Chicago Bulls: UVA’s Ty Jerome provides second round draft PG answer?

The need to add depth in the Chicago Bulls backcourt could come with a low-risk pick in the second round of the 2019 NBA Draft with UVA guard Ty Jerome.

The NCAA Tournament continues to wear on and the Chicago Bulls should be attentively watching to see which prospects emerge as potential selections for both rounds in the 2019 NBA Draft. One target that the Bulls should keep an eye on in the National Championship Game this coming week is Virginia Cavaliers sharpshooter Ty Jerome.

Numerous media outlets went in on the situation regarding the missed double-dribble call on April 6 in the Final Four showdown between Virginia and the Auburn Tigers. Virginia guard Ty Jerome was the culprit behind the double-dribble that the refs missed that cost Auburn the opportunity to face up against the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the National Championship Game on April 8.

However, Ty Jerome will also get yet another opportunity to prove his 2019 NBA Draft worth in front of another national audience. Ty Jerome is a quality second round prospect for any team needing to add depth in terms of role players deeper in the rotation. The ceiling won’t be too high for Jerome in the NBA, but he does have the skill set required to carve out a role and a long career.

The Bulls could be a solid landing spot for Ty Jerome when it’s all said and done. His three-point shooting ability and efficient ball handling on the offensive end of the floor allows him to command a second or third unit in an NBA rotation.

At 6-foot-5 and nearly 200 pounds, Jerome also has the length required to succeed on both ends of the floor off the bench on an NBA team like the Bulls. He just needs to fill out his frame a bit more and possibly do the best he can to increase his agility on the defensive end.

The main point of appeal regarding Ty Jerome in this NBA Draft is his shooting ability that shows in the numbers he registered thus far during this run in the 2018-19 campaign. Jerome really took advantage this season of the shortened three-point line in college hoops compared to the NBA by shooting better than 40 percent from beyond the arc.

Jerome also shot roughly 42 percent from beyond the arc during the NCAA Tournament and 50 percent from the field altogether. He is playing well when it matters most, but he also almost cost the Cavaliers late against Auburn if the refs had picked up on the blatant double-dribble.

This draft profile that Jerome is building for himself could be comparable to a smaller version of Brooklyn Nets wing Joe Harris or San Antonio Spurs forward Davis Bertans. His defensive ability and athleticism could limit his ceiling, but those are valid comparisons if he lives up to the billing.

An early second round selection in the 2019 NBA Draft could see the Bulls take a flier out on a stable guard that could contribute from deeper down the bench. Jerome has a valuable skill set in today’s NBA with his potential to shoot 48 or 50 percent from the field and better than 37 or 38 percent from  three-point range at the next level.