 pounds with a 7-3 wingspan, Hammons has the size and length to play center in today’s NBA. Not to mention Hammons is a two-way player, showing the awareness, length and enough lateral quickness as a weak-side shot-blocker as evidenced by his 2.7 blocks per game.
Hammons has been on a tear in that regard in recent weeks, averaging 3.8 blocks in his last four games to go with three straight double-doubles. His 19-point, 13-rebound and eight-block performance on Tuesday against Michigan State with a number of NBA scouts in attendance was certainly impressive.
Offensively, Hammons is a force near the basket, where he has a soft touch with both hands and a decent mid-range jump shot, which should help him translate to the next level. He’s improved his ability to pass the ball, averaging a career-high 1.0 assists per game, including eight assists in his last three games. Heck, he’s even hit four of his eight three-point attempts this season:
The former top 100 recruit has improved his rebounding substantially over the years as well, as it used to be a weakness but has turned into a strength.
There are some question marks with Hammons and his game — how will he defend in space in the pick-and-roll at the next level? Hammons has already lost around 20-30 pounds since joining Purdue, which has helped his NBA outlook, but his conditioning and mobility could still use some improvement when he makes his way to the league. Another concern is Hammons’s age — he turns 24 in August, so how much potential is left for growth in his game? It’s something GMs will have to consider when drafting come June.
Past concerns such as his lack of motor were a worry for his prospects at the next level, but have since died down after showing more consistency this year. Hammons has also reduced his turnover rate and foul rate over the last two years, two things that’ll be crucial to his success (or lack thereof) in the Association. It’s also worth considering big men (especially 7-footers) take the longest to develop among all prospects, so there might be some upside left to his game.
If I were to give a comparison for Hammons as an NBA player, a poor man’s Robin Lopez could be a solid ceiling for him. Lopez is more of a defensive stopper than anything, and has more length than Hammons to be a difference-maker on that end. Another possible basement for Hammons could be center Aaron Gray, who was a depth piece in seven seasons for four different teams during his NBA career.
I’d expect Hammons to be drafted somewhere between 25-40 on draft night, as his shot-blocking and efficiency around the basket are attractive for a team in need of some bulk down low. Look for Hammons’s upside to fall somewhere between Lopez and Gray, and for him to become a potential 10-12-year role player in the NBA.
Stats through games played on Feb. 12