Kentucky guard B.J. Boston will be heading into the 2021 NBA draft. Even after a poor freshman season, the guard is still projected to be a late first-round pick. Boston is a raw prospect with tremendous upside to his offensive game and could be the league’s next scoring star. From once a contender of being highlighted as a potential first pick to now a possible early second pick, Boston has seen his draft value decrease all season long. Even with the high potential to becoming an NBA star, Boston could be skipped on in the first round.
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Player Bio
Name: B.J. Boston
Position: Shooting Guard, Small Forward
School: Kentucky
Age: 19
Height: 6’7”
Weight: 185 Ibs
Prototype: Pure Scorer
Finishing (5/10)
Boston has the agility to become a very well-diverse finisher. The guard is crafty around the rim but has yet to show consistency. He is also very thin and will need to add weight and muscle to finish through taller and stronger defenders. Once in the NBA, this trait should come together and help polish his offensive game.
Perimeter Shooting (7.5/10)
Boston has the potential to be a lethal shooter in the NBA. Although his shooting splits were underwhelming his freshman season, his form and release are NBA-ready. The guard just could not get the ball to go in the hoop at times, but the attempts and form were not the problems. Boston’s catch and shoot ability is something that teams want. From all around the ark and even a few feet back are zones to which the guard can shoot.
Ball Handling (7.5/10)
Even with Boston’s lanky frame, the guard has great handles. Able to move fluently through screens with the ball, and create his own space for his own shot. Boston is capable of handling the ball on offense for non-set plays and set plays. The guard has multiple dribble packages, that allow him to free space. These same moves also make for great ankle breaker highlights.
Passing (6/10)
Boston’s passing throughout his first season in college saw the most improvement. There are times where the young guard tries to do something too fancy with the ball or makes the wrong read. It showed early on that his passing IQ was not up to par at the college level. As the guard was unable to fully read defenses and transitions. However, towards the end of the season, the guard was able to slowly learn. By the end of the season, he became a decent playmaker. Although it will still take time before it becomes a strength of his.
On-ball Defending (6/10)
The biggest knock in Boston’s game is his weight and strength. Boston is a fiery defender but will struggle against guards with the slightest bit of strength with his current ability. He is quick enough to stay with defenders and has the length to help contest jump shots. A light bump to Boston, and he will be thrown off from his defender.
Shot-Creating (8/10)
Boston can create his own shot. He has a good feel for ball handling, which allows him to create space for his shot. The guard also has the basic footwork for falling back on mid-range jump shots. His footwork is quick and can motion his defender away from him. It also allows him to get into his release quicker.
Off-ball movement (9/10)
Boston is best utilized on defense as an off-ball defender. He can play the passing lanes incredibly, as he creates disruptions and turnovers throughout the game. As a d as a defenderThisefender, Boston’s bread and butter are where he can help his team defensively. On offense, Boston is an amazing floor runner, especially in transition. The guard is capable to run the floor in transition and produces at a high level in the outlet game. Boston is not known as a slasher but is capable to provide the baseline cuts. Once his finishing improves at the next level, the guard could become more comfortable cutting to the rim.
Athleticism (5/10)
Boston’s athleticism is very limited. He will not be able to jump out of the gym with crazy dunks. He will, however, be able to do flashy acrobatic layups. The guard is crafty in the air, although his vertical is nothing special. Boston is also fast without the ball and can run the floor with ease.
Rebounding (3.5/10)
Even at 6’7”, Boston is not a tremendous rebounder. His small frame does not help either. Boston is not strong enough to fight for rebounds. Even with muscle and weight adding to his game in the future, he shows little to no promise to become a good rebounder. He doesn’t crash the offensive glass unless it was his shot. Boston will not be going for many rebounds, which is fine for a guard.
Basketball IQ (4/5)
There are glaring spots in Boston’s basketball IQ. His playmaking IQ is the most worrisome. He came into college as a terrible passer, and although he showed improvement it might take a while for him to adjust to the always evolving NBA defenses. He is capable of running an offense and easily adjusts on broken plays, but he seems to struggle in making the better call. Defensively his IQ is superb, as he easily reads opponent’s offenses and runs around or above screens at the right time. Boston is also able to read the right passing lanes, making him valuable off the ball and orchestrating from behind.
Injury History (4/5)
Boston has had a few injuries in his career thus far. Fortunately for the future NBA player, all the injuries were minor. Boston dealt with hand injuries to ankle injuries in his freshman season. With Boston’s lanky frame, he is more vulnerable to injuries at the next level. As the competition not only heightens, but physical contact strengthens.
Player Summary
Boston has the potential to become an elite scorer in the NBA. His crafty ability to create shots for himself and his already NBA-ready release is something to behold. Teams might overreact to his poor shooting performance his freshman year. However, the teams that will give him a chance will receive a wonderful offensive threat. Boston is not the best defender but is not a slouch to get buried by other teams. He is a hard worker and has a lot to prove when he gets to the NBA. Expect a rocky start to the season, as he adjusts to the NBA’s strength, but in year two or three Boston will emerge as a premier guard.
Player Grade (65.5/100): Late First Round, Early Second Round
Player Comparison: Brandon Ingram, Lou Williams
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