Is there any chance Jimmer Fredette will fall all the way to the Celtics at No. 25? (AP)

WEEI.com continues to provide daily insight and analysis on the 2011 NBA draft. This is one in a series of profiles of players who might be available for the Celtics to select with one of their two picks (25th and 55th overall).

Jimmer Fredette

Position: Point Guard

Team: BYU

Height: 6-foot-2

Weight: 195 pounds

Stats: 28.9 ppg, 4.3 apg, 3.4 rpg

What he brings: Holed up in his hideout with no Internet connection before he got shot in the face, even Osama bin Laden had probably heard of Fredette. When your first name is entered into Urban Dictionary as a verb (Jimmered: “to be repeatedly scored upon with a variety of off-balance 3-point shots, off-balance drives and amazing long shots”), you know you’ve arrived.

If Matt Christopher wrote a book about Jimmer, it’d be called “The Kid With Unlimited Range.” College basketball’s leading scorer, Fredette could put up points from anywhere on the floor — contested or uncontested, from mid-range to long-range, off the dribble or off screens, off-balance in the lane or squared up at the free-throw line. Didn’t matter, as evidenced by his 59.4 percent true shooting percentage despite defenses designed to stop him.

There’s no questioning his shooting ability, but there are serious doubts about how well Fredette’s game will translate to the next level. Despite a lightning-quick release and impressive passing ability, he’s undersized and unathletic (by NBA standards), so legitimate concerns exist about Fredette’s ability to get open looks on the perimeter and score at the rim.

And then there’s the issue of Fredette’s defense. Considering he wasn’t a great — or even good — defender at the collegiate level, it’s hard to imagine him stopping many guys in the association. How far Fredette falls in the first round will indicate the number of naysayers about his NBA potential, but at some point that shooting stroke will be too hard for any team looking for scoring punch off the bench to ignore.

Where the Celtics could get him: First round.

What they’re saying: “Jimmer is really a fun guy to watch. Jimmer’s a blast to watch. Jimmer is a terrific offensive player. He shoots deep. He scores in a variety of ways. He’s a really fun guy to watch play, because he’s a throwback. I don’t know who to compare him to. I haven’t really seen a player like Jimmer.” – Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge

Notes: Most NBA mock drafts have Fredette slotted to go to the Suns at No. 13, so it’s unlikely he could fall all the way to the Celtics at No. 25. … If he should drop a la Brady Quinn, there are the obvious BYU ties between Fredette and Ainge, as the former surpassed the latter’s school scoring record. … A fellow USA Basketball participant, Kevin Durant once tweeted: “Jimmer Fredette is the best scorer in the world.” … This profile of Fredette by Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix — in which Jimmer compares himself to Steve Nash and Deron Williams — is probably the best out there.

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10 Comments for “NBA Draft’s Potential Celtics: BYU G Jimmer Fredette”

1. Rich LaRocco Says:
   June 21st, 2011 at 12:34 pm

   Jimmer is NOT undersized. He is 6’2 1/2″ in shoes and weighs 195 pounds. The NBA average for starting point guards last year was 6’2″ and 190 pounds. So Jimmer is a bit above average in both height and weight, and he also has broad shoulders.

   I also say Jimmer is not unathletic. He was reportedly jumping 36 inches before he tore a calf in his last college game, which his team lost in overtime. At the 2011 NBA Draft Combine he was among the leaders in bench pressing and jumped higher than a number of players at 33 inches despite questions as to whether his calf muscle had completely healed.

   When just the agility and strength drills were tabulated, Jimmer ranked No. 1 among all 53 players tested at the combine.

   Questions about his defensive ability are justified, but it should be noted that observers who watched him go up against Kemba Walker at his Utah workout said he clearly outplayed Walker on both ends of the court. Utah’s coach said Jimmer played better defense than he expected and was much quicker than he had expected.

   Jimmer reportedly shot lights out in four of his five team workouts, hitting 15 in a row from three point range at one point.

2. Jordan Says:
   June 21st, 2011 at 2:11 pm

   I think it goes without saying that this kid will be fun to watch develop in the Association.

3. Hogzilla Says:
   June 21st, 2011 at 3:52 pm

   Quite simple – he is a slightly better version of JJ Redick. Somewhat better offensively and quite a bit worse defensively than Redick. Redick is a serviceable NBA back-up, Fredette could be a starter. One problem, among many, I see (admittedly having only seen him in about 4-5games) is he has to have the ball on offense. He is like LB James in that regard. When you watch him without the ball he looks like a lost child. And he puts in no effort on D. Its one thing to be slow and unable to guard anyone (think Mike Bibby), it’s another to just have no interest (Fredette). Nonetheless, this is pointless speculation for the C’s since he will definitely not be around at 25.

4. Murph Says:
   June 21st, 2011 at 4:48 pm

   He can learn from Ray Allen and become a SG (Have you seen him Shoot??????) The when Ray retires, he can step in during his prime and start.
   Fredette could be around at 25 if general manager of other teams are afrai that he fits the picture of a Big Time Bust.

5. Joe Says:
   June 21st, 2011 at 5:18 pm

   Reports online say that the Knicks are trying to trade up from 17 to get him. No way he is falling, nice try

6. Hogzilla Says:
   June 21st, 2011 at 5:35 pm

   I compared 14 mock drafts including all the major sports outlets. The lowest any of them had Fredette going was 22 (and that was only 1). The mean position was 12 as was the median. Five drafts have Fredette going at 7. Conclusion: The odds of him falling to 25 are about 1-2%.

7. Pdigger Says:
   June 21st, 2011 at 5:59 pm

   If he’s available, take him. A guy with this kind of cache could end up being mediocre, but the upside is worth it. There are no safe picks when you draft that low, most of these guys never contribute anyway. Might as well fall for the hype and hope for the best.

8. chris ou812 Says:
   June 21st, 2011 at 6:41 pm

   Danny Ainge on Jimmer Fredette, “Jimmer is really a fun guy to watch. Jimmer’s a blast to watch. Jimmer is a terrific offensive player. He shoots deep. He scores in a variety of ways. He’s a really fun guy to watch play, because he’s a throwback. I don’t know who to compare him to. I haven’t really seen a player like Jimmer.” How about a Mini-Pisttol Pete Maravich?

9. Mushroom Says:
   June 22nd, 2011 at 7:57 am

   Who is Jimmer going to guard, old ladies in walkers and wheelchairs? Any NBA guard, when he finds that Jimmer is on him, is going to start to salivate and look for a 40 point night. Scoring 35 and giving up 40 doesn’t cut it in the NBA.

10. old coach Says:
    June 22nd, 2011 at 4:20 pm

    amazing people know what is going to happen before it happens, wow, this kid will be an average defender in the NBA and a above aveage scorer and passer. All he needs is someone to take a chance on him and NY will never give him the green light, he needs the green light in order to be effective.

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