OKC Thunder NBA Draft Prospect Series: Terrance Ferguson

Electing to skip going to the NCAA, NBA hopeful Terrance Ferguson took his talents Down Under. Ferguson did this despite heavy interest from several major NCAA teams, including Louisville, Arizona, North Carolina, and UCLA. He had even committed to Arizona before ultimately deciding on going pro in Australia. Is he a prospect the OKC Thunder should consider?

If one were to just look at his stats over the course of his season with the Adelaide 36er’s, one would think Ferguson didn’t have much of an impact for his squad. That’s a mistake, as much of what Ferguson did on the court didn’t necessarily translate into statistical success.

Height: 6’7″

Weight: 186 lbs

Wingspan: 6’8.75″

Position: Shooting Guard

Age: 19 years, 1 months

Statline: 4.6 points, 1.2 rebounds, .6 assists, .2 steals, .3 blocks

International: Adelaide 36er’s, Australian National Basketball League

Home Town: Tulsa, OK

Mar 30, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; McDonalds High School All-American East’s Terrance Ferguson (6) dunks the ball during the first half at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports /

Skills and Weaknesses:

Like I said, not much in the way of statistics. However, Ferguson, though extremely raw, has a lot of upside. What stands out the most to me is Ferguson’s willingness to compete. He’s not shy about finding a body to box out, and he’s a willing defender.

He’ll need to add some weight in order to survive in the NBA. However, he’s got a good frame for a shooting guard in the NBA, coupled with explosive athleticism (highlighted by a 38″ max vertical). His aggressive nature and quick lateral movement, with the proper tutelage, could make him a pest on the defensive end.

Ferguson’s jump shot is inconsistent, both in results and form, but fixable. One executive told Scott Howard-Cooper “That kid is going to be the surprise of the draft. He’s an outstanding shooter.” Clearly, some teams in the NBA believe in his shooting ability.

He gets a lot of lift under him, which will certainly help him shoot over NBA defenders. His ball-handling figures to be the most problematic part of his game, with not many go-to moves to break down defenders. At this point, he projects to be more of an off-ball guard and a threat running the floor in transition. He’ll certainly need to limit forcing contested shots as he transitions to the NBA.

Rankings:

For the most part, the experts agree on Ferguson, who’s projected to go in the latter part of the draft:

DraftExpress: 24th overall prospect

NBA DraftNet: 25th

Scott Howard-Cooper nba.com: 19th

The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor: 21st

CBS Sports: 17th

Basketball Insiders: 22nd

Hoops Hype: 23rd

Jeremy Woo SI.com, The Crossover: 21st

Please note, these rankings are as current as this writing, and are subject to change.

Honors and Awards:

Mar 30, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; From left to right McDonald’s All-Americans Josh Jackson (11), Marques Bolden (1), Terrance Ferguson (6), and Jarrett Allen (31) who are all presently undecided on choice of college to attend pose for a group photo before the McDonald’s High School All-American Game at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

Pro Comparison:

The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor provides a ceiling comparison for every prospect. O’Connor compares Ferguson to Terrance Ross and Stephen Jackson. Both are accurate comparisons, although, if everything breaks right for Ferguson, I believe there’s a chance he can outclass both comparisons.

The Fit:

The OKC Thunder pick 21st in the first round of the draft, and should not hesitate to take Ferguson if he’s still on the board. Ferguson projects as a 3&D player, a role which holds immense value for every team in the NBA. For the OKC Thunder specifically, Ferguson’s combination of athleticism, shooting, and defensive potential all fit beautifully.

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