CHGO Bulls 2022 NBA Draft Profiles: Jake LaRavia

We’re only a few days out from the 2022 NBA Draft and CHGO is examining prospects who could be in the Chicago Bulls range with their 18th pick. Let’s look into the junior forward out of Wake Forest, Jake LaRavia’s NBA Draft profile:

• Age on Draft night: 20.6
• Measurables: HT: 6’8 | WS: 6’9.5 | Vert: 34”
• Wake Forest: 14.6 pts | 6.6 reb | 3.7 ast | 1.7 stls | 1.0 blks
• Shooting splits: 55.9 FG% | 38.4 3P% | 77.7 FT%
• Projected range: Early-to-mid 20s

Here are my notes, including strengths, weaknesses or question marks, and potential fit with the Bulls should they take him at 18.

Strengths

Three-level scoring

• 38% Jr Year at WF, 37.1% in 3 college seasons
• Consistent release, set shot
• No bad misses
• Gets feet under him
• Willing, smart ball mover

Defensive potential

• Great size, length and positioning — Will have success as a team defender and potentially big wing defender at the NBA level
• 2.7 steal rate, 3.0 block rate — super high, good indicators of success
• 5 players have put up those steal and block numbers in addition to his 38.4 percent on threes since 2009-10 (Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, Mikal Bridges among them)
• Good combo of strength, length, footwork and reaction time
• Contests shots without fouling
• Good on and off ball — good awareness and positioning
• Shows some ability to attack closeouts, get all the way to the rim and finish

Question marks and weaknesses

Defense

• Not quick enough to stay in front of guards — primarily going to be a power forward or second best wing defender. Valuable, but not giving you that star defender upside
• Won’t be a chase defender
• Will he be good enough to guard best players?

Offensive upside

• Has shown some ability to attack closeouts, finish through contact
• Limited creation upside

Role and potential fit with Bulls

LaRavia was awesome in his Junior season at Wake Forest and is a prototypical big wing three-and-D option for the Bulls at 18. I have cautioned against the Bulls picking for fit, but in this instance, LaRavia would not only be a great fit and immediate contributor, but also could well be the best player on the board.

He’s talented in every area the Bulls lack and has the ability to come in and be one of the team’s only two-way players from day one. He’d be a slightly boring pick because of the lack of star upside, but it’s unrealistic to hit on a potential star with the 18th pick.

LaRavia won’t wow you much, but the Bulls don’t really need that. They need reliable contributors down the lineup and LaRavia will be exactly that for whichever team drafts him.

Here’s our video breakdown from our CHGO YouTube channel (which you should subscribe to)