In August 2014, Brandon Ingram told DraftExpress at the Under Armour Elite 24 in New York that he models his game after Austin Daye, Tayshaun Prince and, “Kevin Durant, of course.”

Duke's Brandon Ingram is an intriguing prospect. (AP) More

The last comparison seemed like a pipe dream. At the time, Ingram was two inches shorter than Durant and was hardly considered an elite-level recruit. A career path somewhere in between Daye and Prince appeared to be most realistic.

In the 18 months since, Ingram has accomplished the following: He grew two inches, ascended to the fourth-ranked player in the 2015 recruiting class, helped lead a ho-hum Duke team to the Sweet 16 and cemented himself as the potential No. 1 pick in the 2016 NBA draft.

At 6-foot-9½ with the standing reach of an NBA center, an excellent handle, the fluidity of a guard and the stroke of a sharpshooter, the Durant comparisons look less and less ludicrous.

Here’s a breakdown of how the Kinston, N.C., native compares to one of the best basketball players in the world when he was entering the NBA.

NCAA PRODUCTION

Durant

• Recruiting Services Consensus Index Ranking: No. 2

• Playing his entire freshman season at Texas at age 18, Durant – born on Sept. 29 – averaged 25.8 points, 11.1 rebounds, 1.9 steals, 1.9 blocks, and 35.5 minutes in 35 games. He became the first freshman in NCAA history to be named National Player of the Year.

• According to the DraftExpress Database, which dates to 2000, no other freshman has ever averaged 25 points per game on 50 percent shooting from 2-point range and 40 percent shooting from 3-point range (at least six attempts per 40-minute pace).

• Durant scored 30 points or more in 11 of his 35 games.











Ingram

• Recruiting Services Consensus Index Ranking: No. 4

• At age 18, Ingram – born on Sept. 2 – averaged 17.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.3 blocks in 34 games playing 34.2 minutes per game.

• Ingram is the only sub-19-year-old player in the DraftExpress Database to average at least 20 points, two assists, eight rebounds, and 2.5 3-point makes per 40 minutes while shooting better than 40 percent from 3-point range.

• Ingram scored 25 points or more in seven of 34 games but never topped 30 points.









PHYSICAL PROFILE



Durant

2006 Nike Hoop Summit (17.5 years old): 6-9 barefoot, no weight given, 7-4 wingspan, 9-1/2 standing reach.





Ingram

2015 Nike Hoop Summit (17.6 years old): 6-8 barefoot, 196 pounds, 7-3 wingspan, 9-1 1/2 standing reach.



More than 14 months later at the 2007 NBA predraft camp, Durant measured 6-10 1/4 in shoes with a 7-4 3/4 wingspan and 9-2 standing reach and weighed 210 pounds. According to the DraftExpress Database, Durant is the only non-traditional big man in the NBA with at least a 9-1 1/2 standing reach. Ingram will be the second. (There are no official measurements for Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo).

While still very slight, Durant was a hair stronger and taller than Ingram at the same age. Durant had more quickness and pop as a leaper as well.

THE SKILLS

Catch and shoot

From a pure numbers standpoint, Ingram has the slight edge on Durant. He made more threes per 40 minutes while shooting a better percentage and produced more points per possession while taking 37 more catch-and-shoot jumpers.



In terms of mechanics and value as a catch-and-shoot player, Durant has the edge. It wasn’t difficult to see Durant evolving into one of the best shooters in basketball. He had NBA range as an 18-year-old and was a more versatile shooter than Ingram with better skill coming off screens and dribble handoffs. Ingram certainly shows a lot of promise, but he doesn’t quite display the same range, touch and shot-making ability that Durant did.

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