NBA draft analysis: Indiana’s Jalen Hood-Schifino could be another creator for Pelicans

The New Orleans Pelicans hold the No. 14 pick in Thursday’s draft. This is the final installment in our prospect profile series.

Indiana’s Jalen Hood-Schifino had his most productive game of his freshman season against Purdue in February.

Hood-Schifino’s craft as a pick-and-roll playmaker and ability to score inside the 3-point arc were apparent against the Boilermakers. He scored 35 points on 14-of-24 shooting. Of the 14 field goals he made, 13 were 2-pointers. Hood-Schifino buried the Boilermakers with a bevy of midrange jumpers and floaters.

Hood-Schifino, who turned 20 years old Monday, is a crafty guard with size. He is 6-foot-5 with a 6-10 wingspan. There is a chance he could be taken in the lottery in Thursday’s draft. ESPN rated him as its 12th-best prospect. The Athletic ranked him 15th.

Thrives in pick and roll

Hood-Schifino is a big ballhandler who loves midrange shots. He is at his best as a pick-and-roll operator. He cooked Purdue in February because the Boilermakers kept dropping Zach Edey, their 7-4 center, into the paint on defense.

Hood-Schifino showed flashes of playmaking promise as well. He can fire passes on the move from a variety of angles. He is a righty who can fling left-handed passes that are perfectly placed.

Hood-Schifino averaged 13.5 points on 41.7% shooting. He was a so-so 3-point shooter who converted 33.3% of his looks from behind the arc on 3.5 attempts per game. He shot a paltry 30.4% on catch-and-shoot 3s. Upping that percentage at the next level will be crucial for him.

Defensively, Hood-Schifino demonstrated the ability to consistently stay in front of other perimeter players. He is not especially disruptive — his steals and blocks numbers don’t jump off the page — but he is solid. His wingspan and lateral mobility are key tools for him on the defensive end.

Hood-Schifino gets by more on craft than athletic explosiveness. He is not an especially gifted leaper. He attempted 1.5 shots at the rim per game in half-court settings, according to Synergy.

Fit in New Orleans

The Pelicans offense fell off a cliff after Zion Williamson got hurt in January. They finished the season ranked 20th in points scored per 100 possessions. There is an argument to be made that New Orleans needs to add shot creators outside of its All-Star duo of Williamson and Brandon Ingram. Hood-Schifino is a player who fits this mold.

Hood-Schifino projects as a player who could play with the ball in his hands or on the wing. He is big for a guard. The Pelicans have coveted players with size since the team’s David Griffin-led front office took over in 2019. On defense, Hood-Schifino could fit into coach Willie Green’s switch-heavy system.

Hood-Schifino must show he can make 3s at the next level. If he can be a reliable spot-up shooter, he could be a nice addition to the nucleus already in place in New Orleans.