The Duke Blue Devils made a run to the Elite Eight last season thanks in large part to the contributions of guard Jared McCain. Even though McCain wasn’t the top scorer on the team, he was the best three-point shooter when accounting for volume while also doubling as a lockdown perimeter defender. The freshman is looking to capitalize on his strong tournament run and is projected to be a lottery pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Here’s how he stacks up at the next level.
Jared McCain Draft Profile
McCain is an intriguing prospect for a few reasons. At times, his willingness to fire shots got him and Duke in trouble. However, he often had huge performances which kept the team afloat. This was on display in the tournament when he hit 8-11 triples in a 30-point showing against James Madison. He had 32 points, albeit less efficiently, in the Elite Eight loss to NC State. Those explosive showings put his potential on display but he was fairly muted for much of his lone season in Durham.
Strengths
Confidence is key for McCain, who projects as an immediate 3-and-D contributor for a team at the next level. He’s never down on himself, as evidenced by his volume from the perimeter. He’s a solid rebounder too and will crash the glass at a good rate. Defensively, he doesn’t shy away from being physical with opponents and can be a perimeter anchor on that side of the floor.
Weaknesses
McCain’s athleticism doesn’t jump off the screen, so he could have some trouble getting open consistently in the NBA if he’s deployed as a catch-and-shoot guy. He can also get into the habit of taking bad shots, which can throw off the entire offense. McCain doesn’t attack the basket much, which could make him a bit one-dimensional at the start of his career.
Player comparison: Donte DiVincenzo
We saw DiVincenzo explode in the NCAA tournament during his college career, although he did win a national championship unlike McCain. However, I see a lot of similarities between the Duke guard and the Knicks starter. Both can break out as three-point shooters at any given time, and the defensive chops are solid. McCain should be an immediate scoring threat off the bench right away as he develops more offensive skills, similar to DiVincenzo.