Do the Memphis Grizzlies have a diamond in the rough in Jahmai Mashack?

                                             Credit: Memphis Grizzlies/X (Twitter) 

The 59th overall pick in this year’s NBA draft was Jahmai Mashack (6’3″, 205 pounds), who was selected by the Memphis Grizzlies. During his four years at Tennessee, Mashack averaged 4.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. As a senior, he averaged 6.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.7 steals per game on 45.4% shooting from the field, 35.1% shooting from 3-point range, and 72.3% shooting from the foul line. Mashack was more of a role player/defensive specialist for the Volunteers, really making an impact with his physicality. While he has some upside on offense, it’s really his defense that is his calling card and reason for why he was drafted. 

I remember when Mashack was in high school as I was covering Cal men’s basketball at the time for Rivals (I now cover Stanford for On3 | Rivals). Mashack was a 4-star recruit, standing out for all the reasons the Grizzlies drafted him. He could get after it on both ends of the floor, playing with a high motor. He was a gritty defender back then and has only honed his craft even further, earning him a chance to get drafted by the Grizzlies. 

Why Mark Fox (Cal’s head coach at the time) slow played Mashack on the recruiting trail continues to puzzle me to this day. Especially since his mom is a Cal alum and Cal at the time was in desperate need of talent. But that’s a story for a different day. What matters is Mashack proved Fox wrong and found his way to the NBA. 

Looking ahead to his chances in the NBA, Mashack’s defensive abilities are reason for the Grizzlies to be excited about him. He has all the tools on that end and in many ways, that’s the harder thing to teach. You can teach guys how to improve their jump shot and get their scoring numbers up. While you can do the same for defense, I feel like it’s harder to get guys to raise their game on the defensive side. If Mashack can improve his shot and ball handling, he has all the tools and potential to be an excellent two-way player cut out of the same cloth as former Grizzlies great Tony Allen (a.k.a. The Grindfather). 

In the late stages of the NBA draft, you want to get guys who you think have the chance to be developed into something and Jahmai Mashack is definitely a guy who has that potential. He’s a hard working player who doesn’t take anything for granted. I look forward to seeing how Mashack grows in the…