NBA Future Watch: Jake LaRavia Basketball Cards, Memphis GrizzliesNBA Future Watch: Jake LaRavia Basketball Cards, Memphis Grizzlies – Jake LaRavia is a late bloomer who achieved a status that would have been unheard of two years ago: landing inside the Top 20 in the NBA Draft and becoming a coveted piece on one of the league’s up-and-coming powers, Memphis. LaRavia was a fixture on the Indianapolis prep hoops scene, but he didn’t really break out until his senior season with 17.3 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 3.9 APG, 2.3 SPG and .426 3%. In the wake of leading Lawrence Central High School to its first sectional championship since 2012 and achieving Indiana All-Star honors, LaRavia made it onto the college radar. He committed to Indiana State.

Two decent seasons as a Sycamore, which saw LaRavia top out at the level of Second Team All-MVC honors, came to an end when he chose to transfer to Wake Forest in the aftermath of a coaching change. Questions about how LaRavia would fare against elevated competition ended once ACC games began. 22 points, seven rebounds and five assists against Florida State on January 4, 2022, set the stage for a world-class effort against North Carolina 18 days later. With 31 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and three steals, LaRavia’s ACC Player of the Week performance turned a lot of heads. A double-double against Duke (19-10) on February 15 and near-miss against Notre Dame (19-9) four days later cemented LaRavia as a big-game player.

With 17.1 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 4.3 APG and 2.0 SPG on a Per 40 Minutes basis – as well as .384 3% and .559 FG%. LaRavia established himself as a versatile forward with an all-around game and a proclivity to thrive in the biggest moments. As such, declaring for the draft made sense and LaRavia was selected by the Grizzlies with the 19th pick.

LaRavia fits in with the team’s young core in terms of all-around scoring ability. Possessing secondary playmaking instincts much-desired in today’s game, LaRavia’s feel for the game maximizes his abilities. While LaRavia’s speed is not elite, his performance at the combine underscored his potential to evolve into a higher-level achiever on both ends of the floor. On the league’s newest powerhouse team, LaRavia can emerge as a star and glue player on a championship team at the same time in the mold of a Manu Ginobili or a Chauncey Billups. If he does, then LaRavia will continue his impressive trajectory of pushing past what had previously been considered his limitations.

NBA Future Watch: Jake LaRavia Basketball Cards, Memphis Grizzlies – Stats

Laravia StatsStatistical image generated on Sports Reference 08/25/2022

 

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Rick Morris

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