Wiz of Awes
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Meet The Washington Wizards First Pre-Draft Invitees

By Ryan Eugene

Mar 18, 2017; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Monte Morris (11) drives around defender Purdue Boilermakers guard Carsen Edwards (3) during the first half of the game in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 18, 2017; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Monte Morris (11) drives around defender Purdue Boilermakers guard Carsen Edwards (3) during the first half of the game in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 7, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets guard Tadric Jackson (1) shoots against Pittsburgh Panthers forward Jamel Artis (1) during the first half of an ACC Conference Tournament game at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 7, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets guard Tadric Jackson (1) shoots against Pittsburgh Panthers forward Jamel Artis (1) during the first half of an ACC Conference Tournament game at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

2016-17 Stats: 32 GP, 18.2 PPG , 4.9 RPG, 3.3 APG, 47.5 FG%, 39.2 3P%

Artis was technically the only non-guard to participate in Tuesday’s workout. Although he’s technically listed as a forward, he will certainly play some guard in the NBA, if he gets the chance. In 2016-17, his senior year, he had his best overall season.

He averaged career highs in PPG, APG, FG%, and minutes per game (34), while helping to lead Pittsburgh to a rather underwhelming 16-17 record. The team lost in the second round of the ACC tournament, and failed to make the NCAA Tournament for the second time during Artis’ career.

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After the season, Artis got a seemingly unexpected invite to the NBA Draft Combine, and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette compiled all his measurements and analyzed his performance.

Of note, he’s just under 6’7″ in shoes, had the worst standing vertical out of 55 players (23.5″) and the fifth worst max vertical (31 inches). Considering he will likely be an off-ball wing in the NBA, that lack of athleticism is concerning, and probably why most mock drafts have him on the outside looking in when it comes to being drafted.

Still, based on his production last season in the ACC, he is certainly worth a look for a team that needs scorers and defenders, and should eventually have a D-League team to farm talent.

Artis is one of the longest guard/forward prospects in the draft, with a 6’10” wingspan (6th among guards). This should allow him defensive tools that he can showcase in his workouts and summer league.

The Baltimore native garnered attention earlier in his senior season for a few reasons. DraftExpress ran a story on him in January and noted how he was leading the ACC in points per game at that point (22.9).

That average was helped by the fact he scored 43 against then #13 Louisville on January 11th. Yet, he did have 25 or more points in four of his first 13 games of the season prior to that scoring outburst.

After the Louisville game, his scoring really dropped though. His three-point percentage was 30% in February and March, after almost 43% in November, December, and January.

If Artis can shoot lights out, there will certainly be a place for him in this league. But, as too many unathletic (by NBA standards) shooters have seen in the past, it will truly be an uphill battle.

Artis is not ranked on DraftExpress’ latest Top 100 prospects list.

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