Jeremy Sochan: 6'9" 230 lbs

Jeremy Sochan is a versatile defense oriented forward who projects to fit very well in today's NBA that prioritizes switchable defenders. Sochan broke out against Kansas where he played the 5 on defense and essentially assumed ball handling duties on offense displaying the coveted skillsets by NBA front offices. Sochan needs to improve his perimeter shot to be a passable "3 and D" but he has an impressive feel for the game and displays impressive playmaking capacity for his position. Sochan plays very hard and doesn't need the ball to make an impact on the game on the offensive side, scoring off of energy plays (cuts, tip ins, etc...). Sochan is player that any team would like to have and at the very least will be a defensive positive with potential to pass and slash on offense. His shot is his swing skill and should he develop the 3 point shot, he will play his way into being worthy of a lottery pick in redrafts but not the Scottie Barnes comp I have heard. Sochan lacks the elite half court athleticism to be a star but can star in his role as a plus defender and solid offensive option.

Strengths:

• High energy switchable defender.

• NBA frame already. Should be able to handle NBA physicality and still slide his feet on the perimeter.

• Rebounds actively and well.

• Good passer and can attack closeouts if they close out on his shot.

• Good passer.

• Should instantly be a glue guy on bench and can be more in time.

Concerns: Jump-shooting must improve for him to fit the 3 and D mold. (30 % from 3 and 59% from the FT line).

• Shooting motion is not fluid.

• Does not create for himself terribly well so limited to a passing and energy role on offense (but that isn't too detrimental to a team).

Jeremy Sochan is billed as playing similarly to Draymond Green, Scottie Barnes and more of the jumbo facilitator with excellent defense mold. I do not see his potential as that high but understand the appeal of Sochan's traits. I believe his floor is very high though because he can and will defend multiple positions and will play hard, and those skills even if he does not improve his shot, makes him playable and desired. Should Sochan improve his shot to become league average from 3, I think he can score 13 points, grab 8 rebounds and dish out 4 assists in his prime. Sochan will likely be selected in the lottery and will warrant that selection if his shot improves and the team that selects him allows him to be a creative offensive player.

The Rundown:

There are lots of different philosophies for the draft, and I can get behind each a varying amount. One that I consider myself fully subscribed to, however, is the idea that “Young+big wing+productive+smart=really good player”. The one thing that NBA teams need more of are productive big wings, there are places for those players on any squad. So, when in doubt, bet on whoever meets that aforementioned criterion. And on that note, hello Jeremy Sochan, care to introduce yourself?

Coming into the year, Baylor’s prospects looked like Kendall Brown, Matthew Mayer, and the field. Sochan has certainly interrupted this party, and in my mind has sprung all the way to the top of the list when evaluating future NBA players on Baylor’s roster. Let’s save the best for last and start with the offensive side of the ball. There are certainly causes for concern with a lot of this end, a few of which hinges on a greater all-around problem, the athleticism. Sochan is a good athlete, and a functional one, but definitely isn’t blowing anyone away. On offense, the best comparison I have for him is Kyle Anderson, for better and for worse. He is methodical, and has a high IQ, but it feels like that style of play is necessary and not due to choice. When attacking the paint, he uses his strong lower body and long strides to get his spot and hold it, but when facing more athletic defenders he often seems a step behind, leading to some…interesting improvisation. This severely limits his upside on offense, dropping it from, say a Shawn Marion to perhaps rookie year Brandon Clarke or PJ Washington. This isn’t to say he doesn’t have offensive creativity, he does! Sochan loves his little spin to a pull up when driving, and likes to fall back on a step back when his lane is cut off. It’s just that without good athleticism those moves have a smaller and smaller margin for error, and are changed from the desired “cherry on top” designation and moved into the “necessary for offensive success” range. When he does get into the paint, be it off timely cuts, set plays, or an actualized drive to the rim he is a very solid finisher, using his great length, exceptional positional strength, and excellent timing to get open looks. I wouldn’t say his touch is excellent or anything on his finishes, not nearly as good as the touch on his short mid-range jumpers and little floaters, but positionally I think it is exceptional. He isn’t often asked to pound it in the post, but Sochan can bully mismatches and has a nice little post hook. My biggest worry with his self-creation is his strange and completely out-of-character habit to hijack an offense. It feels as if when he hasn’t shot the ball in a while he decides to not pass no matter the situation, and those plays always seem to end in a bad mid-range pull-up or a turnover. However, at the end of the day, his self-creation offense is not going to be his calling card, his connectability will be.

Sochan will really be asked to be a glue on offense, where he makes the extra pass and hits an open three. I am confident in his ability to do the former of those two; his passing instincts and accuracy are a solid plus for a 3/4/5. He isn’t creating the advantages and waits to make the pass until he sees the open man as opposed to making a man open, but as I say again he will not be asked to make a man open. His high IQ shines when he is asked to make a split-second decision for the purpose of continuing the flow on the offense, and almost his most impressive (not to be mistaken for most valuable) skill is his ability to thread the needle in post passes. The shooting is where I am a little bit more worried about his offensive outlook. The indicators are absolutely bizarre to be completely honest. What I look at when projecting future shooting is a mix of these things: free-throw shooting, form, actual three-point percentage, and touch. I am not sure I have ever found a player with such odd splits in terms of those four checkboxes. His free throw shooting is BAD, and has been bad. Hovering around 50% the last two years, I am not sure if this is a mental thing or something deeper. Free throw shooting is a massive indicator for future shooting projection, so that puts a damper on offensive projection. His form is ok! Slow, but mechanically sound and repeatable. There seems to be a bit of a hitch but I don’t fancy myself a shot doctor. His three-point shooting percentage is fine, it has taken a bit of a dip recently but earlier it was hovering around 34% which doesn’t say anything bad to me about his projection. His touch seems exceptional though, so I am really not sure what to think. My official projection? Sochan will be a 35% three-point shooter on low volume, someone that cannot completely be forgotten but someone that doesn’t need immense defensive attention.

Defense is where he gains the majority of his value, as RIGHT NOW (not necessarily for projection) he is the best perimeter defender of everyone currently projected to declare for this draft. He utilizes his physicals exceptionally well, effectively swallowing opposing players. For a great comparison, look at how Scottie Barnes played defense at Florida State last year. His feet aren’t the quickest at times, but most of his possessions he is locking up whoever he is assigned to guard. His rebounding brings exceptional defensive value as well, where his motor is always running and his ability to ball track is exemplified. It certainly appears that he learned from Jonathan Tchamwa-Tchatchoua at the school of tipping out rebounds to teammates as well. The one thing that has to be understood when looking at this defense is how smart he is. Great at covering the pick and roll, great at helping the helper, great at reading the scouting report of each and every player he might be tasked of guarding, on the intellectual side of defense he is dominant. I know I already brought up the Shawn Marion name, but he definitely has a lot of Shawn Marion on defense, with his EXCEPTIONAL help and team defense, on top of his obviously insane on-ball stoppage. I won’t say he is the perfect defender, as his stocks aren’t great, definitely not on the level of a similar-ish dude in Alex Fudge. I don’t think his defensive potential is quite as high on the game wrecker that is Fudge, but his ability to jump passing lanes, have some help-side rim protection, and be a versatile monster, Fudge immediately raises the defensive floor of any team. He does that all on top of being I think a clear plus offensive player, and then it just falls into an archetype conversation. I don’t think he will ever be a star, I don’t think he will ever be a DPOY, but I do think that he can immediately fit into any and every team, and increase their floor and ceiling to an extent that no one else in this draft can.

The Synopsis:

Dominant defender, on or off the ball, due to his great physicals and very advanced smarts. The intellect transfers to offense perfectly, making him an exceptional cutter and rim runner, with good passing chops. Sometimes hijacks the offense, iffy shooting projection, but at the end of the day he fills a role that every team needs, and he fills that role really well.

Shades of:

Tayshaun Prince, Shawn Marion, Brandon Clarke, Kyle Anderson, Detroit Dennis Rodman?

Sochan is unarguably the guy who raised his stock the most on Baylor. His game begins and ends with defense. He great on and off ball defender who can guard all five positions. Shooting isn't his strong suit, but he has good form and hits some open threes. The big concern with his offense is that he won't be able to play offball. In order to become a dangerous threat, he needs to develop a three point shot. He isn’t super consistent at anything but defense. He has the frame and work ethic to become a great player. He is a laser like passer and always manages to find the open man.

Comparison: Udonis Haslem +

Projected Draft Range: 10-20

Best Team Fits: Atlanta, Brooklyn, Charlotte

Height 6'9

Weight 230 lbs

Wingspan 7'0

DOB 5/13/03 (Draft Age: 19)

Pre-Draft Team Baylor Bears

Offense

• Really good touch and finish around the basket.

• Can really surprise with some of his flexibility, spin moves and touch.

• Not particularly explosive as an attacker. Needs to start to knockdown shots to be able to attack closeouts like he's capable.

• Really good off-ball cutter.

• One of those rare players where his free throw mechanics have no comparison to his jump shot. His jumper looks great, and his free throws look awful. Very bizarre.

• Playmaking ability is an overall plus. Developing feel for the game.

• Upside in transition as a passer and finisher.

• Not a perimeter shooter for now, but has fine mechanics and a good balanced base to build from.

Defense

• Strong post defender. Physical defender overall.

• A combination of athleticism, length and strength. Will be an outstanding defender.

• Foot speed and mobility shine on tape.

• Defensive versatility has All-Defensive potential and the ability to guard 3 or more positions.

• Already a high volume of steals and blocks.

• Instincts and awareness seal the deal for him as a defender.

• Not quite a rim protector. Slightly undersized and not quite the length for a legitimate impact rim protector.

Swing Factors

• Perimeter Shooting - Without this skill Sochan can still be a really good player and someone who can operate more so around the free throw line and in offensively, but with the ability to space the floor and knockdown shots his game would take on a whole another level.

Role

• A guy known for defensive prowess and athleticism tools with the upside to become a defensive centerpiece for a franchise and a versatile, active offensive player while his shooting develops.

• LOW:

• A defensive stopper who struggles to make a positive impact offensively. Sochan still finds himself as a mid-bench rotation option to help in defensive lineups.

• HIGH:

• Sochan's shooting, playmaking and transition offense take on new highs and his defensive potential is as good as originally thought. Quickly Sochan is an all-defensive candidate with a unique bag to help offenses in a multitude of ways.

Ranking Scale:

Athleticism: 6/8

3pt shot: 6/10

Finishing: 6/10

Handle: 4/10

Playmaking: 4/8

Defensive Versatility: 8/10

Defensive Positioning: 6/8

Rebounding: 5/6

NBA Fit: 7/10

Total Score: 52/80

Tier 2

Floor: Core rotation player

Bullseye: Secondary starter with key role

Ceiling: Core starter, all defense

OFFENSE

Pass - Grade: 90

Notes: Sochan is an awesome passer, and will be an awesome passer from day 1 in the NBA. Sochan only averaged 1.8 APG, but had a 12.3% assist rate on just a 19.6% usage rate. Those numbers still aren't great, but they don't reflect Sochan's true ability as a passer. Sochan has an elite basketball IQ, court mapping, spacial awareness, and can genuinely pick apart and manipulate defenses. Sochan showed his passing flashes in a wide variety of ways - swing passes, dump offs, kick outs, entry passes, outlet passes, short roll, transition looks, and more. His feel and understanding of the movement and angles around him in real time is undeniable. Sochan definitely missed reads at times too, and was overambitious in his passing at times - 1.6 TOs per game and a 15.6% turnover rate. Sochan projects to be an awesome NBA passer at the next level in all facets of the game, and could become absolutely lethal as a short roll threat. Sochan is a true freshman, and passers like him at his size are incredibly rare. Sochan's skills as a passer are much more suited for the NBA, in a free flowing environment with much more transition opportunity and spacing.

Dribble - Grade: 85

Notes: Sochan is a great ball-handler for his size. Sochan is more than capable as an open court ball-handler, showing he can push the pace and read the defense while taking care of the ball. Sochan has very solid footwork, and has shown an aptitude for changing speeds which is rare for a player of his size. Sochan uses misdirections and has an overall fluid handle. Sochan dribbles a lot for a 4, like a lot. Sochan loves to dribble and is clearly comfortable doing so, and being a real initiator of offense. Sochan has a poor first step, but is solid at attacking using hesitations and crossovers. Sochan isn't going to break a defender down with is handle, but is shiftier than he's given credit for. Sochan didn't waste dribbles, but clearly enjoyed ball-handling and had a way of exaggerating his dribble at teams even when doing simple things such a reseting the offense - this is something that is part of his swag/brand, but is also something that is much easier to get away with in college with their longer shot clock and inexplicable desire to use as much of the shot clock as possible. Sochan's a legitimate ball-handler with solid footwork and shake, his ball-handling compliments his passing nicely making Sochan a bit of a jumbo guard.

3pt shooting - Grade: 68

Notes: Sochan shot just 29.6% from 3 this season, but did so on legitimate volume - 2.7 attempts per game. Sochan has a high release point, but the rest of his mechanics are meh - not broken, but meh. Sochan's shot selection on his threes was mostly encouraging other than his rare off the dribble threes. Sochan understands the spacing he needs to have, and shoots his threes with confidence and with good timing within the flow of the offense. Sochan never lacked hesitation, and was actually over eager in his 3 point shot selection at times. Sochan shot just 59% from the line this year, which doesn't bode well for his long-term projection as a shooter. Sochan's willingness to shoot is important and valuable - that is half the battle with a lot of players. Sochan isn't like PJ Tucker as a defensive-specialist 4, where he will just be stationed in the corner on offense so that should be the shot he prioritizes. Sochan shot the lowest amount of his threes from the corners this season. Sochan such a strange and peculiar on role on offense basically playing in all 5 spots, sometimes all on the same possession. Sochan clearly has faith in his jumper, and he needs to get comfortably to 33%+ at least if he is going to continue this volume. Sochan's jumper needs to reach this level if he is going to reach his ceiling as an offensive player, since he struggles to attack closeouts off the dribble.

Mid-range shooting - Grade: 80

Notes: Sochan was shot it well from mid-range this season, but did so on a very low volume. This won't be part of Sochan's game.

Finishing - Grade: 84

Notes: Sochan's finishing was good, not great going 60/97 at the rim this season good for 61.9%. Sochan created a ton of incredibly high percentage, above the rim looks for himself as a finisher because he is an elite cutter. Sochan also has an elite up and under move that created a ton of standstill scoring opportunities for himself at the rim this season. Sochan's footwork and positioning allowed for him to be a good standstill, under the rim finisher. Sochan was inconsistent at finishing when attacking from the perimeter, especially with his left hand. Sochan's touch is decent, but not good enough for him to project to be a consistently good downhill finisher. Sochan still had solid footwork and timing on his gather's but struggled to find consistent angles on his finishes. Sochan is solid at creating contact on his finishes, and in paint situations. Sochan has solid body control, but poor hang time. Sochan should priortize his floater - Sochan adding a consistent floater could make him one of the premier short roll threats in the NBA. Sochan creates a ton of easy paint points for himself due to his elite cutting/slipping ability, but his overall finishes ability is a bit inconsistent with plenty of room for growth.

Off-ball playmaking - Grade: 95

Notes: Sochan is still an elite off-ball player despite being a poor spacer. Sochan makes himself useful at all times, and is so smart in his off-ball movements. Sochan makes his teammates lives on offense easier by doing a ton little, unique things on offense. Sochan's sees plays before they develop, and uses this to his advantage as a screener, sealer, cutter, and relocator.

Offensive rebounding - Grade: 88

Notes: Sochan is a very solid offensive rebounder with a great motor. Sochan has a nose for the ball, always boxes out, has solid timing and coordination, and crashes at a great rate. Sochan had a 8.9% OREB rate and averaged 2 OREB per game this season, very solid for a player who isn't a true big. Sochan will undoubtedly be a productive offensive rebounder in the NBA.

Offensive Summary: 80

Sochan is an awesome offensive player, but the simple fact that he isn't close to being a proven 3 point shooter and he struggles to attack closeouts will prevent him from being an all-around awesome offensive player in the NBA. Sochan has no real consistent shot creating ability, as he ranked in just the 22nd percentile for shots off the dribble and shot 29.6% on these shots. Sochan's only form of consistent scoring comes from his ability as an elite cutter, setting himself up for easy above the rim looks at the rim. Sochan will likely improve as a 3pt shooter and will improve his ability to attack closeouts. Sochan is a willing shooter who doesn't hesitate, which is important. Sochan's percentages are just so far from where they need to be that it's likely Sochan never reaches the level he needs to be at on offense to reach his ceiling as an offensive player. Sochan projects to be a fast paced Kyle Anderson as an offensive player as of now, will with one key difference - Sochan can thrive at playing in the dunker's spot. The best way to get value out Anderson and to limit his spacing issues is to put Kyle on the ball, and the same will likely be true about Sochan - except he can be in the dunker's spot as well. Sochan also offers value as PnR screen setter and a DHO initiator, areas Anderson can't operate in. Sochan's offensive role will likely have a ton of trial and error early on in his career, as he is a player that will give any coach a challenge in carving out specific and consistent offensive role due to his unique skillset and glaring weaknesses. Sochan's ball-handling, passing, and cutting abilities paired with his elite IQ and feel will result in Sochan becoming at least competent offensive player, it is just unclear how he will get there. Situation will likely play a key factor for the entire duration of Sochan's career.

Defense

Engagement - Grade: 97

Notes: Sochan's defensive engagement is elite. Sochan's motor is elite. Sochan is eager and excited to play defense on every possession.

Containment - Grade: 92

Notes: Sochan's switchability on defense is limitless. Sochan is a defensive dream as a defender in today's NBA. Sochan can legitimately guard 1 through 5, not just do it in theory. Sochan's ability to do this comes from his brain, which is the factor that is most overlooked in projecting athletic wings defensive versatility. Sochan will be able to guard 1-5 and switch in any scheme immediately because his defensive instincts are already elite. Sochan is a scouting report guru, who makes personal adjustments from a possession to possession basis. Sochan either knows what the offense player he is guarding is going to do, and if he doesn't he will know the next time down the floor. Sochan is always able to use his great lateral mobility, length, and good center of gravity to beat guys to the spot at a crazy good rate. Sochan is a true swiss army knife on defense, with NBA ready instincts and elite POA defender tools and habits. Sochan's combination of having the tools and knowledge of being able to beat guys to the spot is elite, and so his recovery in the rare times where he does get beat.

Team Defense - Grade: 96

Notes: Sochan's on-ball and off-ball awareness are elite, making him a spectacular team defender when you pair that with his motor and intensity. Sochan is a beast in the passing lanes, and always knows where he is supposed to be and where to rotate. Sochan sometimes is a bit overaggressive in the passing lanes, and can be susceptible to counters when he is overly confident he knows what set the other team is running. Overall, Sochan is as good of a team defender as they come.

Rim Protection - Grade: 83

Notes: Sochan is so great at timing his rotations and is phenomenal at staying vertical in his contests that he makes for a great rotating rim protector. Sochan struggles as a primary rim protector, and isn't adapt at playing drop coverage or non-blitz/switch PnR schemes. Sochan's size, length, strength, and athleticism aren't where they need to be for him to be a primary rim protector. Sochan's issues as a primary rim protector will likely inhibit his ability to be a small ball 5 during the early years of his career. Sochan's rim contests are usually elite, but he only average 0.7 BLKs per game with just a 3.2 BLK%. This is often due to Sochan prioritizing a strong contest without fouling, but is also statement to his lack of hang time on his contests and his lapses as a vertical athlete. Sochan is an awesome vertical defender similar to Brandon Clarke, but Clarke uses his awesome hang time while Sochan uses his 7'0 wingspan.

Playmaking - Grade: 86

Notes: For the defensive beast that Sochan is, his stock numbers aren't where you'd expect them to be at 2 per game. Sochan uses his positioning and IQ to read the defense, this is where the majority of his stocks come from - off the ball in the passing lanes or as a rotating rim protector. Sochan has cornerback-lite back-peddling skills, which uses to intercept over the head and transition passes.

Versatility - Grade: 97

Notes: Can switch 1-5 and thrive in any defensive scheme. The only thing he can't do defensively is serve as a primary rim protector consistently, and isn't experienced in drop coverage yet. The most versatile defender in this draft class.

Defensive Rebounding - Grade: 85

Notes: Sochan is a very solid defensive rebounder, due to his motor and consistent box outs. Sochan's ability to grab and go adds value to his defensive rebounding ability.

Defensive Summary: 95

Notes: Sochan is the ultimate modern NBA swiss army knife defender. Sochan has everything you could possibly want - IQ, instincts, awareness, versatility, switchability, length, size, lateral mobility, help rim protection, consistency, and motor. His IQ, knowledge of the game, instincts, feel, and every single mental intangible is absurd for a 19 year old. Sochan has a deep, functional understanding of player/team scouting reports and an ability to learn on the fly from a possession to possession basis that is incredibly rare. Sochan will be able to guard 1-5 on switches. Sochan is a great disadvantages defender. Sochan is a great rotating rim protector. Sochan is an awesome transition defender. Sochan still isn't a perfect defensive prospect - can be impulsive with his passing lane gambles and fouls, still gets beat off the dribble occasionally, doesn't have the ability to be a primary rim protector. Sochan will be able to fit into any team with any scheme and play just about everywhere defensively at a high level due to all his physical and mental tools. Sochan has a defensive ceiling of perennial all defense with DPOY contentions during his prime seasons.

Measurables: 90

No combine measurements

Height: 6'9

Weight: 229

Wingspan: 7'0

Decent frame, needs to widen base + add strength

Functional Athleticism: 76

Great lateral mobility

Solid open court speed

Below average vertical

Below average burst

Below average explosiveness

Amazing defender with legit 1-5 switch potential. People this big should not have this kind of foot quickness. Decent feel for the game offensively and decent finisher but doesn't project as an impactful offensive player. Likely a poor 3 point shooter.

Best fits: San Antonio, Portland, any team that would be looking to trade up for him

Age: 18

Sochan has been a huge riser this year, going from second round most likely to a lotto pick, and it’s not unjustified. He has a few flaws in his game, but lots to love too. In the overtime loss against UNC, Sochan showed great competitiveness and confidence in trying to come back. He played very hard defensively and has elite switch ability. He’s extremely versatile defensively and that should translate well. He’s also super long with a +3 wingspan. He’s also got great agility. One problem with his game is his inability to score in the half court, which was on full display against Armando Bacot & Co. His jumper is super inconsistent, however his form is ok so with some more work he should be good at some point in that area. I don’t think he will be a terrible shooter throughout his career but in his first few years he likely will be.

In conclusion, Jeremy Sochan flashes immense defensive upside but his overall offensive game is questionable.

Player analysis

Sochan is a burly 230 pound forward who can play 1 - 5 at a high level and can guard every position on the court. Sochan was an underrated prospect for most of last year at Baylor and was often outshined in draft position by his fellow freshman teammate Kendall Brown, it wasn't until recently that he has been solidified as a lottery pick and is likely to be near the top 10 range in this year's class. Jeremy is a very smart defender who knows how to use his length and size extremely effectively which makes him a master at skills like switching, zone, and blocking. He can play on the perimeter with guards and can run the small ball five covering larger centers, on offense however he is limited. Sochan does not have a shot and can't really score efficiently at the rim through post moves and can hit jump shots only occasionally, but he does pass pretty well and played point forward for Baylor whenever their starting point guard wasn't on the floor in a Ben Simmons esque role. Jeremy can hopefully get some time as a lead ball handler more often in the league, although he can’t shoot he can basically do everything else on the court so it would be interesting to see how teams can use him. Sochan does fit many teams very well and can plug in as a versatile defender, role player, almost immediately, team should really be eager to capitalize his star potential that lies on the development of his outside shot.

Projections

Draft range: [ 7 - 13 ]

Comp: [ Draymond Green (less passing) ]