One of the greatest high school prospects to come out of the state of Arkansas, Isaiah Joe lived up to the hype in his two years as a Razorback. As a sophomore, Joe averaged 17 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.3 BPG, and 1.7 TOPG on shooting splits of 37/34/89. Below is his full scouting report:
Name: Isaiah Joe
Height/Weight: 6’5/ 180
Wingspan/ standing reach: N/A
Hand size: N/A
Position: SG
College: Arkansas
Tools: Shooting
Pros:
- Plus catch and shoot ability
- Quick release on jump shot and quick feet to get set
- Potential as a playmaker- already has a mean stepback
- Good vision on the move
Cons:
- Needs to add strength
- Shooting consistency
- Must tighten his handle
Overall:
Isaiah Joe is a known lethal shooter, despite his low 3 point shooting percentage. His release is quick all the way around, getting his feet set in a smooth motion, along with a high starting point in his jumper and a high release point. His shot is hard to block due to the combination of his high release and overall speed of the jump shot. Additionally, Joe has range on his jump shot that can extend multiple feet behind the 3 point line without changing his form.
Beyond his shooting, Joe has the ability to make an impact in other areas. While he won’t initiate offense in a play, Joe can quickly react to defensive breakdowns and off-ball movement, making him an instinctual passer. Despite only 1.7 assists per game both years at Arkansas, Joe is a smart passer with good vision. Joe is frequently capable of creating his own shot in limited dribbles, which indicates upside in being able to make his man pay for over-committing to a hard closeout on the jump shot. As he continues to tighten his handle, Joe should be able to easily develop his playmaking abilities.
The question for NBA teams to consider is how effective Joe can be when his shot isn’t falling. While Joe has potential in secondary skills, they likely aren’t going to outweigh his shooting potential. The biggest area for Joe to improve early in his career to avoid this pitfall is his body. If Joe can add more muscle to be able to take the strength of the physical wings in the league, his defense will be a pleasant surprise. Joe already has quick footwork and overall intelligence on the court, which should give him a solid defensive foundation to work off of.
NBA Comparison: Floor: Malik Monk; ceiling: Tim Hardaway Jr
Projected draft range: 23-45
Fit with Mavs:
Joe has an obvious area of fit for Dallas as a shooter next to Luka Doncic. As the Mavs continue to be a trend-setting 3 point shooting team, they will likely seek out improvements on the perimeter to have the percentages inch toward matching the volume. Joe has an instant role off the bench, being able to simply spot up and move well off-ball in the motion offense that the Mavs run. If Dallas’ coaching staff can improve his consistency as a shooter, Joe could become one of the steals of the draft.
