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Philadelphia 76ers select Jared McCain in 2024 NBA Draft

Barkley-Truaxby:Barkley Truax06/26/24

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© Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The Philadelphia 76ers have selected former Duke guard Jared McCain in the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft.

McCain averaged 14.3 points per game this past season, helping the Blue Devils to the Elite 8. He was second on the team in scoring and third in rebounding at 5 per game. McCain is also an excellent shooter, knocking down 41.4 percent of his 3-point attempts and 88.5 percent of his free throws. His efforts in 2023-24 earned him a spot on the ACC All-Rookie Team.

During four NCAA Tournament games he averaged 21 points where he surpassed 30-point threshold twice before falling on game short of a Final Four during his lone college season.

Coming out of high school, McCain was a consensus five-star recruit, according to the On3 Industry Rankings, a proprietary algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings from all four primary recruiting media services. He was the No. 11 overall player in the country and the No. 3 shooting guard in his class.

What NBA Draft experts are saying about Jared McCain

As one of the top high school prospects in the 2023 recruiting class, the one-and-done route was always a possibility for McCain. His consistency for the Blue Devils throughout the season, rising to the occasion in the postseason and not shying away when his number is called are all reasons McCain makes for a solid NBA prospect.

Not only that, but McCain finished the season ranked 453rd-lowest in TO rate in the nation, a rarity with young guards in today’s league.

On3’s James Fletcher had McCain as the No. 14 player on his Top-40 Big Board ahead of draft day.

“McCain’s pedigree carried over to two 30-point performances in the NCAA Tournament, as well as seven games with at least four made 3s this season — flashes of serious next-level scoring ability,” according to McCain’s profile by RotoWire. “Scoring is the appeal, as McCain is a two-way competitor but shouldn’t be considered as a sure-fire asset on the defensive end in the NBA.

“Offensively, he ranked in the 81st percentile for off-the-dribble shooting efficiency, while also knocking down 42.1% of 160 catch-and-shoot 3s on the year. McCain can put the ball on the deck as well, converting 62.5% of his shots at the rim while ranking in the 37th percentile for frequency among guards nationwide. Being an attentive defender and possessing a sturdy frame work in his favor as well, but McCain’s size nonetheless shifts pressure to his offense  translating.”