The Big 12 6th Man of the Year, Jeremy Sochan had a productive one & done freshman season following a fringe top-100 recruiting status. As a freshman, Sochan averaged 9.2 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.7 BPG, and 1.6 TOPG on shooting splits of 47/30/59. Below is his full scouting report:
Name: Jeremy Sochan
Height/Weight: 6’9/230
Wingspan/ standing reach: N/A
Hand size: N/A
Position: Forward
Pre-Draft team: Baylor
Tools: Slashing, defense, versatility
Pros:
- Great size given his roles
- Versatile on both ends
- High release on jumper
- Relentless motor
- Outstanding cutter
- Good rebounder
- Incredibly intelligent basketball mind
- Strong up and under move that he can use both hands to finish with
Cons:
- Jump shot is a work in progress
- Needs to continue getting stronger
- Doesn’t have a strong first step attacking closeouts
- Needs to get more comfortable finishing with his left hand on drives
- Only an average athlete
Summary:
Jeremy Sochan is a raw super-versatile forward that can play just about any position on defense while being versatile on the offensive end..
Offensively, Sochan has the ability to create well for others. While only an average functional athlete offensively, Sochan will best make a living as a mismatch creator, knowing how and when to pick apart defenses with his passing and manipulation. Sochan stays steps ahead of the defense in seeing plays before they develop, which is a trait the best playmakers in the league all share. With his brilliant basketball IQ, Sochan should be able to always find a way to impact the play on offense, with or without the ball in his hands.
The one glaring weakness in Sochan’s game is his jump shot. With poor shooting percentages supporting immediate growth as a shooter, Sochan will need counters against defenses that force him to win by shooting. As Jake Rosen wrote, beyond multiple events with poor shooting percentages, Sochan’s lack of explosion against closeouts will limit his offensive effectiveness. If teams will lightly contest jump shots, Sochan will need to make defenses collapse and be punished for doing so. If Sochan is unable to do this, his entire offensive game can be compromised. Thus, if his shooting does not develop, there is a real argument to be made that his jumper could be a fatal flaw to the rest of his game.
On defense, Sochan is one of the most attractive prospects given his size, length, motor, athleticism, and IQ. With unlimited switchability and versatility, great physical tools, and a deep knowledge of the game in always knowing a counter to an offensive player’s moves or knowing where to be next in rotations, Sochan ranks as a premier defender in the 2022 NBA Draft. Both his on-ball defense and off-ball awareness make him an elite team defender. A good checklist to follow for finding elite defenders contains these boxes: high-level recovery ability, IQ to know what to do next before it happens, effort, footspeed, and length to contest shots. Jeremy Sochan checks every single one of those boxes, which is what makes him an elite defensive prospect.
Overall, Sochan is an intriguing prospect with a potential fatal flaw in his shooting, which is why I rank Sochan below the consensus lottery grade. Yes, his IQ, defense, and playmaking are difficult to doubt, but in today’s NBA jump shooting is a necessity. Even if Sochan does stick around without his jump shooting, I worry about what his impact is and what type of ceiling that amounts to.
Similar to: Bigger Jarrett Culver, Ben Simmons lite
Projected draft range: 6-18
Expected role: Swiss army knife that can be a permanent mismatch on both ends of the floor.
Unplayable if: Jump shooting’s red flags carry over to be true in the NBA, and his jump shot never progresses enough to be a threat on the floor.
Exceeds expectations if: Passing & defense are elite, and it negates lack of jump shooting.
Videos:
Jeremy Sochan Film Review by Bryce Simon @MotorCityHoops
Shot Chart:
