DraftExpress: It's happened before. Bill Walker Jarnell Stokes others RT @PatrickMinton can Exum join a team midway through the year? Is this realistic? 2013-04-24 16:22:22
DraftExpress: Now that Tennessee's season is done it'll be interesting to see what happens with Jarnell Stokes. Strong indications he'll enter the draft. 2013-03-20 22:44:35
DraftExpress: Physically yes. Skill-wise no. But NBA ready and NBA draft ready aren't the same. RT @WCCarroll Does Jarnell Stokes look NBA ready to you? 2012-12-19 18:48:19
DraftExpress: RT @usabasketball: The USA U18 improves to 3-0 after disposing of the home team Brazil 83-64. Jarnell Stokes finished with 22 pts.... ht ... 2012-06-18 07:55:40
USA Basketball U19 World Championship Training Camp Report, Part Two June 19, 2013 Coming off a very solid year at Tennessee--what would have been his freshman season had he not decided to graduate early from high school and enroll early—Stokes was expected to play a major role at this camp as a key contributor on last year's U18 FIBA Americas championship squad.
Interview
Stokes didn't disappoint, coming in looking in much better shape than he was last season, and being quite emphatic in his will to dominate the paint.
Standing 6-9, with a massive 260+ pound frame, long arms, and big hands, Stokes is a load for any opposing big man to handle, particularly when he's competing as hard as he did here in Colorado Springs. He moves opponents around with his sheer strength, establishing position and sealing his man off inside, which allows him to get plenty of high percentage shots off as a finisher around the basket. He catches everything thrown his way, and has very good touch around the basket, which, along with his length, helps compensate for the fact that he's not a naturally explosive leaper and doesn't possess the most diverse post-arsenal at this stage of his development.
Stokes showed some other wrinkles to his game here as well, namely his ability to beat opposing big men down the floor, some ball-handling ability from the mid-post, and a decent looking mid-range jumper. While he's a player who will always make his living around the basket thanks to his terrific physical tools, it was nice to see him punish the defense when left open, which is something he'll likely need to do depending on what type of big man he's paired with in Prague.
Stokes has always been a phenomenal rebounder—and that held true in Colorado Springs. He has suction cups for hands and a terrific knack for pursuing loose balls out of his area, particularly on the offensive glass, where he was dominant at times.
Defensively, Stokes competed well, as he's not the type of player that you'll see getting backed down inside the paint very often. He's somewhat limited stepping out onto the perimeter, as he possesses just average lateral quickness, but makes up for it with his length and can still be a factor when he's dialed in and playing with the effort level he displayed here.
Stokes figures to be a major part of what USA Basketball is able to accomplish in Prague, as very few international big men have the strength needed to handle him inside the paint, and his offensive rebounding can be a major factor when outside shots aren't falling. [Read Full Article] Top NBA Draft Prospects in the SEC, Part Two (#2-5) October 24, 2012
US Presswire
Matt Kamalsky
Ranked among the top-25 recruits of the 2012 high school class, Jarnell Stokes was ruled ineligible to compete at Southwind prep due to transfer rules, in what would have been his senior year of high school. The honors student opted to take the road less traveled and graduate early, making the jump to Tennessee at the beginning of the spring semester. Stepping into the Cuonzo Martin's starting lineup in mid-January, only a few short weeks after enrolling, Stokes had an immediate impact for the Volunteers, finishing the year third on the team in scoring and second in rebounds. One of the stars of the Gold Medal winning USA Junior National Team at the FIBA U-18 Americas Championships this summer, Stokes returns to campus looking to parlay his experience into a breakout campaign in his first full season at the NCAA level.
A 6'9 post player with a 7'1 wingspan and a powerful, near 260-pound frame, Stokes doesn't look like an 18 year-old rising sophomore. Possessing a mature physique and tremendous physical strength which he isn't shy about throwing around in the paint, the Memphis native already looks the part of a NBA power forward. A solid athlete, Stokes isn't the quickest or most explosive player, but can continue to refine his frame to maximize his athleticism and is already an imposing presence because of his strength and toughness.
Stokes makes his biggest impact in the post at this stage. He does terrific work before the catch, using his frame to carve out deep position on the block, often catching the ball with both feet in the paint. Stokes doesn't have a refined arsenal of post moves, or any move that he goes to in particular, but he uses his strength to move his defender and powers up to the rim, usually looking to finish with his right hand. Stokes has plenty of room to improve his post arsenal and left hand, but already proved effective in a half-season of action, shooting an impressive 52% in back to the basket situations last season according to Synergy Sports Technology.
As a finisher, Stokes shows intriguing creativity and body control in the lane. He lacks a degree of lift and struggles to finish over longer, more athletic defenders, but can make plays above the rim when he has a step to gather himself and some space. Active without the ball and on the offensive glass, as Stokes develops the polish to score over and around defenders at the college level, he'll become an even more potent scoring threat.
The young big man also has a lot of room to improve away from the basket. Stokes connected on 7 of the 20 jump shots he attempted last season, but shot just 57% from the foul line. He did not appear comfortable stepping away from the rim on a regular basis last season, and doesn't have a very fluid release, but has plenty of time to develop his midrange game.
Defensively, Stokes plays with good intensity and solid fundamentals for a player his age. He doesn't look too comfortable defending away from the rim at this stage, but more than holds his own in the post. He is a decent shot blocker for a player his size, and does a nice job boxing out.
Jarnell Stokes won't turn 19 until January and is easily the youngest player in our sophomore rankings. Essentially stepping out of a high school gym right into a prominent role at the NCAA level, Stokes's 9.6 points and 7.4 rebounds per-game were a promising preview of things to come. With a successful summer and a full preseason of preparation under his belt, Stokes will be one of the more intriguing players to watch in the SEC this season as he teams with Jeronne Maymon to form a dangerous front court duo for the volunteers. [Read Full Article]
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