Pick 52 is where upside leads the way and long-term projects start to take shape. Could the Phoenix Suns find someone who can make an impact? Perhaps not right away, but down the line? As I look at the prospects in that draft range, not shockingly, that is the trend. Players with one quality skill and coarse edges.
What could Phoenix find here? Do they value the pick enough to explore what options exist? What positional need may they attempt to fill? Enter another intriguing combo guard; not the tallest in the class, but certainly a polished, impactful player. Someone who fits the mold of what Phoenix needs: skill, toughness, and a feel for the game.
We turn our attention to Marquette, a program with a proud history and a track record of producing gritty, NBA-ready talent. Jimmy Butler. Jae Crowder. And of course, Phoenix’s own Oso Ighodaro.
But there’s one name that stands above them all in Marquette’s record books. A player who has made more field goals than anyone else in the history of the program. More than Dwyane Wade, Tony Smith, or George Thompson.
His name is...
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 202 pounds
Age: 22 years old
Experience: Four years at Marquette
2024-25 Statistics: 19.2 points (48.3 FG%, 31.1 3PT%, 64.8 FT%), 4.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.9 turnovers, 1.4 steals
If you’re like me, the first thing that jumps off the page is that 31.1% from three last season. Yikes. Not exactly what you want to see from a guard prospect. I can already hear you... “C’mon John, we need shooting. We already lived through the Saben Lee experience, bruh.” No cap. Ohio.
But let’s zoom out for a second.
Kam Jones has a longer résumé than just one season. Over his four years at Marquette, he shot 39.2% from deep as a freshman, 36% as a sophomore, and a scorching 40.6% as a junior. Last year was the outlier, not the rule. So while the dip is definitely something to consider, it’s not exactly a Ryan Dunn situation where the red flags are waving from space.
Jones has proven he can shoot. The question is whether last season was a blip or the beginning of a trend.
Watching Kam Jones play, there’s an undeniable smoothness to his game. It’s the kind of flow that just looks effortless, like a freshly shaved face kind of smooth. Sure, the size concerns are real. He’s undersized, and that’s going to raise eyebrows. But from an aesthetic standpoint, the guy just gets it. He’s a lefty, which always looks a little quirky on tape, but there’s a craftiness to how he plays. He can pass off the dribble with either hand, which you don’t always see at this stage.
His jumper is clean. His scoop shots around the rim are creative and effective. And when Tyler Kolek was drafted last summer — yeah, the same Tyler Kolek I was hoping the Suns would take a swing at — Jones stepped in and handled the playmaking responsibilities admirably.
That said, there are limitations.
He’s heavily left-hand dominant. Even when he goes right, he’s clearly trying to get back to that left side. I didn’t see much finishing with the right hand around the rim, which is definitely an area for development. Scoop shots galore. Fun to watch, but not a long-term solution at the NBA level unless he rounds out that finishing package.
What does Tyler Metcalf of No Ceilings have to say about Jones?
One of the staples of Jones’s game has always been his scoring efficiency. While he has steadily improved year over year, his worst seasons were still considered above average. For multiple years we saw Jones effortlessly utilized as a high-volume shooter and off-ball scorer. He thrived in that role, but we never saw him consistently create for others as that responsibility fell on Kolek’s shoulders. This year is the first time we’ve seen him thrust into a pure point guard role.
The label of “combo guard” can be a tricky one. Typically, it’s used as just an easy way to label undersized shooting guards or bigger point guards who can’t really shoot. The problem is that they rarely have the combination of playmaking and scoring to properly fill the combo guard role. When they do, though, they can be incredibly valuable players. That unique intersection of uber-efficient scoring and passing is precisely where Jones is currently falling.
The mock draft? I got you.
Defensively, the red flags are there. He lacks the lateral quickness and size to consistently stay in front of quicker guards, and that’s going to be a challenge against NBA-caliber athletes. He’s not a vertical popper either, and while he has craft, his handle could stand to be tighter. Too many turnovers, some of them avoidable with better decision-making and pace.
Still, he’s a polished scorer with a diverse offensive skill set. The talent is real. The feel is there. But if you’re taking him at 52, you’re betting on upside. And patience. He’s a project. A fun one, maybe even a worthwhile one. But it all depends on what the Suns want out of that pick. Ready-to-contribute? Or long-term moldable piece? That’s the question.
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