Syracuse basketball star Elijah Hughes intends to enter the NBA draft after two years with ‘Cuse. We take a look at his chances in the pros.
Coming into the year, the outlook seemed dreary for Syracuse basketball. Tyus Battle and Oshae Brissett were gone, and Syracuse was left wondering who could step up. Everyone knew it was Elijah Hughes, but no one expected this type of production from him this past season.
He exceeded expectations and proved that he is one of the best players in the conference. And now Hughes has declared he is beginning the NBA Draft process.
Let’s take a look back at his numbers this year; Elijah Hughes 2019-20 stats:
- 19 points per game
- 4.9 rebounds per game
- 3.4 assists per game
- 34% from three
- 43% from the field
Hughes led Syracuse and the ACC in points per game. He also was second on the team in assists per game just behind Joe Girard III. At the end of the year, Hughes was honored as a member of the All-ACC first team.
Now with Syracuse virtually in the rear window, the NBA is in Elijah Hughes’s sights.
Let’s break down the strengths and weaknesses of Elijah Hughes’s game and how he can translate to the pros.
It was apparent this past season at Syracuse that Hughes was “the guy” and the lead scorer for the Orange. If it weren’t for Hughes, this season would have gone quite differently for ‘Cuse.
The NBA is full of the best basketball players in the world, and it’s tough to make it in the league. But Elijah Hughes has what it takes to excel at the next level, but it won’t be easy, and he may not succeed right away.
The first question about Hughes is what position does he fit into in the NBA?
Even though the league is becoming more position-less over the years, it is still an important question to ponder. For Syracuse, Hughes mainly played small forward and also held point guard duties throughout the game. Standing at 6-foot-6, Hughes could be considered undersized for the small forward position. So you could see him transitioning into a shooting guard in the NBA.
His experience of being a ball-handler is invaluable and will only help him with a smooth transition. His ability to shoot from beyond the arc should impress NBA teams.
However, Hughes does need to be more selective in his shot attempts. But that should be easy because every teammate around him will have an innate ability to score the basketball.
His shooting is a strength of his that isn’t really in question. He also has a great ability to drive to the basket with force. But in the NBA, the lanes are clogged, and it is difficult to get to the hoop with ease. A way to counter that would be to shoot a mid-range jumper or a floater in the lane. So far, Hughes has not been forced to do that for Syracuse. If he works on that part of his game, then he becomes a more well-rounded NBA type talent.
Right now, there are high hopes for Elijah Hughes in his potential as an NBA player. He is a great shooter coming off of screens and can create his own shots. He should be considered an above-average passer for his position as well.
In the end, the team Hughes goes to will determine his success. Time and time again, excellent prospects have fallen into unfortunate situations and never reached their full potential.
Offensively, Hughes fits in a fast-paced offense with an assist first mentality. If he is allowed to move around the perimeter and move the ball around, then he should have success. But if he runs into a situation where there is a slow half-court offense focused down on the block, then that could pose struggles early on for Hughes.
Either way, Hughes has shown his ability to adapt. Whether it’s coming from East Carolina to Syracuse or stepping up after some scorers leave, Hughes always seems prepared.
It’s easy to root for Hughes, and he has a real chance to have a successful NBA career. He has shown at Syracuse his elite abilities but he is still somehow underrated. We will see how his NBA hopes continue, and we will keep you covered along his journey.