The New York Knicks believe RJ Hampton is undervalued due to playing in Australia and are reportedly interested in drafting RJ Hampton, maybe as early as the sixth pick.
Marc Berman of the New York Post reported that many believe the speedy 196cm, 19-year-old combo guard has been under the radar as a top-10 player due to the fact the Dallas native played on the other side of the world, avoiding NBA scrutiny and in addition to that, had his season cut short by a hip injury.
The New York Knicks for example had plans to visit Australia to scout both Hampton and LaMelo Ball but Hampton had suffered his injury before they team had a chance to send personal to watch him.
Newly appointed president of the Knicks Leon Rose strongly pursued Hampton as a client when Rose was a player agent. It seems now Rose plans to pair him with another RJ, sweet shooting guard RJ Barrett.
Rashad Phillips, a college and NBA Draft specialist told The Post he sees a lot of All-Star Victor Oladipo in Hampton.
“RJ is the Swiss Army knife to this draft,” Phillips said. “He’s one of the few prospects who can play anywhere because of his versatility. He’s exciting, explosive and a very intelligent kid. Extremely hard worker with a great family. Anytime a kid has those qualities, you put him on the top of your board. If I’m the Knicks, I’m looking at RJ Hampton.”
RJ Hampton skipped college to play for the New Zealand Breakers and averaged 8.8 points, 2.4 assists, and 3.8 rebounds in 20 NBL games.
The NBA Draft is currently slated for June 25 but as yet there are no plans no plans for the NBA’s draft combine, individual workouts or live interviews which could see Hampton’s raising his stock hampered.
“I’ve watched him since eighth grade because he’s a Dallas kid,’’ said ESPN draft maven Fran Fraschilla, the Sheepshead Bay product who lives in Dallas.
“He left the U.S. a top-10 to -20 prospect. He came home a top-10 to -20 prospect. He’s an NBA athlete but could be a project. I don’t know if he was as good as the hype accorded him when he left.”
Even if the lack of a normal pre-draft process does crush Hampton, the chances of him becoming a New York Knick are still high with the Knicks also having the 27th pick in the draft.
“[Hampton is] not a point guard, which is where he played in New Zealand.”Phillips, who does draft analyst work for Fox Sports, doesn’t believe Hampton, repped by one of the NBA’s top agents in Happy Walters, will be punished for going Down Under” Fraschilla added.
Concerns around Hampton’s ability generally stem from his shooting ability after he connected on only 29.5 percent from 3-point range during his time with the Breakers.
The Knicks would love a 3-point-shooting point guard to counterbalance Barrett, who also struggles from long range. Something that is rare among this years draft class. Even fellow Next Stars player LaMelo Ball, a guard expected to go higher than RJ is also considered a poor 3-point shooter.
Phillips made it clear that although players who chose a route other than college can often fall into a situation of out-of-sight, out-of-mind but there are things Hampton did during his time in Australia which cannot be ignored by NBA teams.
“What RJ did was impressive. It showed you how much he believed in his own ability. He was willing to walk a road few have travelled. And had success doing that. It speaks to his character. Not too many kids can go overseas [at] 18 years old and hold their own against grown men. He’s prepared mentally and physically to have an impact in the NBA early.”
“RJ represents that position-less guard,’’ Phillips said. “He’s 6-5, 190 pounds. He has ability to play multiple positions. He can be an offensive initiator he can play shooting guard, wings. Offensively he can get in the paint and make plays. He’s a superb athlete, in the Victor Oladipo mould. He’s probably the fastest player in the draft from end line to end line. He has dynamic qualities that if he gets with the right team and coaches, he has star written all over him.”
Interesting to note that Knicks GM Scott Perry is the man responsible for drafting Oladipo for the Orlando Magic in 2013.
Dan Boyce is a die-hard Sydney Kings fan who grew up in Melbourne during the roaring 90's of Australian Basketball and spent far too much time collecting Futera NBL Basketball cards.
