NBA Draft Prospect: Isaiah Joe (Arkanas)(with Caleb Conant)
We’re back with more content of our NBA Draft scouting. Another prospect that seems to be overlooked is sensational Isaiah Joe from Arkansas. The production that Joe gave during his time in college will allow him to potentially become a solid second round pick in this year’s draft.
Caleb Conant
Isaiah Joe is definitely talented with a long body frame and a lot of potential. Looking at the 2020 Draft as a whole, there are a lot of guards who can play, but the transition for them is who can add some weight and improve their game.
Although Joe is long and tall for a guard, he needs to add some muscle so teams don’t get the idea of looking to bully him in the paint. During his college days, team’s have noticed that he can become a liability on defense when worked down to the post.
On the offensive side of the ball, I think this is where Joe adds a lot of value. He is very simple and can get his own shot without having to do a million moves. That is very different from creating a shot and having to do moves around the court. Adding more to his craft is something Joe will develop regardless.
It will take him some time to get use to the speed in the NBA. I think Joe has a lot of potential, but what’s very important is him having the right mention. Hopefully, a future teammate of his or not, should reach out to him and mentor him on areas to learn. Somebody who Joe reminds me of and I think he can learn a lot from is Joe Johnson. Johnson and Joe are very similar in the way they play. I think Joe has a high chance of getting picked up by a contender.
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I couldn’t imagine too much playing time for Joe this coming year. Just because he can use another year of development and learning. Depending how the chips fall, we might see Joe on the court sooner than we think. P.S.: He is a bonafide bucket!
Nick Andre
Isaiah Joe is definitely a player that I overlooked in this year’s draft. He is a solid wing who has a lot in his package on the offensive end. Joe was huge during his time in Arkansas by providing a lot of buckets. As he transitions to the NBA, Joe will have to carry on his package and add even more to his skillset to be a solid piece on an NBA roster.
It’s one thing for certain: Isaiah Joe lives on the perimeter. The majority of his scoring comes from behind the three point line and he’s a scorching hot hand to lead upon. When being tightly defended, Joe seems to use his right elbow to create a little space and get his shot off. Joe shows good form on his release and can get his shot off with a quickness. His shooting ability is something that any NBA roster would want from a role player.
Joe averaged 17 points per game in his sophomaore campaign at Arkansas. The one problem that is noticeable in his stat line is his very low field goal percentage. Joe shot 38% from the field and it was due to him shooting and abundance of three point shots. Joe shot 10 three pointers per game and most times only made three. Watching his film, some of those shots are very forced early in the shot clock. It seems as if he wants to make a quick transition three on every possession he has the opportunity to.
Heading into the NBA, Joe will need to clean up that field goal percentage with better quality looks from three. He has shown that he can take advantage of high quality shots by having many of them open. He has the opportunity to become a key three point shooter for a possible NBA playoff team. If Joe can revolve his shooting percentage around the 40’s, then he will get the playing time in the NBA that is well deserved.
There’s numerous team’s who can use Joe’s shooting ability. For instance, the Philadelphia 76ers are in need of some key shooters who can space the floor. Adding Joe as a key shooter off the bench could be a huge contribution for the team’s future. We saw the impact players in JJ Redick made by staying ready to shoot the ball. Although he will be a rookie, Joe has shown that he is not afraid to let the ball fly. His confidence and shooting ability could be huge for the Sixers.
How about the Minnesota Timberwolves? Joe could potentially become a valuable contributor off the bench for the franchise. A team that is looking to make the playoffs in the West, Joe’s offensive package could give this team different energy coming off the bench. It may seem impossible for Joe to land in Minnesota, but no one should count it out.
Isaiah Joe deserves his credit for remaining humble and continuing to develop his game. He works on his craft relentlessly as it has allowed him to be NBA ready when the draft comes. He still has his ways to go, but Joe can be a very valuable piece on an NBA roster.
The rise of Isaiah Joe has been an exciting one to watch. His journey has certainly been through the rainstorms and now he has an opportunity to land in the NBA. With the draft rolling around, there will be a lot of optimism on what type of career Joe will have.
Follow Caleb on Twitter @calebconant2
