Jaxson Hayes is the latest product to come out of Shaka Smart’s University of Texas Big Man Factory. Hayes is a player most draft analysts are falling in love with, and we think several NBA scouts and GMs could leading up to draft night as well.

Hayes is a player that looked like he would need a few years at Texas before transitioning to the NBA, but he’s been projected everywhere from the lottery to the late 20s.

Hayes is a freak athlete, with the size and upside that will make teams want to take a flyer on him. He is raw, but he was a late bloomer when it comes to basketball as he experienced several growth spurts and is still getting used to his 6-11 frame, but he is so young, turning 19 just before the draft, that there is a chance he could still grow, and there’s tons of potential for growth in his game as well.

As he is currently, he could probably carve a role out on a team as a low utility player that is used in screen-and-roll situations and in clean up around the rim on offense as a lob threat, while providing some above average rim protection on defense. Hayes seems to have a nose for the ball and has good enough instincts where he knows to double at the rim for a block. He also has good recovery speed when he has to come out to the perimeter to defend and is able to close out even if he is beat.

He has great speed going coast-to-coast and closes on breaks fast, getting ahead of the defense for dunks and lobs. He’s quick off pick-and-rolls and is good at finding open spots and driving lanes as a rim runner, but he may have some trouble against more physical bigs in the NBA.

Strengths • Freak athlete

• Gifted shot blocker

• Good finisher and high-percentage scorer Weaknesses • Needs to improve rebounding, especially on defense

• Needs to add some strength to defend at next level

• Face-up offense needs work

Best Landing Spot Los Angeles Lakers or San Antonio Spurs – Hayes is projected all over the board. If he is picked in the lottery, the Lakers could be a nice landing spot because the Lakers utilize rim runners and defenders in the paint and don’t ask a lot of them on offense. This could be a nice spot to develop if veterans JaVale McGee and Tyson Chandler are there to take him under their wing. San Antonio could use a mobile big man and are known for being patient with developing their talent. Worst Landing Spot Any teams with a ton of frontcourt depth or a team that may expect too much of him too quickly would not be ideal. Cleveland and Oklahoma City come to mind. Draft Range Late lottery to mid 20s. NBA Comparison Clint Capela, Jarett Allen Hayes’ game reminds me a lot of another former Longhorn in Brooklyn Nets big man Jarrett Allen, but he’s got a few more tools that are also similar of Clint Capela, especially in the screen and roll game. Ratings Breakdown Ball IQ: 8

Shooting (Inside): 6

Shooting (Outside): 6

Passing: 7 Dribbling: 7

Hustle: 9

Defense: 8