2016 NBA Draft Breakdown: Peter Jok

Peter Jok may have been the most improved player in the Big Ten this year, if such an award existed. The junior guard for the Iowa Hawkeyes went from 7.0 points per game in his sophomore season to 16.1 this year on his way to making the second team All-Big Ten.

While Jok did make great strides as a player, the likelihood of him keeping his name in the 2016 NBA Draft seems pretty slim. None of the major NBA scouting websites have Jok in the Top 100 of their draft prospects for this season. In fact, Draft Express doesn't have the Hawkeye guard in the Top 79 of their NCAA Juniors list.

That doesn't mean that Jok isn't on the radar of NBA scouts. The new "declaring for the draft" process allows for players to enter their names simply to get feedback on where they currently stand and what they need to improve. Maybe the actual scouts within the league have a higher grade than the reputable draft websites on Jok, but it would seemingly have to be much higher. A late second-round grade would be a major jump and those contracts aren't even guaranteed.

Strengths

Jok's biggest strength as a player will always be his outside shooting. 50% of his field goal attempts this year came from three-point range and he made them at a 40% clip, including 42% in conference play. He made at least three attempts from distance in 15 of the 32 games that he played this season. Although he could be streaky at times, Jok's ability to hit contested shots off the catch was a major asset for the Hawkeyes all season. In an NBA world that seems more reliant on three-point shooting every year, Jok's shooting would be an easily transferable skill.

There's no one other aspect of Jok's game that really stands out, but that's not to say he's a one-dimensional player. He's never been known for his all-around defense, but he did use his length and anticipation skills to lead the Hawkeyes in steals this year. For as often as he touched the ball, his turnover rate was more than six percent below the national average.

Weaknesses

While Jok is a terrific shooter, he's never been very good at finishing around the rim and - to his credit - he must know it. According to Hoop Math, he took the lowest percent of his shots at the rim of any regular Hawkeye contributor this year. Increased strength and ball-handling skills in the offseason would help a lot in that area.

Jok will also need to continue to improve as a defender. He's come a long way since he arrived in Iowa City, but becoming more of a two-way player will only help his draft stock if he returns next season.

Outlook

It would be a major surprise if Jok kept his name in this year's draft. His best bet to have a future in the league is to return to Iowa for his senior season where he'll be expected to carry an even larger share of the offense. A Buddy Hield-type season is a lot to ask for, but Jok's raw numbers for his junior season were pretty comparable to Hield's junior numbers and Jok's shooting percentages were better. If Jok has a Big Ten POTY caliber season, he'll be well on his way to getting drafted a year from now.