Colby Jones has been a notable name since earning Big East All-Freshman team honors, all the way to being named to the All-Big East team as a junior in 2023. As a junior, Jones averaged 15 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 4.4 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.6 BPG, and 2.3 TOPG on splits of 51/38/65. Below is his full scouting report:
Name: Colby Jones
Height/Weight: 6’5/199
Wingspan/ standing reach: 6’8/8’7
Hand size: 8 ½
Position: Wing
Pre-Draft team: Xavier
Tools: Swiss Army Knife, floater, defensive playmaking
Pros:
- Outstanding floater
- Good defensive playmaker
- Great feel for the game
- Good passer- gets passes into the right spots (shooting pockets, knowing when to throw high or low, etc
- Efficient finisher at the rim with good rim touch?
Cons:
- Inconsistent, streaky shooter
- Lacks explosion as a finisher
Swing Skills:
- Shooting consistency
Summary:
Colby Jones is able to impact the game in a variety of ways, whether it be defense to create quick offense, playmaking for others, playing off-ball as a scorer, or being a self-creator.
While Colby Jones may fall into the category of a jack of all trades, master of none, as a wing that has value, and should keep him in the rotation for as long as he wishes to play in the NBA. If the team needs passing, he can contribute as an off-guard that plays defense. If the team needs a stop, he can come in and lock a guy down without being a liability on the offensive end. If the team needs shooting, Jones is likely to be able to step in and contribute (38% from 3). The layers to which Colby Jones can impact the game are advanced, and should help him contribute immediately as a rookie. However, Jones will need to prove shooting consistency given his alarmingly low free throw percentage (68% from the line over three years), which is often a stronger indicator of shooting upside than 3P%.
At his pro day, Jones struggled as a shooter, hitting the side of the backboard on the corner shooting drill. In order to truly stick, he needs to prove his low free throw percentage and low three point percentage as a lowerclassman was a testament to his growth as a junior. This may have been a cause for him being an early second round pick as opposed to a late first round pick, depending on how well he shot the ball in pre-draft workouts.
Overall, game tape prevails for Colby Jones, given how many different ways he can both impact the game now and be able to give a reason to trust a coach to get on a floor as well. With Sacramento, a team that needs two-way wings, Jones should find ways to mesh under Coach Brown to earn rotation minutes right away. The Kings ranked bottom 10 in both forcing turnovers and defensive rating, which should provide a clear path for Jones to play right away. The big question mark for him becomes how willing and successful of a shooter can he become so that he can be trusted to play 20 minutes per game?
Similar to: Malcolm Brogdon
Projected draft range: 20-40 (update: drafted 34 to Sacramento)
Expected role: Do-it-all wing that can impact winning in a variety of ways
Unplayable if: While Jones always finds a way to impact the game with or without scoring, his impact and minutes will be reduced if his shooting consistency is not found in the NBA, as well as if his mediocre explosion can be negated as a finisher.
Exceeds expectations if: Shooting consistency comes around and he finds ways to overcome his mediocre athleticism.
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