With the 21st-overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, the Atlanta Hawks selected DeAndre Bembry, an athletic wing who can do everything but shoot.
NBA Draft 2016: Hawks pick DeAndre Bembry at No. 21
The St. Joe’s wing is heading to Atlanta.
James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
Bembry spent three years at St. Joseph’s, meaning he’ll turn 22 shortly after the draft. However, Bembry wasn’t even on the NBA’s radar until his sophomore year, where he broke out and was named All-Atlantic 10, only to top it by being named the conference’s Player of the Year last season.
At 6’6 with a 6’9 wingspan, Bembry’s a versatile small forward who can easily shift up or down a position, even playing point guard in a pinch. His stats as a junior show just how much he does, averaging 17.4 points, nearly eight rebounds and 4.5 assists, while registering just under a block and just over a steal per game, all on 48 percent shooting from the field.
Bembry is a great athlete, best in the open floor where all his skills combine seamlessly. His quickness lets him move up and down the floor, his vision and passing allows him to find open defenders and he's a clever finisher around the rim. His 25-point effort in St. Joseph's first-round win over Cincinnati in the NCAA Tournament showcases his variety of talent.
Bembry’s one major flaw is the aforementioned shooting. Although Bembry will take and can hit three-pointers and occasionally twos, the consistency isn’t there, with questionable mechanics that often have him shooting on the way back down from his jump. In general, Bembry is alright when his feet are set, but he really struggles off the dribble and shot just over 30 percent for his career at St. Joseph’s, including 27 percent his final season.
That’s the one concern about Bembry in the NBA, and it’s a big one in the modern NBA. Bembry is working to tweak his jumper, though, and the culmination of all his other abilities should make him a solid contributor even if his outside shot never improves.
Bembry should definitely improve as a defender, too, after showing flashes but playing inconsistently at St. Joseph’s. As the primary option, it seemed like sometimes Bembry just didn’t want to risk foul trouble or couldn’t exert enough energy to always fight through screens or pursue defenders. Overall, he was still solid on that end, and those bad habits are ones he can break on the next level, no longer looked at as his team’s most important player.
If Bembry can learn to shoot, there’s a good chance teams will regret not taking him 10 picks higher. As it is, Bembry just knows how to play basketball, and should have no trouble doing it on the grand stage of the NBA.
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