Thunderous Intentions
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NBA Draft: Jarred Vanderbilt – Built for OKC Thunder

By Rylan Stiles

MORGANTOWN, WV - JANUARY 27: Jarred Vanderbilt #2 of the Kentucky Wildcats pulls up for a shot against Sagaba Konate #50 of the West Virginia Mountaineers at the WVU Coliseum on January 27, 2018 in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
MORGANTOWN, WV - JANUARY 27: Jarred Vanderbilt #2 of the Kentucky Wildcats pulls up for a shot against Sagaba Konate #50 of the West Virginia Mountaineers at the WVU Coliseum on January 27, 2018 in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /
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Kentucky’s Jarred Vanderbilt dives after a loose ball ahead of Missouri’s Jontay Porter in the first half on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2018, at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo. Missouri won, 69-60. (Chris Lee/St. Louis Post-Dispatch/TNS via Getty Images)
Kentucky’s Jarred Vanderbilt dives after a loose ball ahead of Missouri’s Jontay Porter in the first half on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2018, at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo. Missouri won, 69-60. (Chris Lee/St. Louis Post-Dispatch/TNS via Getty Images) /

Awards and honors:

Per Kentucky 

  • Top-20 prospect out of High School
  • USA Junior National Team member

Jarred Vanderbilt comes from a long line of successful player:

Pro comparison:

Luc a Mbah Moute is being thrown around as a comparison for Jarred Vanderbilt. If Jarred Vanderbilt can reach that potential while being drafted in the 40’s or even 50’s, that franchise will be ecstatic.

Luc Mbah Moute was a second round pick himself, with the 37th selection in the 2008 NBA Draft. Last year, the crafty veteran was one of the best players off the deadly Houston Rockets bench.

More from Thunderous Intentions

Current ranking:

ESPN/DraftExpress: 55

The Ringer: 45

Draft Net: 46

CBS Sports: 41

Sports Illustrated: 46

Basketball Insider: 60

Sporting News: 54

Fit with OKC Thunder:

The Oklahoma City Thunder do not have a first round pick, or even an early second round pick, in the NBA Draft. Finding a player that can give key minutes in the NBA with a pick like the 53rd selection is huge. Jarred Vanderbilt could do just that.

With the 53rd pick, the OKC Thunder would get an athletic, non-shooter with decent defensive ability, that can play all around the floor. Sound familiar? It seems a lot like half the players on the OKC Thunder roster already. He fits the Thunder way, but is that the right way to build a team?

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