2016 Draft Prospect: AJ Hammons

[Chinook]

http://content.draftexpress.com/headshots/a.j.hammons.jpg

Height: 7-0
Weight: 278 lbs
Date of Birth: 08/27/1992
School: Purdue

DraftExpress (http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/A.J.-Hammons-7070/)
NBADraft.net (http://www.nbadraft.net/players/aj-hammons)

[Drom John]

#29 specifically for Spurs on WalterFootball.com 23 March 2016.

Consistent effort has been a concern, but Hammons has the size and good skill on the block while still being able to step out on the perimeter and knock down jumpers. The Spurs have an aging frontcourt and could use some young options.

[Drom John]

#29 Rob Goldberg, Bleacher Report, 15 April 2016

[Drom John]

#29 NBADraft.net, 4 May 2016

[eDizzle20]

His work ethic has always been in question and he'll be 24 by the start of next season. No way Spurs draft him.

[J_Paco]

Maybe he needs to be in a more professional atmosphere, plus not every player that has been on the team had Timmy's work ethic (i.e. Devin Brown).

I would take a chance on him but only as a early 2nd round pick. Maybe deal your 2017 1st for an early 2nd this season and draft Hammons.

[objective]

Another David Harrison. No thanks.

[Snaq O'Meal]

Interesting piece on AJ Hammons:


In terms of the NBA draft, there were few college basketball games more intriguing this season than Purdue vs. Vanderbilt, which featured four legitimate 6’9+ NBA prospects in Damian Jones, Isaac Haas, AJ Hammons and Caleb Swanigan. Luke Kornet would have made it five but the Vanderbilt big man was sidelined with an injury, leaving Jones alone to battle Purdue’s three-headed monster. Match-ups of NBA big man vs. NBA big man are worth their weight in gold at the NCAA level, where top prospects can go an entire season without facing anyone who can handle them physically.

Of the four guys who played on Tuesday, Jones is by far the most highly regarded. At 6’10 250 with a 7’2 wingspan, he has the size and athleticism that NBA teams want at the C position and he’s currently projected to be a lottery pick by DraftExpress. A junior who has gotten better and become more polished in each of his three seasons in college, he came into the game averaging 13.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocks a game on 53.8% shooting.

The obvious comparison for Jones is Festus Ezeli, another athletic specimen who played four years at Vanderbilt before being drafted by the Golden State Warriors in 2012. They have remarkably similar stat-lines - Festus averaged 13.0 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.6 blocks on 58.8% shooting as a junior - but Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings sees them as fairly different players. “Festus is bigger and stronger while Damian is more skilled,” said Stallings after their 69-67 loss to Baylor earlier in the season.

The way the league is trending in terms of playing smaller, Jones not being as large as Ezeli doesn’t matter as much as having a more developed post game and more ability to make plays in space. That’s what makes him such an intriguing prospect, even though he still has aways to go in terms of being consistent on offense and playing without fouling on defense. It’s easy for him to dominate the smaller and less athletic players he faces on most nights at the NCAA level - what really tells the tale is how he performs against guys like Haas (7’2 290), Hammons (7’1 260) and Swanigan (6’9 260).

All three of the Purdue big men bring something different to the table. Haas is the biggest of the bunch, a guy who towers over even NBA prospects like Jones and can get his shot off against just about any defender in the world. Hammons is the oldest and most experienced, which you can really see on the defensive side of the ball, where he rarely makes mental mistakes and always seems to be in the right position to contest shots. Swanigan is the most well-rounded, with the size to bang in the post and the skill-set to play out on the perimeter.

The fit can be a little awkward at times but Purdue does a good job of maximizing the skills of all their big men. They can overwhelm the vast majority of teams at the NCAA level with the sheer amount of size they can throw at them over the course of the game. For the most part, opposing teams have no choice but to pack the paint against Purdue and hope they can’t make enough three-point shots to make them pay. That’s what made the game against Vanderbilt so intriguing - this was a rare chance to watch all these guys play 1-on-1.

The story of the game was Hammons, who didn’t start but dominated the action whenever he was on the floor. He finished with 21 points, 10 rebounds and 7 blocks in only 28 minutes. The center of gravity in the game totally revolved around Hammons - he pushed Vanderbilt’s big men out of the paint and his presence collapsed their defense and opened up the floor for everyone else. His stat-line is even more impressive when you consider what a low-possession game this was (Purdue won 68-55) and how he was able to maximize his numbers in the limited amount of opportunities he had.

At 7’0 260 with a 7’3 wingspan, he has every physical tool you could want in a big man. Haas is an interesting comparison because he moves how you would expect Hammons to move - he’s slow off the ground and he’s not always quick to react to what’s happening around him. Hammons, in contrast, is very light on his feet and he’s more than capable of sliding his feet on the perimeter and of defending in space. He’s not always comfortable guarding too far away from the basket but he can completely shut down the paint. He blocks shots with either hand and he has incredible timing when it comes to being able to challenge without fouling, something which takes most big men years to master.

All you have to do to see that is look at Jones, who was in foul trouble for most of the night and had 6 points and 3 rebounds in only 15 minutes. He picked up three fouls battling in the post against Haas and Hammons and he was clearly unused to not being the biggest player on the floor. It’s very easy for young big men to pick up fouls when they aren’t careful with their bodies and Hammons ability to control his body and his feel for the game is clearly far ahead of Jones at this point in their careers.

If you came into the game not knowing anything about the two, you would have assumed that Hammons was the lottery pick and Jones was the second-rounder. Hammons has incredible footwork and the ability to score a number of different ways with his back to the basket. After getting too cute with fade-aways and 10-foot hook shots in the first half, he made a concerted effort to attack the basket in the second and he showed off every move in the book - the drop-step, the step-through and the spin - finishing several of them off with monster dunks.

There are a number of different concerns with Hammons. He’s a senior (which is an automatic red flag for most NBA teams) who doesn’t even start for his own team and he doesn’t put up big per-game numbers because he splits time with Haas. There are also some concerns with his effort level and his motivation as well as the fact that he was suspended two games at the start of the season for an undisclosed violation of NCAA rules. As one Eastern Conference executive told me - is Hammons a guy you can trust to bring it every night?

However, as that same executive also said, every team in the league is going to have to investigate Hammons really thoroughly based off his physical tools alone. You don’t get a chance to a draft a 7’0 who can score, rebound and defend like Hammons very often in the lottery, much less in the back of the 2nd round, where he is currently projected by DraftExpress. He has even showed the ability to step out and knock down a 20-foot jumper, which makes his poor draft standing all the more ridiculous.

Jones is younger and more athletic than Hammons but there’s no way you could watch that game on Tuesday and come away thinking that he’s the better player. That doesn’t necessarily mean everything because Jones seems like he would be better suited to guarding on the perimeter and combatting five-out teams than Hammons. At the same time, though, even the Warriors play Ezeli big minutes and Hammons is just as big, just as athletic and much more skilled than a guy whose carved out a huge role for himself on the defending NBA champs.

If you lined up the three NBA-caliber centers from this game, Haas is the biggest, Jones is the smallest and Hammons is just the right size in the middle. He’s big enough to match-up with the biggest C’s at the NBA level (which could be an issue for Jones) and he’s quick enough to guard smaller players and move his feet in space (which will definitely be an issue for Haas). Swanigan is an interesting player in his own right but he’s several years away and it’s unclear whether he will be a small 5 or a big 4 at and whether he’s good enough to break the mold in terms of the physical dimensions that NBA teams are looking for.

The bottom line is that Hammons dominated the toughest individual competition he will face all season and he completely outplayed a future lottery pick in a head-to-head match-up. He may not put up big numbers this season because of the minutes crunch upfront at Purdue but there’s not a center in the NBA whom he can’t go toe-to-toe with and match up with physically. He has a chance to be a special player at the next level and he could go down as one of the biggest draft steals in a long time if his stock doesn’t shoot up over the next few months.

Source: http://basketball.realgm.com/analysis/240236/Purdue-Vanderbilt-Big-Men-Prospects

[eDizzle20]

I would personally like to see the Spurs acquire a 2nd rounder to draft Hammons. He might be old in comparison to the other draftees, but his rebounding and shot blocking are elite.

[Snaq O'Meal]

I would personally like to see the Spurs acquire a 2nd rounder to draft Hammons. He might be old in comparison to the other draftees, but his rebounding and shot blocking are elite.

That will be the ideal scenario.

None of the other center prospects really stood out. Even top-ranked Jakob Poeltl struggled against size and lacks range on his jump shots. Hammons' stock may have been hurt by sharing time with 7'2" Isaac Haas, but he has the experience of regularly going up against a bigger guy in practice. And he can be dominant when locked in.

[raybies]

Been following him all season. Was enamored with him. Only concern is can he bring it every night in a bigger league. If he can he's obviously a steal. Wonder if the money or pop will be motivation enough. He can take hard coaching though. He got chewed out this last year and handled it well. He's coachable. He has the size and skill. It's all about his heart though and motor. I could imagine him playing in a starting role as early as next year at about 20 mins a game if he put forth the effort. That being said he's a question mark. Would much rather have Zizic or Zubac. Both would be much less riskier picks.

[Snaq O'Meal]

Been following him all season. Was enamored with him. Only concern is can he bring it every night in a bigger league. If he can he's obviously a steal. Wonder if the money or pop will be motivation enough. He can take hard coaching though. He got chewed out this last year and handled it well. He's coachable. He has the size and skill. It's all about his heart though and motor. I could imagine him playing in a starting role as early as next year at about 20 mins a game if he put forth the effort. That being said he's a question mark. Would much rather have Zizic or Zubac. Both would be much less riskier picks.

Hammons has far greater upside than both Zizic or Zubac if he gets his motor going.

Some describe him as a poor man's Tim Duncan. In addition to his skillset, Hammons' Per 40 minute numbers in his senior year is also somewhat similar to Duncan's:

Hammons: 24.3 PPG / 59% FG / 13.3 RPG / 4.1 BPG

Duncan: 22.7 PPG / 60% FG / 16.1 RPG / 3.6 BPG

[objective]

David Harrison's junior year numbers were very close also. Same height & weight as Hammons.

[Chinook]

If the Spurs do acquire a second first-rounder for a guard, I'd be totally fine with Hammons at 29. Goodness, he can do it all. If his issue is going to be consistency, that's totally something that can be improved. With most guys, you're trying to get them to add pieces to their games to make them viable. That's when projections become dicey. But if AJ only plays to his potential some of the time, that's worth a late first.

[MR-Clutch]

There's too many guys I want in this draft already but he may be my favorite big man prospect based on where he's projected to go.

[duncan2150]

The concernes with him are his motor, his age he'll be 24 yr old and his shape.

That's why I prefer guys like Diallo and maybe Onuaku, Hammons is more polished tough.

[palangi]

The concernes with him are his motor, his age he'll be 24 yr old and his shape.

That's why I prefer guys like Diallo and maybe Onuaku, Hammons is more polished tough.
A 6'8" PF and a 6'10" center? I'm done with the turd towers.

[bluebellmaniac]

A 6'8" PF and a 6'10" center? I'm done with the turd towers.

I don't want a C who guards with his head. I want one that guards with their hands. The wingspan is what is needed and despite height of 6'8", he has more reach than many 7 footers.

Obviously talking about Diablo.

[palangi]

Well David west has a 7'4" wing span. How did that work out with the turd towers?

and I'm pretty sure I didn't mention anyone who has a reach under his head?

NO to you boy Diallo!

[duncan2150]

it's not just about wingspan it's about hustle, motor, athleticism... The spurs need someone who can grab the boards, defend with agility and securize the paint.... the rebounds killed us against OKC.

[dbestpro]

I don't want a C who guards with his head. I want one that guards with their hands. The wingspan is what is needed and despite height of 6'8", he has more reach than many 7 footers.

Obviously talking about Diablo.

I prefer those who can move their feet over hand guarding when it comes to playing defense.

[Snaq O'Meal]

We're less than a week from the 2016 NBA Draft. Next Thursday night we will find out where A.J. Hammons will be headed after four long years in West Lafayette. While the team achievements came up short for the most part in his four years (just two NCAA appearances, no wins there, and no Big Ten titles), Hammons leaves Purdue with some excellent career numbers. He was beloved by Purdue fans for the joy he played with on the floor and we, as fans, are happy to send him off to the League. He will very likely be the first Purdue player drafted since Robbie Hummel in 2012, and there is a chance he becomes the first player from Purdue to go in the first round since JaJuan Johnson in 2011.

First, let's look at his numbers:

Freshman: 10.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 2.0 bpg

Sophomore: 10.8 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 3.1 bpg

Junior: 11.9 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 2.8 bpg

Senior: 15.0 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 2.5 bpg

A.J. leaves Purdue near the top of a number of categories in school history. With 1,593 points he finished 17th in school history, just two behind Jaraan Cornell. With 930 career rebounds he is third behind Terry Dischinger and Joe Barry Carroll. At 343 career blocked shots he was second to Carroll by only six. If not for a handful of missed games (and two NCAA Tournament collapses) in his career he would have the record there.

Hammons is only the ninth player in school history to average 10 points or more in all four seasons on campus. He is the 7th with 1,500 points and 750 rebounds and 8th player to have at least 300 points scored in all four seasons. His 132 games played is also in the top 10.

Basically, Hammons' longevity put him near a number of school records, but it was his consistency that had him playing from day one. If you put him on the floor he was pretty much going to give you a 10-6-2 line every night.

Concerning his NBA fate, however, we must look at his senior season, and it was a great individual one. The games where he was a ghost (and he had those early in his career) went away, and there were times where he was completely an utterly dominant on both ends of the floor. That is where he will have value in the NBA. He has the size and post moves to be an old school center, but he is a next level rim protector. Basically, Purdue's deficiencies on the perimeter could be erased defensively because of Hammons. He is a natural shot blocker that swatted everything within five feet of the rim. In fact, there were a few times where he courted a triple-double this season in points-rebounds-blocks. Some of his best games:

Vanderbilt - Hammons went against another NBA prospect in Damian Jones and it was no contest. Purdue won 68-55, and Hammons was light years ahead of Jones. In 15 minutes because of foul trouble Jones had 6 points, 3 rebounds, and five fouls. He was no match for Hammons, who finished with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 blocks.

Michigan State - Hammons was incredible in an 82-81 overtime win, and even sealed the game by pulling down the clinching rebound and physically ripping the ball away from a Spartan as time expired. The Spartans were a top 5 team all season and came into Mackey red hot. They ran into Hammons, who finished with 19 points, 13 rebounds, 8 blocks, and even 3 assists.

Nebraska - This was AJ's career best game in terms of points. He abused the smaller Cornhuskers for 32 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 blocks. He was 14 of 17 from the floor and they had absolutely no answer for him.

Little Rock - His final game in a Purdue uniform may be one of his most frustrating. For most of the night Little Rock double and triple teamed him, not wanting to get beat inside as Purdue had a huge size advantage. That made it seem like a quiet night for him, but when all was said and done in the double overtime loss (after a huge collapse) A.J. finished with 16 points, 15 rebounds, 6 blocks, and 5 assists. Despite this, Purdue neglected to run the offense through him as it was collapsing and the final play to win the game in the first overtime was not run for him. Purdue basically lost because it did not use him enough in the final five minutes and in overtime.

What was exciting about A.J. is when he played with confidence. You could usually tell, too. If he started into his DESTROYER OF WORLDS routine you could count on multiple blocks with disdain to the fool who challenged him on the defensive end and multiple dunks on the offensive end. He fed off of the Mackey Arena crowd and had some huge nights at home. He had always done that, too. His early career high came on a 30-point night against Cody Zeller and No. 1 Indiana as a freshman.

Some of his negatives unfortunately may be exposed in the NBA. The modern NBA is going away from the big lumbering center, and he fits closer to that camp. He showed some proficiency this year with his jump shot (even hitting 6 of 11 from three), but for the most part he is going to do his offensive work in the post. If I had a criticism this year of Purdue offensively (other than a maddeningly ability to cave against the press) it is that it too often did not push the pace. It waited for everyone to get up the floor and for Hammons to get set up on the block. They then passed the ball around too much waiting to get a good entry pass to Hammons (or his even bigger backup, Isaac Haas). He did improve at getting up and down the floor over time in the rare instances where Purdue pushed, and his defense will be a huge asset for a team.

I really like that he is being projected as a late first round pick because he could be an immediate contributor and role player for a serious contender. Golden State, picking last, could definitely use a cheaper option for Andrew Bogut, who is a free agent after next season. San Antonio, possibly needing to replace Tim Duncan, could use a nice backup for LaMarcus Aldridge and solid post player. Hammons would more traditionally fit into their system, but he could easily adapt and play a bigger five in a versatile lineup for Golden State.

Source: http://www.hammerandrails.com/2016/6/17/11960318/2016-nba-draft-profile-a-j-hammons