Jerry Lucas (PF)

[Tel Aviv]

Name: Jerry Lucas
Position: PF
Height: 6'8
Weight: 240 lbs
DOB: 10/16/1991

abcalegends.com/players/player743.htm

Pros: Rebounding, Rebounding, Rebounding. Jerry Lucas has a great knack of knowing where the ball is going to bounce of the rim and how to get himself into position to grab any potential rebound. Scouts are raving about the 22 year old's potential as a rebounder in the ABCA. Already a great defensive rebounder he has shown signs of improving as an offensive rebounder aswell and many scouts believe he will become a dominant rebounder on both sides of the floor. Not currently known as a great scorer, Lucas has shown improvements in that area and signs show he could develop a solid inside scorer game to go along with his work on the offensive glass. Lucas is also a solid free throw shooter so wont be a liability in tight games.

Cons: Jerry Lucas doesnt really provide much on the defensive end apart from his rebounding which could be a problem at the ABCA level. Not much of a shotblocker, doesnt get many steals and his post defense is average, anyone that drafts him will need to improve him defensively. He comes in as a defensive rebounder and you would have to wait on his other areas to improve before you see the production you would like. Lucas also doesnt seem to be much of an athlete with average jumping and quickness.

Overall: If you need rebounding then Jerry Lucas might just be your man. He can come in and help you on the defensive glass right away and promises to be a great rebounder on both sides of the floor down the line. Also a solid scorer but could be a problem defensively, thats somewhere that he will need improving on. If you have missed out on guys like DeBusschere and Imhoff maybe its worth taking a look at Lucas.

Projection: Pick 8-12

[London]

Name: Jerry Lucas
Pos: Power Forward
Ht: 6'8
Wt: 240 lbs
DOB: 10/16/91

abcalegends.com/players/player743.htm

Pros: Jerry Lucas looks to grade out to be the best Power Forward in this draft with the potential be become a go-to scorer if he's lucky. He's not a 3-point shooter but he has a good inside/outside to balance his offensive attack and he has a great knack for finding balls off the rim. Few players get position the way he does. Right out of the gate, Lucas should prove to be one of the better rebounders in the league (certainly in this draft). He should turn into a good one-on-one post defender too but probably won't be much in the way of help defending.

Cons: Well, like I said, he's not much of a help defender. He'll never be a shot blocker or get a ton of steals. He'll still need help with the scoring load. He is more of a high efficiency scorer than a bulk scorer, but I wouldn't call that a bad thing. Still raw, a little short, but all in all a good prospect. Just wish he were better right now, but like with many other prospects that may also be a plus for some teams who need another year in the lottery. He also lacks handling and passing skill but I wouldn't think the offensive sets would run through him.

Overall: Most of what we think we know about him is all just projection. If he were built to win right now he'd be a top 3-4 pick but since he is more of a project he'll slide a few spots. I expect him to be one of the best players in this draft. To be honest, I'd be surprised if he is there after pick 5-6. There is no reason he shouldn't go by then especially with the lack of any other post players. He is by far the most well rounded. Well, him and Imhoff.

Projection: Pick 5-6

[Drew]

Name: Jerry Lucas
Pos: Power Forward
Ht: 6'8
Wt: 240 lbs
DOB: 10/16/91
College: The Ohio State University

abcalegends.com/players/player743.htm

Pros: If you could describe Jerry Lucas' game in one word, it would be dynamic. Lucas possesses the rare combination of true Power Forward size, allowing him to impose his will in the post and on the glass, to go along with the shooting ability of a swingman. While he may never mature into a true #1 scoring option, he will certainly be able to score in a number of systems. His rebounding is also top notch, perhaps the best of the lottery prospects in this years draft. A great free throw scorer for a big man, and an ever improving post defender. Jerry Lucas fills the player archetype of jack of all trades, master of none.

Cons: Compared to other prospects in this years draft, Lucas' lacks the stand out athleticism that has been known to wow scouts and GMs alike. He's not the quickest player, nor the best leaper. While Lucas makes up for this with his work ethic and great all around game, this is certainly a weak point going forward. Simply put Jerry Lucas is not a #1 option offensively, or on defense, but rather should be looked to as a secondary or tertiary option for a team.

Overall: While some are suggesting that Detroit prospect Dave DeBusschere is the top Power Forward in this years class, a number of GMs remain quite high on Lucas. His potential may not be as high, but he certainly provides a more polished game when compared to the raw DeBusschere. It will be interesting to see how the lottery shapes up as the teams holding the top 8 picks will likely have very different needs and value systems. He could go as early as 5, but its also very likely that he slips down to the tail end of the lottery.

Projection: Pick 5-10