NBA Draft Scouting Report: Weber State's Dillon Jones

Prospect Profile

Jones had a fantastic third season at the college level and will look to become second player from Weber State to be drafted since Damian Lillard. He earned Big Sky Freshman of the Year in 2021 after being a key piece off the bench for the Wildcat and has since won two All-Big Sky honors.

After being a starter for the two full seasons, Jones has proven to be a double-double machine. Not only can he score, but the 6-foot-6 forward is a monster on the glass. He has the upside to be a combo forward at the NBA level. Jones is not an elite 3-point shooter, but good enough that defenses have to play him honest. That results in the game opening up for him even more offensively. The form looks good without any major flaws and the free throw percentage has been good throughout his career, which could also be a sign pointing towards more improvement.

A reliable shot with the multitude of ways you can use Jones in the offense would combine to make a pretty valuable offensive piece in the NBA. He has experience playing in pick-and-pop, dribble handoff, and catch and drive play types because of his multi-skilled offensive game.

While he’s not the tallest player for his position, he uses his strength well when crashing the boards and is also a really good positional passer. This is what makes him so special, as he’s a connector on the offensive end and ensures things stay fluid. Prospects that can do a bit of everything an impact winning always have a chance at the next level. Jones can play multiple positions depending on the style of play teams use, and plays much bigger than he really is.

He’s got the strength and skill that most 6-foot-6 forwards don’t have. Jones has shown pretty linear improvement year-over-year which makes you think he can continue getting better as he potentially advances to the NBA. As Jones looks to follow the path of fellow bulky players David Roddy and Grant Williams, there’s a clear archetype he fits. He’s fantastic around the rim, leveraging his strength well. The Sunrise Christian product also knows how to utilize the aforementioned bulk at the rim to create angles for him to finish, even against bigger defenders.

The questions around his finishing begin to be asked when he is not able to create that body contact or get stopped on two feet and use his craftiness around the basket. Jones simply does not have the high end vertical pop to finish over longer defenders.

On the defensive side of the ball, Jones must continue to prove that he can be a switchable and versatile defender. Because of a player like Grant Williams, the NBA has begun to recognize that these types of players can come in all sorts of archetypes. Jones has shown an ability to hold up against any player that was asked of him, although it should be noted that his level of competition is not as high and he does not get as many chances to showcase this against high level perimeter players.

The intrigue and versatility comes with the ability to guard these perimeter players at his size but also possess the strength to hold up against bigger players in the paint. There’s a solid chance Jones isn’t selected in the 2023 NBA Draft, but could be a really solid piece in an NBA system if he lands in the right place. 

Highlights

Draft Projection

Potential Second-Round Pick in 2023 NBA Draft.

2023 Big Board 

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