Coming into the draft, Jamal Shead was projected to be one of the more NBA-ready players available in the second round. That's exactly where he went, getting picked by the Raptors with the 45th pick in the draft.
Shead doesn't have the star upside of a lottery pick, but the 21-year-old point guard was a proven winner in his four years at Houston. He knows how to the play the game at a high level, and that will translate to the NBA. He was a fan favorite in college due to his hustle, defensive intensity, leadership, and premier playmaking. He should quickly win over the hearts of Raptors fans too.
Here's why Shead was a great pick for Toronto and why he has a chance to break into the rotation as a rookie.
MORE: NBA Draft grades 2024: All 30 teams ranked from best (Lakers) to worst (Bucks)
Jamal Shead college stats
| Stat | Average |
| Points | 13.2 |
| Assists | 6.4 |
| Rebounds | 3.8 |
| Steals | 2.2 |
| Field goal % | 41.1 |
| 3-point % | 30.9 |
| Free throw % | 77.9 |
Jamal Shead height, weight
Shead is an undersized point guard, but he does have a very sturdy frame that helps him defensively.
- Height: 6-foot-0.25 (w/o shoes)
- Weight: 200.8 pounds
- Wingspan: 6-foot-3
Jamal Shead strengths
The first place that anyone has to start with Shead is his elite defense. He was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year this season and was a finalist for the 2024 Naismith DPOY.
Shead is a tenacious lockdown on-ball defender. He is a huge reason why Houston has the No. 2 defense in the nation, per KenPom. He harasses players, sticking to them like glue. His timing when jumping to deflect passes might be the best in the world.
Those types of little plays also exemplify why Shead is just as good as a help defender. He has great instincts, which are necessary in Houston's hyper-aggressive trapping defense that requires a ton of rotations. He gets all of them down, managing to look like he's in two places at once.
Shead's defensive motor is what makes him truly special. Watch this play against Dayton, where he sprints for two steals while also saving the ball from going out of bounds:
Shead isn't nearly as impactful on offense, but he does have some useful skills there as well. He's strong for his size and he has a soft touch near the rim. He's a good passer and unselfish point guard who will set up his teammates for easy looks off his drives.
Shead has some good bounce for a player of his size. He had three dunks on the season and got his fourth in style during the NCAA Tournament.
JAMAL SHEAD WITH THE FINISH 😱
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) March 25, 2024
🎥: @MarchMadnessMBB pic.twitter.com/ZoPrzyF83g
He's not afraid of the big moments, as he showed with a killer drive to get Houston past Texas A&M in overtime of the Round of 32.
MORE: Raptors free agency targets: What Toronto has to spend, and realistic options at their price point
Jamal Shead weaknesses
It is tough for a player of Shead's size to be quite as impactful defensively in the NBA. Players such as Jose Alvarado and Jevon Carter have managed to carve out a role, but there aren't many guys filling that archetype in the league.
Shead does have a good frame at 200 pounds. If he just had a couple more inches like Marcus Smart at 6-3 with a 6-9 wingspan, it would be much easier to envision a path to success. Despite his plus strength, he probably will not be able to switch across more than one or two positions.
Shead's offensive role is also a concern. Smaller defensive guards need to be able to spread the floor. Is his jumper strong enough? He's a career 29.6 percent 3-point shooter through four years at Houston, and he didn't improve at all between his junior and senior years.
Jamal Shead NBA player comparison
Plays like: Patrick Beverley
Beverley is a 6-2 point guard who is still going strong in Year 12 of his career. He has survived in the NBA by hounding players for 94 feet, pumping his teams up with energy and hitting the occasional wide-open 3.
That shot allowed Beverley to start games for playoff teams during the prime of his career. As it has waned, he has become less playable. It is going to be vital for Shead to hit the wide-open ones.
Shead is a better passer, playmaker and scorer than Beverley. They are similar types of elite defenders. Beverley has made three All-Defensive teams in his career. Shead could get to that level one day.