New York Knicks Hosted Workout For James Blackmon Jr. (Report)
Feb 15, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Indiana Hoosiers guard James Blackmon Jr. (1) celebrates his basket in the second half against the Minnesota Gophers at Williams Arena. Minnesota beat Indiana 75-74. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

In an offseason of uncertainty for the New York Knicks, they have brought in their latest potential recruit from Indiana.

The New York Knicks have two picks in the second round. They have brought in several prospects over the past few weeks of guys that can possibly fill those open slots.

According to Ian Begley of ESPN, the New York Knicks brought in James Blackmon Jr for a workout last Monday.

Blackmon Jr. is a shooting guard from Indiana University who is coming off a strong junior year. In 30 games he averaged 17 points per contest, as well as 1.9 assists and 4.8 rebounds.

The NBA has evolved into a league where three-point shooting is everything. Blackmon Jr.’s biggest strength is just that. He shot 42 percent from behind the arc last season.

He has a nice shooting stroke and can knock down shots from deep range. Also, he has a high release point on his shot, which helps him get off his shot even if a defender is giving him little room to shoot. The quick release on his shots also serves as a major benefit to his type of play.

Furthermore, he is exceptional with a pull-up jump shot. That makes him a threat in a pick and roll situation.

Blackmon Jr. is undersized for shooting guard by NBA standards. He is only 6’3″, which is more of a point guard size, but he has a wingspan of 6’8″. The long wingspan certainly helps him step up his game for a player of small stature.

The Knicks are looking to deepen the guard position for their roster. Blackmon Jr. could be a solid option for them in the second round. He could be someone that can come off the bench and provide some accurate three-point shooting and help stretch the floor.

According to DraftExpress, Blackmon Jr. is ranked 83rd in the top 100 prospect list.

 

 

Originally from Long Island, Matt grew up as a die heart Yankees, Jets, Knicks, and Rangers fan. Matt moved to South Carolina when he was 13, but this did not stop him from watching his favorite teams. He graduated with a Bachelor degree in Mass Communications from the University of South Carolina Upstate. Other than a contributor for Elite Sports NY, Matt was a former writer for Skyscrapersports and currently is a writer and co-host for The Assist Podcast. He is also a sports reporter for Greer Today.