Will Jamal Shead get drafted into the NBA? Exploring potential landing spot for Houston guard in Round 2

Houston Cougars guard Jamal Shead still remains on the board as the 2024 NBA Draft enters round two. Shead, who finished the previous season as one of the best players in the nation, is now aiming to transition his skills to the NBA and establish himself as a future superstar.

Questions still remain as to which team will select last season's Big 12 Player of the Year, or if he could end up going undrafted. This article will take a look at Shead's chances of being selected in the 2024 NBA Draft and which team could land college basketball's reigning Defensive Player of the Year.

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Will Jamal Shead get drafted into the NBA?

It is extremely likely that Jamal Shead will be selected during the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft. Shead is one of the top remaining prospects in this draft and could go in the mid to late second round.

The former Houston PG impressed during his combine scrimmages, scoring 27 points and recording 10 assists in two scrimmages. He also shone on the defensive end of the floor with his intensity, just as he did in college.

Scouts were shown why he should be taken into consideration for the draft by his ball pressure and defensive toughness, which made life difficult for the opposition.

His height and lack of shooting range were cause of concern for scouts and are likely the major reasons why Shead fell outside out of the first round. The 6'0" guard primarily attacks the rim, distributes the ball, and plays imposing defense with his physical style of basketball.

Jamal Shead participated in 138 games for Houston during his four seasons with the team. He won the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award and was a consensus first-team All-American during the previous season. He averaged a career-high 12.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game.

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Jamal Shead NBA Draft projection

NCAA Basketball: NCAA Tournament Second Round-Houston vs Texas A&M

Miami Heat

Jamal Shead's updated projection following round one has him landing somewhere between the 40th and 50th overall picks. A great landing spot for Shead would be the Miami Heat with pick No. 43.

Shead could give Miami more depth at the guard spot and also bring a similar defensive intensity as Jimmy Butler. Although questions still remain as to whether Butler will stick around in Miami.

The Heat selected Indiana center Kel'el Ware with pick No. 15 in the first round, giving them an athletic rim protector. The addition of Shead would give them an outstanding perimeter defender that would fit perfectly with the Heat culture.

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Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets added Kentucky guard Reed Sheppard with the No. 3 overall pick in the draft and could bring in Shead with the 44th overall pick.

Shead would be a great fit with a defensive-minded coach like Ime Udoka. Also, he could learn from Fred VanVleet, who has been successful in the NBA despite being a slightly undersized guard.

This would also keep Shead in Houston and close to Manor, TX, his hometown. The Rockets need more depth at the guard position, and they've already found their knockdown shooter in Reed Sheppard. This would make a physical defensive player like Shead a great addition.

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Orlando Magic

The Orlando Magic could also be a great landing spot for Jamal Shead with the 47th overall pick. The Magic grabbed Colorado's Tristan da Silva with the 18th overall pick, giving them a 6'8" forward who can score at multiple levels.

Shead could give them more depth at PG behind Jalen Suggs and Cole Anthony as Markelle Fultz prepares to hit free agency.

Shead would fit right in on a Magic team that ranked fourth in opponent points per game last season, allowing just 108.4 points. Shead would add another elite perimeter defender to a young Magic core who put up a good fight against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the NBA playoffs last season.

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Which team do you think would be the best fit for Jamal Shead? Let us know in the comment section.