Brandon Boston Jr. is an intriguing prospect due to his scoring ability, length, and offensive IQ. Although Kentucky had a disappointing season at 9-16, he was one of the bright spots as a freshman. He is a young, raw prospect that would benefit from more experience at higher levels but given the right fit, he could make an impact at the next level.

Brandon Boston Jr.

Vitals

Age: 19

Height: 6’7”

Weight: 190

Wingspan: 6’11”

Per Game Stats

As a freshman on a rare disappointing Kentucky team, he averaged 11.5 PPG, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.3 steals on 30 minutes per game. He has potential to be a good shooter at the next level, but his college numbers are inconsistent. He shot 35% from the field and 30% from three on 23% usage.

Strengths

Scorer

In college, BJ Boston Jr. was very comfortable at the offensive end. At 6’7” his handle and shooting ability are rare for a guard. John Calipari’s system offered him the ability to flourish on-ball and off-ball which can translate at the next level. Although he had a rough start shooting in his first college season, he seemed to relax and find his niche in the offense throughout the season.

Boston Jr. excels off-ball in screening situations. He understands how to read them and decipher when he needs to pick and pop or find another open area. Even though his statistics are not great, he seems comfortable with his midrange ability. He likes the step back to his left and it was proven effective in his freshman season.

His long and lanky frame facilitates some productive finishes at the rim. Oftentimes, you will see him double pump to finish at the rim, and that works because of his length. Although he is not the quickest, he has good potential in one on one situations. He shows glimpses of creating in those situations whether it is his own shots or creating for others.

Length

As a 6’7” guard, he causes havoc in the passing lanes. He can recognize the nearest open target and use his frame to steal or disrupt the possession. When he is active off-ball he can identify where the defense is trying to go and do his best to blow up the play. He causes a lot of deflections because he likes to bait his opponents which turns into pick-six opportunities.

On the offensive end, he can create crafty opportunities in the lane with his length. He has effective handles, so when he produces open lanes to the rim he can finish. If he’s near a missed shot he also has the length to be a decent offensive rebounder for a guard. He averaged about one a game, but NBA teams will likely increase his aggressiveness on the glass.

Offensive IQ

Although he only averaged 1.6 assists per game he is a much better passer than that. As previously stated, he can create in one on one situations, so when he draws a defender he knows where his nearest passing outlet is and can hit him in stride.

He appears to be very comfortable with the one-arm pass off the dribble. So he can make quick decisions not only with his eyes but with his passing ability. As of now, he’s not a guy that is going to facilitate especially in the pick and roll, but given spots within the offense, he knows how to get it to the open man.

Weaknesses

Inconsistent shooter

Shooting 35% from the field and 30% from three is not pleasing especially for a guard but let’s remember this kid is only 19. At the next level, his one on one opportunities will diminish, so he needs to focus on improving his catch-and-shoot consistencies.

Furthermore, he has a long release so NBA defenders will be able to catch up way quicker compared to the college level. Given more knowledge and practice at the next level, he should be able to buff out some mechanics but it simply comes down to putting the ball in the hoop consistently.

Separation

Boston Jr. has good handles but he’s not the fleetest of foot, so if he cannot deceive his defender he might have to rely on tough shot-making. Sometimes he is slow to get into his jumper which voids his separation. If he can work on his burst and change of pace, he has the ability to create for himself and others in one on one situations, but as of right now his feet are too slow to excel against decent NBA defenders.

Strength

At only 190 lbs. he might struggle finishing at the next level. In college, he encountered difficulties finishing with contact at times and that will only get more difficult in the NBA. His lack of strength and doubt against elite shot blockers could be a reason he settles for a lot of jumpers.

Even in college, he could get outmuscled at times, and when he faced with an effective inside presence he could be disrupted. With that being said, most weaknesses in college prospects are their strength, so given focus in the weight room he can improve upon this which will enhance other areas of his game.

NBA comparison: Justin Jackson

Verdict

This is a player who has the ability and potential to be a bucket at the next level but he definitely is a project for a contending team. He is only 19 years old, so given the right system and playing time he can develop into a nice player but he might need a year or two to acclimate to the next level.

His skill set is one that the Nuggets would like to have but they are in a win now mode. They cannot really afford a roster spot for a 1-2 year project due to their confidence in their other bench players.

In my opinion, I think Boston Jr. could make an impact at the next level but the Nuggets aren’t the right fit right now. Teams like the Magic, Rockets, Pistons can afford patience with a prospect like this, and given the right opportunity, this kid can flourish into a talented NBA scorer one day.