Case File No.22: Haley Jones

 

Haley Jones. Photo Credit: Alex Slitz/Getty Images. 

Today's case file is on Haley Jones, who was recently named to the WNBA All-Rookie team. Note: This is a scouting report I did on May 3rd, prior to Haley entering the WNBA draft. Before I continue, visit rdxsports.com and become a part of Team RDX. Get the latest on martial arts and fitness gear at a 10% discount.

Team: Atlanta Dream

Position: Guard

HT: 6–1

Credentials:

2021 NCAA champion (2021)

Final Four Most Outstanding Player (2021)

Three-time All-American

Pac-12 Co-Player of the (2022)

Two-time All Pac-12 (2021, 2022)

Strengths:

-Moves with and without the ball

-Good ball handler, able to keep her dribble in traffic

-Uses her size against smaller players with a low post game

-Makes tough shots

-Drives to the basket aggressively, not afraid of contact

-A mixture of old and new school styles of play

-Good passer with good court vision. Able to find the open player with timely bounce passes

-Will make shots when spotting up

-A willing defender; stays with the player and will use her long arms to disrupt or block the shot. Will switch on the ball handler or rotate to make a play

Weaknesses:

-While she can create her own shot driving to the basket, I didn’t see her create space as a shooter off the dribble

-I didn’t see her make much use of screens or picks

-Her field goal percentage dropped significantly between her first two years (over 50%) from her last two years (42% in 2021, 43% last year)

-Three point percentage is atrocious. She shot 0.94% last season; her highest percentage was 35% in her four years at Stanford

Final Analysis:

Offensively, she has an old school style of play with an array of moves in the low post game, with the new school style of aggressively driving to the basket. She’s a willing passer with exceptional court vision.

While she can knock down a shot spotting up, the downside to most players who rely mostly on getting to the lane to score as she does, they tend to be average to poor shooters, as this is evident with her declining percentages the last two seasons.

Overall, I think Haley is a gifted athlete, who can be better if she makes a few improvements, which is scary. She’s a two-way player, and with her passing ability, her willingness to move with or without the ball — being a fan of the Motion/Princeton offense — I think she would be a perfect fit for that offense. If she would take advantage of screens/picks more, that would make her an even better fit.

From watching her tape, I see why she was selected 6th overall in the WNBA Draft. I mean, when you get a day named after you in your hometown, that speaks volumes.