OKC Thunder NBA Draft prospect series: Jonathan Jeanne

Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; A general view of the podium and stage before the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /

Once considered a potential lottery pick, news Jonathan Jeanne has Marfan syndrome will likely remove him from the draft and possibly competitive ball completely.

The 7’2″ french man Jonathan Jeanne got catastrophic news this past week when tests determined he has Marfan syndrome. Much like recent 2014 draft prospect Isaiah Austin who also found out during the draft process he had the disease. Austin was told he would never play again but found his way back to the court in December 2016 after initial treatment and doctor clearance.

As per the Marfan Society the disease is characterized as follows:

"Marfan syndrome is a genetic disorder that affects the body’s connective tissue. Connective tissue holds all the body’s cells, organs and tissue together. It also plays an important role in helping the body grow and develop properly."

Jeanne will undergo further tests and it’s unlikely he’ll be part of the proceedings on June 22, but we’ll look at his pre diagnosis stats.

Specifics:

Height: 7’2″

Weight: 210 lbs

Wingspan: 7’6.5″

Position: Center

Age: 19 years, 9 months

Statline: 3.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 0.4 assists, steals, blocks

International: Nancy – as part of the French Champions League

Home Town: Les Abymes, Guadeloupe

Current rankings:

(notably some sites have not updated since Jeanne’s diagnosis. Also rankings are taken on day of article posting and therefore may be listed at a similar rank as previously posted prospect reviews

DraftExpress: 22nd overall prospect

NBA DraftNet: updated list doesn’t rank him

Scott Howard-Cooper nba.com: 6th

The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor: 24th

CBS Sports: 25th

Basketball Insiders: 19th

Jeremy Woo SI.com, The Crossover: 25th

Skills and Weaknesses:

Since Jonathan Jeanne will unlikely be part of the draft I’ll provide a quick overview, but not the normal full breakdown listed in this area.

Most notably for a player of his height his skill set and potential were promising. He has range from the perimeter and above average ball handling skills for a player of his height. With the 7’6″ plus wing span it goes without saying why many pundits saw him as having the potential to grow into another Rudy Gobert type who could provide rim protection and defense.

Even prior to his diagnosis his slight frame was a concern given how much weight he would need to gain to defend NBA bigs coupled with his inexperience and lack of consistency. Granted, all things that could be fixed with time on the court and with the development coaches.

Kevin O’Connor had the best explanation of his pluses and minuses:

Jonathan Jeanne pluses:

"Impressive athleticism; super-long wingspan, quick leaper, fluid for his size.Good shooting potential if he improves lower-body jumper mechanics. Has natural touch and an unblockable release, but twists his body.Unique pick-and-roll upside. Not many players that long or mobile can also space the floor."

Jonathan Jeanne weaknesses:

"Makes too many careless decisions with the ball, especially when pressured.Ineffective screener.Struggles scoring against contact near the rim. Can finish over the top, but takes a lot of sloppy layups and doesn’t use his off-hand.Inconsistent effort."

Pro Comparison:

Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer provided a ceiling comparison for each of his prospects. O’Connor’s list for Jonathan Jeanne didn’t mention Rudy Gobert who the center was often compared to. Rather he listed his upside potential as “Dehorned Kristaps Porzingis or Willie Cauley-Stein with a three ball.”

The Fit:

It’s a moot point given the terrible medical news. With so many pundits comparing Jeanne to a Rudy Gobert potential it would be a shame if he has to give up on his dream. That said, his health has to take precedence. Here’s hoping Jonathan Jeanne can experience similar success as Austin and recover sufficiently after treatment to find his way back to the court.

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