Colby Jones in latest Mock NBA Draft

[Muskie]

link (http://\https://www.si.com/nba/2022/08/23/2023-nba-draft-rankings-victor-wembanyama-scoot-henderson-nick-smith-big-board)

"I’ve been keeping an eye on Jones for a while, and after a fantastic final month to close last season, I think a college star turn may be coming here. He’s decisive and a naturally connective player with a solid frame who might be able to moonlight at four positions situationally. He’s not quite a point guard, but he’s an opportunistic playmaker, and the success of guys like Bruce Brown in weirdo gadget roles in the NBA gives me some optimism that Jones finds his way into real utility. He’s a below-average catch-and-shoot player right now, but if he can iron that out a bit, I’d bet his stock skyrockets. Unselfish, well-rounded role players like this always tend to pique my curiosity, and there’s enough of a production track record here that I’m bullish. Keep an eye on how he’s deployed under new head coach Sean Miller."

____
Projected 19th.

[American X]

So he has upside potential?

[sirthought]

Reminds me a bit of James Posey. Can do a bit of everything. More of a high energy slasher now. Shooting can improve.

[muskiefan82]

A player sneaking up on people on a team that is sneaking up on people......GIDDINESS! LOL

[xukeith]

Colby really needs to step up. Be more aggresive and drive or make solid plays. During his first 2 years, he shines and then he disappears.
Hope he knows he has to score for X to win.

[UCGRAD4X]

Colby really needs to step up. Be more aggresive and drive or make solid plays. During his first 2 years, he shines and then he disappears.
Hope he knows he has to score for X to win.

Like he said, look for the Miller factor.

[D-West & PO-Z]

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10060509-2023-nba-mock-draft-full-2-round-projections-at-the-new-year

Colby #22 to my Knickerbockers in this latest mock draft from bleacher report.

[Xavier]

From like 20 on those things fluctuate like crazy throughout year. I don’t think it’s a lock that he is gone, maybe like 75%. Speaking of NBA- Marshall really found a nice spot for himself.

[Xville]

From like 20 on those things fluctuate like crazy throughout year. I don’t think it’s a lock that he is gone, maybe like 75%. Speaking of NBA- Marshall really found a nice spot for himself.

Could you imagine what Naji could have looked like with proper coaching in college? Guy could have been a Xavier legend

[Xuperman]

Felt a need to drag this over from the game thread.


I kind of came away with the opposite impression. Not that Colby isn't a very good player----he is. And, he played a pretty good game tonight. But I keep seeing posts in these threads identifying him as a top NBA prospect and, to me, he seems like a decent player whose had some good games for us. But he's not great. I think of a potential NBA player as someone who plays head and shoulders above the others on the court. Colby doesn't. He has offensive and defensive lapses just about every game. He is unreliable at the charity stripe. His ill-timed, late game three-point attempt tonight missed (or almost missed everything) and could have resulted in disaster. After the game, I was talking to another season ticket holder who identified the same things I did. It doesn't seem, to me, that Colby is that better a player this year than he was last year. Perhaps, after last season, my expectations just got too high.

I'm very glad he's on our side. But I keep waiting for him to play an outstanding game at both ends; to just take control. He never does.

This is what's going on in real time. It certainly is debatable that Jones has not improved his ON COURT stock thus far to enhance his draft prospects. Folks that argue he hasn't, likely win that debate IMO.

There can not be any debate that he is inexplicably unreliable from the line....he produces some serious high anxiety, especially when it matters. 11-24 in BE play? Correction....that just sucks. Again in Big East play, he hovers around 1:1 A/TO ratio, has a text book mediocre 3 ball %, rebound numbers are down from last year and simply disappears too often for what's expected.

Will he get drafted...yes. 1st round? Not if he doesn't find that next gear consistently going forward. But yeah, he'll be rostered NBA on their penchant for physical/athletic metrics regardless.

I am sticking with a sweep of PC. That should get us at least a share of the RS crown. No ZFree..CoJo needs to be a big factor in making that happen.

[D-West & PO-Z]

I posted this in another thread but 2 or 3 days ago I looked up 5 mock drafts all done in January 2023. 4 out of 5 of them had Colby as a 1st round pick and the other had him #38 overall in the second round. His average draft position of all 5 was about #27. So definitely borderline but pretty consistently mocked in the 1st round.

A lot can happen, but people tend to forget that the NBA is by far the least of all the pro leagues that actually relies on on court results as opposed to measurables and potential.

[Xavier]

That’s a good sign, I think he will go. But the nba is also the most difficult to mock from pick 20 on. It’s a crapshoot. Probably because of international players and teams loving getting the rights to those guy’s potential and stash them without having to pay (for 2nd rounders). Though G league and recent 2nd round success I think that’s happening less and less.

[D-West & PO-Z]

That’s a good sign, I think he will go. But the nba is also the most difficult to mock from pick 20 on. It’s a crapshoot. Probably because of international players and teams loving getting the rights to those guy’s potential and stash them without having to pay (for 2nd rounders). Though G league and recent 2nd round success I think that’s happening less and less.

Good point.

[Xuperman]

I don't know about the rest of y'all, but anything/everything that goes on in the NBA is basically garbage. The game play is WWE on hardwood, the fan base is polluted with uber liberal "celebrity" rich and urbanites. The culture is in your face social justice reality TV, covered in an ocean of ink. Again....just me.

The only reason I pulled this thread to the top is to avoid a new one on Colby Jones conversation in the here and now ....as a Xavier University Musketeer.

Three guys are doing more in advancing our success...and one is hurt. We need more of that, not any possible sidetracked focus on NBA aspirations.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Three guys are doing more in advancing our success...and one is hurt. We need more of that, not any possible sidetracked focus on NBA aspirations.

I have literally no idea what you are talking about here.

[GoMuskies]

I don't know about the rest of y'all, but anything/everything that goes on in the NBA is basically garbage. The game play is WWE on hardwood, the fan base is polluted with uber liberal "celebrity" rich and urbanites. The culture is in your face social justice reality TV, covered in an ocean of ink. Again....just me.

The only reason I pulled this thread to the top is to avoid a new one on Colby Jones conversation in the here and now ....as a Xavier University Musketeer.

Three guys are doing more in advancing our success...and one is hurt. We need more of that, not any possible sidetracked focus on NBA aspirations.

I suspect the potential to earn millions of dollars has Colby Jones's focus sidetracked from time to time.

[Lloyd Braun]

I have literally no idea what you are talking about here.

I think I do and I wish I didn’t. There is absolutely no reason to be hatin on Colby. He exerts more on the defensive side than anyone outside of Hunter. Is it coincidental that the two guys giving the most effort on D have seen their FT % drop recently? I don’t think it is.

[Xuperman]

I have literally no idea what you are talking about here.

Huh? Three guys simply have better numbers. One guy is a serious BE POY candidate, a big tall guy just posted video game stats and can not be replaced....another guy scorching the league is in a walking boot. What's your angle?

[xuphan]

Huh? Three guys simply have better numbers. One guy is a serious BE POY candidate, a big tall guy just posted video game stats and can not be replaced....another guy scorching the league is in a walking boot. What's your angle?

Some talk that the Houston Rockets are considering taking Colby Jones with the number one pick in the NBA Draft over Victor Wembanyama. Houston is concerned about Victors ability to stay healthy in the NBA after seeing what happened to Chet and the Thunder.

Kidding but it would be sick if X could get a number one draft pick someday.

[JTG]

Some talk that the Houston Rockets are considering taking Colby Jones with the number one pick in the NBA Draft over Victor Wembanyama. Houston is concerned about Victors ability to stay healthy in the NBA after seeing what happened to Chet and the Thunder.

Kidding but it would be sick if X could get a number one draft pick someday.

That's total bullshit. No way in hell is Colby the # 1 PICK.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Huh? Three guys simply have better numbers. One guy is a serious BE POY candidate, a big tall guy just posted video game stats and can not be replaced....another guy scorching the league is in a walking boot. What's your angle?

What is your angle? Your suggestion is what, that Colby isn't playing well and it is because he is too focused on making the NBA?

In the BE Colby is:

14th in ppg
9th in FG%
13th in 3pt %
8th in mins per game
6th in assists per game
9th in steals per game

[zippin']

That's total bullshit. No way in hell is Colby the # 1 PICK.

Wonder if xuphan was joking? We may never know. /s

[Xuperman]

What is your angle? Your suggestion is what, that Colby isn't playing well and it is because he is too focused on making the NBA?

In the BE Colby is:

14th in ppg
9th in FG%
13th in 3pt %
8th in mins per game
6th in assists per game
9th in steals per game

Knock it off. Anyone can see that any "NBA daydreams" Jones may/may not be having is not my point. My point is clearly 100% that Boum, Nunge and Freemantle have statistically done more in producing this impressive 10-2 CONFERENCE mark.....good luck arguing the contrary.

And you call 11-24 a rough stretch? Are you some kind of a swine cosmetologist on the side? Besides, a mere 1.4% FT improvement barely qualifies.

Label me as you wish, but this is fact. Colby needs to reach down and EXCEED expectations for the conference stretch run and continue post season. And NO Zach makes it even more imperative.

After all, that's the only thing that matters, correct?

[Xville]

Knock it off. Anyone can see that any "NBA daydreams" Jones may/may not be having is not my point. My point is clearly 100% that Boum, Nunge and Freemantle have statistically done more in producing this impressive 10-2 CONFERENCE mark.....good luck arguing the contrary.

And you call 11-24 a rough stretch? Are you some kind of a swine cosmetologist on the side? Besides, a mere 1.4% FT improvement barely qualifies.

Label me as you wish, but this is fact. Colby needs to reach down and EXCEED expectations for the conference stretch run and continue post season. And NO Zach makes it even more imperative.

After all, that's the only thing that matters, correct?

Just a stupid argument. All four of those guys have equally contributed to the 10-2 mark. Each one of them have had an off game or two and the others have stepped up and gotten the job done.

Your angle is nonsense. In conference play he’s 2nd in assists, 3rd in rebounds and 3rd in points.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Knock it off. Anyone can see that any "NBA daydreams" Jones may/may not be having is not my point. My point is clearly 100% that Boum, Nunge and Freemantle have statistically done more in producing this impressive 10-2 CONFERENCE mark.....good luck arguing the contrary.

And you call 11-24 a rough stretch? Are you some kind of a swine cosmetologist on the side? Besides, a mere 1.4% FT improvement barely qualifies.

Label me as you wish, but this is fact. Colby needs to reach down and EXCEED expectations for the conference stretch run and continue post season. And NO Zach makes it even more imperative.

After all, that's the only thing that matters, correct?

On the team Colby is:

2nd in mins per game
3rd in PPG
3rd in reb per game
2nd in assists per game
1st in steals per game
2nd in blocks per game

He is clearly our best overall player in terms of well roundedness and contributing in many areas. Maybe not our best guy in any one area.

As xville stated, all of Boum, Nunge, Freemantle, and Jones have been instrumental so far in where X is today.

Gotta say, after Colby's performance last night, a thread about how he hasn't been good enough is one of the last I expected to see today. There is always the guy who obsesses over missed FT's though. Not to say FT's aren't important, it almost cost us, but to equate a guys whole performance being bad just bc of missed FTs. Don't get that at all.

[IM4X]

I think I do and I wish I didn’t. There is absolutely no reason to be hatin on Colby. He exerts more on the defensive side than anyone outside of Hunter. Is it coincidental that the two guys giving the most effort on D have seen their FT % drop recently? I don’t think it is.

No question that a big reason Hunter had trouble making free throws the other night was because he was spent. He wasn’t just missing them, he kept hitting the front of the rim. It‘s hard not to be tired when you are down to 6 guys who are having to play the bulk of the minutes. Hunter played 36 minutes last night. Jones played 41. When you basically have six guys play and those guys then have to play some overtime, they’re going to awfully tired. Even Souley missed a free throw at the end.

That being said, the next time Hunter is that exhausted and hitting the front of the iron during his free throws, I’d love to see him try to start aiming to hit the backboard just above the rim to at least give himself a chance for the ball to go in.

[Jumpin_Jamal_Forever]

No question that a big reason Hunter had trouble making free throws the other night was because he was spent. He wasn’t just missing them, he kept hitting the front of the rim. It‘s hard not to be tired when you are down to 6 guys who are having to play the bulk of the minutes. Hunter played 36 minutes last night. Jones played 41. When you basically have six guys play and those guys then have to play some overtime, they’re going to awfully tired. Even Souley missed a free throw at the end.

That being said, the next time Hunter is that exhausted and hitting the front of the iron during his free throws, I’d love to see him try to start aiming to hit the backboard just above the rim to at least give himself a chance for the ball to go in.

It's just crazy that Miller isn't confident that we can get five or ten quality minutes out of a couple of backups. And it goes to a comment MOR made about the quality of our recruiting the last few years. We have what----four or five guys on the bench (some of them upper classmen), all on scholarship to play basketball in the Big East? None of them can be expected to give us a few quality minutes per game?

[xavierj]

It's just crazy that Miller isn't confident that we can get five or ten quality minutes out of a couple of backups. And it goes to a comment MOR made about the quality of our recruiting the last few years. We have what----four or five guys on the bench (some of them upper classmen), all on scholarship to play basketball in the Big East? None of them can be expected to give us a few quality minutes per game?

It’s also just kind of how Sean rolls. Just pull up his Arizona teams. He just played 7 guys usually and no more. But agree that there were definitely some recruiting misses. Sean recruits guys that he feels fit his style and Travis chased recruiting rankings in my opinion.

[GoMuskies]

Edwards played 6 minutes last night. You can decide whether they were "quality" minutes, but that's more than 5 minutes from one of our backups.

[xavierj]

Edwards played 6 minutes last night. You can decide whether they were "quality" minutes, but that's more than 5 minutes from one of our backups.

This his true. Also you can play 4 guys for a total of 40 minutes off the bench or 2 guys off the bench for a total of 40 minutes. It’s the same thing and your starters are getting the same rest. Now if foul trouble comes someone else will have to play, but my opinion deep benches are overrated. Coaches don’t like to play a lot of guys. They like to play who they can trust.

[bleedXblue]

It's just crazy that Miller isn't confident that we can get five or ten quality minutes out of a couple of backups. And it goes to a comment MOR made about the quality of our recruiting the last few years. We have what----four or five guys on the bench (some of them upper classmen), all on scholarship to play basketball in the Big East? None of them can be expected to give us a few quality minutes per game?

Welp, I've seen enough of Tandy, Miles and Edwards to know they aren't high level D1 players. Not sure on Kraft. Pretty sure Edwards isnt b/c he cant even get on the floor. Thats 4 guys for sure.

[xuphan]

That's total bullshit. No way in hell is Colby the # 1 PICK.

Im my defense, I did put the word “kidding” in the post.

[IM4X]

It's just crazy that Miller isn't confident that we can get five or ten quality minutes out of a couple of backups. And it goes to a comment MOR made about the quality of our recruiting the last few years. We have what----four or five guys on the bench (some of them upper classmen), all on scholarship to play basketball in the Big East? None of them can be expected to give us a few quality minutes per game?

Yeah. The two most glaring misses for me were Miles and Edwards. We really needed at least one of them to be a little more big East ready than they have been. I remember watching videos of Edwards when we were recruiting him. I just didn’t see the Big East potential level at all. He moved rather slowly and did not all that athletic and he didn’t seem too interested in grabbing rebounds. Maybe take a chance on him if you have another athletic rebounder in the same class, but he was the only big that year.

Miles was a little different. While he looked a bit more athletic in his videos than Edwards, he still didn’t look polished. Travis made a point of saying Miles was basically not yet quite ready … but oh, how many times over his tenure did Travis say, “Just wait” and go on to say what a great player Miles was going to be. Once he claimed he had the potential to be one of X’s best bigs ever by the time he was a senior.

I wish I was wrong and those two were developing into BE level beasts. They both seem like really great kids, but it just seemed like a bit of a stretch that they would have the level of skills and athleticism to be a starters at the big East level.

It would be unfair of me to say Steele missed on all his recruits. He brought in players like Jones, Free, Nunge, Hankins, and Kunkel. He just missed when recruiting some high school bigs (players who didn’t check all the boxes) and then had to go get grad transfers to make up for it.

The one big he got right out of high school was Freemantle. I watched him play in person before he came to X and I could see a ton of potential. He was making 3s, midrange jumpers and scoring in the paint with easy. He was quick, athletic (played above the rim quite a bit), and had a good handle for a big. He also showed tenacity (stole the ball quite a bit). All important skills at of you are going to play in a high level, D1 conference. I just didn’t see those things while watching the videos of Edwards and Miles.

[xukeith]

Miles was a project. X gambled and it hasn't panned out.
Edwards is in the mold of Freemantle for a big. He might not be top 7 on the depth chart .

If you look at recruiting on other programs, most teams play 7-8 players.
That also has 5 bench players with no playing time. It is a lot more common than you think.
The transfer portal has been above average for X over the past 10-15 years. Mixed bag but not everyone starts. or gets pt.

[XUGRAD80]

Miles has always been more of a suspect than a prospect. Edwards is just a sophomore, he could still develop.

[MHettel]

Miles has always been more of a suspect than a prospect. Edwards is just a sophomore, he could still develop.

Edwards was LOST against Providence in a game that mattered where he was playing important minutes that could have defined his future at X. If he played good D, got some boards and some garbage buckets, he may have played more than six minutes that night and very well may have played himself into a full time role in the regular rotation.

But he didn’t. He was awful. He will get another chance, because we have no other option. But he didn’t earn that next chance.

Our current bench, without Free, is just bad. We won’t survive games with a lot of fouls or OT games. The cumulative fatigue of guys playing too many minutes will also extract a price.

Prove me wrong, Edwards

[UCGRAD4X]

Miles showed a great deal of talent in Spain. Maybe that's his future. Why under three years of Tin Tutelage he couldn't provide 5 minutes of relief is befuddling.

[X Factor]

Edwards was LOST against Providence in a game that mattered where he was playing important minutes that could have defined his future at X. If he played good D, got some boards and some garbage buckets, he may have played more than six minutes that night and very well may have played himself into a full time role in the regular rotation.

But he didn’t. He was awful. He will get another chance, because we have no other option. But he didn’t earn that next chance.

Our current bench, without Free, is just bad. We won’t survive games with a lot of fouls or OT games. The cumulative fatigue of guys playing too many minutes will also extract a price.

Prove me wrong, Edwards

In Sean Miller's pre St. John's press conference, he made a point to mention that he feels he hasn't necessarily put Cesare in the best position.

I think Cesare will show us something.

[D-West & PO-Z]

https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/nba-mock-draft-2023-projections-predictions-march-madness

Colby goes #19 to Golden State in this latest mock.

"Xavier’s Colby Jones is one of the most well-rounded, versatile prospects in this draft class. During a recent victory over Providence, he finished with 29 points while missing just one field goal attempt from the floor. Jones had zero turnovers in the game as well. Every team in the league could use a guy like this."

[xukeith]

Maybe Curry can fix his 3 point shot.

[xu82]

https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/nba-mock-draft-2023-projections-predictions-march-madness

Colby goes #19 to Golden State in this latest mock.

"Xavier’s Colby Jones is one of the most well-rounded, versatile prospects in this draft class. During a recent victory over Providence, he finished with 29 points while missing just one field goal attempt from the floor. Jones had zero turnovers in the game as well. Every team in the league could use a guy like this."

We need to repopulate the league with more X-Men!!!

[paulxu]

Maybe Curry can fix his 3 point shot.

Curry 3pt % 42.6
Jones 3 pt % 40.2

Take away his one awful game vs Nova, and he's right there.

[Strange Brew]

We need to repopulate the league with more X-Men!!!

That requires good soil. :)

[Xavier]

I went from “he should go if he is projected 1st round” to “I know they say he’s first round but there’s no chance. At least he will be back” to “he’s gone”.

These last few games he’s been on a different level. It’s a better version of the guy who stepped up after Scruggs got hurt last year (NIT). Guards run March. It’s why he and boum can take us far.

[xavierj]

Maybe Curry can fix his 3 point shot.

Odd post when they guy has shot the three well all year. His stroke is pretty good and when he gets the feet set it always looks like it’s going down. A major reason he is now projected to go first round is because of how well he has shot the three this year.

[D-West & PO-Z]

#26 to the Pacers in ESPN's latest mock draft

https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/insider/story/_/id/35798437/2023-nba-mock-draft-12-prospects-likely-playing-last-ncaa-games

[bleedXblue]

Colby is getting picked in the 1st round. End of story

[American X]

I am of the well-formed opinion that the best way for Colby Jones to get drafted in the first round of the NBA is to win a Big East Championship and several more games in March (six is the number that comes to mind).

[XUGRAD80]

This current version of Jones is an NBA player. 1st rounder? I’m still not sure, but with every good to great game that he plays he moves more that way in my mind. If he can continue to play this way for at least 3-4 more games he may well cement his place there.

[Snipe]

I am of the well-formed opinion that the best way for Colby Jones to get drafted in the first round of the NBA is to win a Big East Championship and several more games in March (six is the number that comes to mind).

It is statement time for Mr. Jones.