BrandonClayScouting.com: Player Card – Jayson Tatum

Jayson Tatum’s play over the past calendar year has him amongst the nation’s elite in the class of 2016.
*Jon Lopez / Nike

Jayson Tatum of St. Louis, Mo., has played his way into the elite discussion of prospects in the class of 2016. His length and ability has garnered him scholarship offers from every major program in the country. Here is our take on his game:

Jayson Tatum – (St. Louis, Mo.), – Chaminade HS/St. Louis Eagles – 2016
Height: 6’8″
Position: Small Forward
Committed College: Duke

Star Grade:

#McDonaldsWatch: ’16 Jayson Tatum will lead @CCPBasketball then head to Duke

#BCSReport Card: http://t.co/rBdfUaQG3Q pic.twitter.com/8ex3l6fWhA

— Brandon Clay (@BrandonClayPSB) September 16, 2015

 By: @JLHemingwayPSB & @BrandonClayPSB

Date: December 22, 2015
Evaluator: Brandon Clay
Location: City of Palms (Fort Myers, Fla.)

Tatum’s game is crisp. There isn’t a lot of wasted motion. His jump shot has a feathery touch to it. Right now, he’s much more comfortable in his development as an isolation set guy as opposed to a pick and roll guy. He’s not going to get much single coverage at the HS / College level with help off for catch and shoot chances like Klay Thompson does in Golden State.

Date: December 18, 2015
Evaluator: Jonathan Hemingway
Location: City of Palms (Fort Myers, Fla.)

Tatum’s game was as good as we have seen to date in this setting. His jumper is smooth and his footwork is pristine. He can get his own at any moment. If there is a question heading into his freshman year at Duke, it will be whether he can score through contact consistently.

Date: May 23, 2015
Evaluator: Brandon Clay
Location: Nike EYBL (Minneapolis, MN)

Tatum has a lot of the same tendencies that Klay Thompson has for Golden State. He’s a pure shooter with length and moves well in that way. Tatum is a scoring option who does most of his damage from 15 feet and out with the shot.

Date: January 19, 2015
Evaluator: Jonathan Hemingway
Location: Hoop Hall Classic (Springfield, Mass.)

Tatum struggled in this game, especially in the first half to find a rhythm. However, he still finished with 25 points and 14 rebounds in a win over Paul VI. I saw the same thing from Tatum as Brandon saw with the iso moves and the footwork. His coach showcased his skill by letting him work in the pinch post and finding his own shot or drawing the double team. He was 1-6 from beyond the arc, but that is an anomaly more than a trend given his skill set.

Date: December 12, 2014
Evaluator: Brandon Clay
Location: Team Takeover National Hoops Showcase (Hyattsville, Md.)

Tatum is a skilled wing with touch out beyond the arc. It’s evident that he’s been in the gym on some upper level skill work based on his iso 1-on-1 wing footwork. He has good feet in that way. Tatum showed against D.J. Harvey and DeMatha that he has the size / skill / athleticism to be a potential pro.

Date: July 17, 2014
Evaluator: Jonathan Hemingway
Location: EYBL Nike Peach Jam (North Augusta, S.C.)

Tatum played with the 16s here at Peach Jam and was nearly unguardable. He is so smooth with the ball in his hands. He can play either wing position and can slash around bigger defenders. However, when the defense switches to a quick defender he is equally as effective in the pinch post. He has great hands. He is versatile and has terrific basketball instinct.

Date: May 24, 2014
Evaluator: Brandon Clay
Location: Nike EYBL (Minneapolis, Minn.)

Tatum struggled a little as the primary perimeter scorer here against a loaded CP3 U17 team. He would benefit from playing alongside a top flight slashing guard like classmate Allonzo Trier at the next level. Tatum has great size and length for the wing with some bounce as well. He’s a smooth shooter and that is his calling card right now.

Date: May 17, 2014
Evaluator: Jonathan Hemingway
Location: Nike EYBL Boo Williams (Hampton, Va.)

Tatum puts me in the mind of Brandon Ingram (NC-15), but with more natural upper body strength. Now listed at 6-8, I view him a SF at the next level but he has true 2nd handler capabilities. He scores it all 3 levels, including from beyond the arc off the dribble. I like his activity in the lane as well. He is not a kid who will float around the arc, at least not as of right now.

Date: October 5, 2013
Evaluator: Brandon Clay
Location: USA Basketball Developmental Mini-Camp (Colorado Springs, Colo.)

Tatum’s length and ability to make the open shot reminds us a lot of former NBA star Allan Houston. He can really shoot it with a smooth release. Tatum is a good athlete not great but makes up for that with a lean, strong frame.

Highlights of Tatum compliments of Courtside Films:

Brandon Clay is the Executive Camp Director of the Elite Basketball Academy and the owner of Brandon Clay Scouting. Clay is also the owner of Peach State Basketball, Inc., and ProspectsNation.com. He serves Director of Scouting for the OTRHoopsReport.com National Scouting Report. Clay has been involved in the community since 2001 as an evaluator, event operator and trainer. You can reach him at [email protected]

Jonathan Hemingway is a National Evaluator for the OTRHoopsReport. Hemingway serves on the Board of Selectors for the Naismith Trophy. also He is also the publisher of CoachHemi.com. He has been involved in the community since 1996 as a coach, camp director and evaluator. You can reach him via email at [email protected] and follow him on twitter @JLHemingwayPSB