Eye on the Draft: Kris Dunn


With an injury history, putting up big numbers against questionable competition, and loaded with potential, Kris Dunn has the makings of a Danny Ainge draft selection.
Dunn's college experience has not been an easy one to say the least. The 21 year old sophomore entered Providence as a McDonald's All American and the top point guard in his 2012 recruiting class, but struggled to stay on the floor due to a nagging shoulder injury. He went under the knife twice (2012 before he enrolled at PC and in 2013) to repair his right shoulder which caused him to play only 29 games in his first two seasons as a Friar.



Coming into this season, Dunn looked to put his injury history behind him and on October 17th before Providence's Late Night Madness, Head Coach Ed Cooley told NBCSports.com that when it's all said an done Dunn could arguably be "one of the best point guards in the country at the end of the season." Turns out he was right. Dunn dropped 15.8 points per game, was second in the country in assists with 7.6 and fourth in the nation in steals with 2.8. He also led Providence to a sixth seed in the NCAA Tournament.



Now, the New London, CT native does have some flaws in his game. In the Friars 66-53 loss to Dayton in the 2015 NCAA Tournament, Dunn committed 7 turnovers and had a rough shooting night going 4-13 from the floor.

Not to mention being on the wrong end of this highlight.


He needs to work on reducing the mental mistakes that lead to turnovers, work better without the ball in his hands and facilitate more on the pick and roll. His 15.8 ppg and high ranking assist/steal numbers are impressive, but when you consider that he was playing in the Big East those numbers may be a little skewed.

Where Dunn shines is his ability to penetrate into the teeth of a defense, both by passing and slashing. His court vision and size (6'3, 192 lbs and a 6'8 wingspan) are also a big plus.

Right now, Chad Ford has Dunn ranked as the 20th best prospect in the draft if he decides to come out. And according to Kevin McNamara of the Providence Journal, Danny Ainge is just one of many NBA scouts giving him a look.

Danny Ainge, the Celtics' President of Basketball Operations, was at Alumni Hall for more than an hour to watch the team prepare for its NCAA Tournament trip. Ainge was clearly on campus to see redshirt sophomore Kris Dunn first-hand. Dunn is seen as a potential first round draft choice this June and has attracted visits from scouts of virtually every NBA team throughout the season.


With the current playoff push the Celtics take themselves out of the Okafor, Towns and Cauley-Stein conversation making Dunn an interesting outside the lottery "lottery ticket" if you will come June.

 Photo credit - Jessica Hill / AP

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