Wake Forest’s Jake LaRavia Could Be An Impact Rookie For A Contender

There have been many risers leading up to the 2022 NBA draft.

However, few have climbed up draft boards faster than Wake Forest forward Jake LaRavia. A player that transferred from Indiana State to the smallest school in the ACC went relatively unnoticed throughout the college basketball season.

Now, the 6-foot-9, 228-pound player has caught everyone’s attention.

LaRavia averaged 14.6 points and 6.6 rebounds per game on 55.9% shooting while helping guide the Demon Deacons to a 25-10 record. Combine LaRavia’s frame with a 3-point percentage of 38.6% and suddenly he represents an intriguing NBA prospect that would fit on almost any team in the league.

The consensus appears to be that LaRavia will be drafted somewhere between the 20th and the 35th pick in the draft. Rookie Wire sat down with Demon Deacon Insider Les Johns from 247Sports to discuss what exactly has the forward this high up draft boards.

It was LaRavia’s decision to transfer to Wake Forest and unite with new head coach Steve Forbes that lit the spark for his brilliant junior campaign.

Johns pointed to a trio of factors that likely triggered the decision.

First and foremost, there was the coaching change at Indiana State as the Sycamores moved on from Greg Lansing, who had been the coach there 11 seasons. As LaRavia explored the transfer portal, he quickly learned of the opportunity to contribute at the ACC level with Wake Forest, and it certainly helped that Lansing and second-year Demon Deacon head coach Steve Forbes had a great relationship with Lansing. LaRavia leaned on Lansing during the portal recruiting period and Lansing helped steer him toward Wake Forest and the coach he affectionately refers to as “Forbsey.”

Coach Forbes, with the help of LaRavia and ACC Player of the Year Alondes Williams, helped fuel Wake Forest to their best season in years, barely missing the NCAA Tournament.

Despite being somewhat overshadowed by the dominance and extreme ball usage of Williams, LaRavia found ways to shine. In fact, Johns pointed out that LaRavia may have had more responsibilities than anyone else on the team in 2021.

He started 33 games last season for the Demon Deacons, finishing second on the team in scoring, rebounds and assists; behind just Alondes Williams. He started at the four-spot, but was able to create matchup problems with his size, strength and skill-set. At 6-foot-9, LaRavia is proficient handling the ball on the perimeter, but also strong enough to post up in the paint.

Offensively, he was tough to match up against, but defensively was versatile enough at the college level to guard anyone from the two to the five spot. Especially in moments in which Williams was off the court, LaRavia had the potential to rotate in as the primary ball-handler and facilitator.

A versatile defender and an offensive mismatch for his size on the perimeter, it’s a skill set that projects very well to today’s NBA. As teams covet players who are capable of spacing the floor and scoring from all three levels, LaRavia could serve numerous roles for his eventual NBA squad.

Now, projecting what role exactly teams might want is difficult. Johns is of the personal belief that LaRavia may need more time in the league before ultimately finding the ideal role on the court for his gifts.

When LaRavia announced his transfer to Wake Forest, Indy Star columnist Gregg Doyel told me he was confident he’d be an NBA player and compared his game to that of Luka Doncic. A late-high school growth spurt meant that LaRavia went from playing guard to playing closer to the basket late as a senior, but he held onto those guard skills as he grew bigger and taller. He went from a low-major recruit to a mid-major guy at Indiana State and ultimately landed in the ACC for his final season of collegiate play. He’s likely to make the same kind of journey as a professional, finding his role as he gains more NBA experience.

This uncertainty in projection is part of why teams aren’t likely to take a look at LaRavia before the 20s. Ideally, he would be able to enter a situation with great infrastructure and a coach who has a niche role designed for the rookie as he adjusts to the NBA level.

Johns believes that the perception of LaRavia’s value as a draft pick will largely be tied to where and when he’s drafted. A later spot could signal not only more realistic expectations but also a better surrounding situation.

If LaRavia is around late in the first round, he’ll end up being a steal for whoever selects him. He’s versatile, unselfish and skilled — and honestly nobody will outwork him. He was always the first out on the court before a game getting up shots.

LaRavia still remains far from a finished product despite three years of playing college basketball. Although he represents an ideal ‘ball of clay’ for a coaching staff to work with and mold, there’s room for hesitation with every prospect entering the league.

Specifically for LaRavia, Johns said he’ll have to learn to be more aggressive to truly elevate his game at the NBA level.

In terms of hesitation, I’d have to go with his tendency to defer to others. He’s a team-first guy, which is great; but will often look to find his teammates before taking over himself, even when the matchups lend itself to a LaRavia takeover. Forbes had to push him at times to be more aggressive personally.

If a coaching staff coaxes that aggression out of LaRavia, it could pay huge dividends at the next level.

All in all, an NBA team on Thursday is going to get a very interesting prospect. Someone that consistently elevated while at the college level and projects to potentially be one of the most valuable commodities in basketball today: The shooting big man.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!