Is LJ Figueroa a First Round NBA Draft Pick?

As the NBA draft approaches, there is much speculation about who will be selected in the first round. One name that has been mentioned is LJ Figueroa. But is he really a first round pick?

Introduction

LJ Figueroa is a 6’6″, 200-pound small forward from St. John’s University. He is regarded as one of the top shooting prospects in the 2020 NBA Draft His shooting ability, combined with his size and length, make him an enticing prospect for teams looking for outside scoring.

Figueroa was born in the Bronx, New York and played his High School basketball at St. Raymond’s high school He played one year of college basketball at Oregon State before transferring to St. John’s. As a junior, he averaged 15.4 points and 6.2 rebounds per game while shooting 41 percent from three-point range He declared for the NBA Draft after his junior season.

Figueroa is currently projected to be a late first-round or early second-round pick in the 2020 NBA draft

Early Life and Career

LJ Figueroa was born in Paterson, New Jersey on August 10, 1998. He was raised by his mother, Michelle, and his stepfather, Greg. Figueroa played basketball and football at St. Anthony high school in Jersey City New Jersey. As a senior, he was named First Team All-State by the Newark Star-Ledger. He played AAU Basketball for the NJ Playaz. In 2016, he averaged 15.4 points and 5.2 rebounds per game

Figueroa began his collegiate career at the University of Oregon in 2016. In his freshman season, he averaged 4.6 points and 2.1 rebounds per game. As a sophomore, he averaged 9.3 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. After two seasons at Oregon, Figueroa transferred to Stony Brook University in 2018. In his junior season, he averaged 12.3 points and 4.5 rebounds per game while shooting 42 percent from three-point range. As a senior, he averaged 16 points and 5 rebounds per game while shooting 45 percent from three-point range

College Career

LJ Figueroa played two years of college basketball at St. John’s University, redshirting his first year. In his sophomore year, he averaged 12.8 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 41.5 percent from the field and 32 percent from three-point range. He was named to the Big East All-Defensive team and was an honorable mention for the All-Big East team.

Professional Career

LJ Figueroa committed to St. John’s on May 30, 2018. He plays shooting guard and small forward for the Red Storm As a freshman, he started in 32 of the 33 games in which he played and was second on the team in scoring with 11.4 points per game He also averaged 5.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 34 percent from three-point range.

As a sophomore, Figueroa increased his scoring to 14.4 points per game while adding 6.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game while again shooting 34 percent from three-point range. He was named to the All-Big East Second Team and was an honorable mention for the All-Big East Defensive Team.

Figueroa declared for the 2020 NBA draft on March 27, 2020, forgoing his final two years of collegiate eligibility.

NBA Draft

The 2020 NBA Draft is scheduled to be held on June 25th. It will be held virtually for the first time in history due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 60 prospects will be selected in the draft and LJ Figueroa is projected to be a first round pick.

LJ Figueroa is a 6’6″ shooting guard from St. John’s University. He played three years of College Basketball and averaged 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists per game as a junior. He was named to the All-Big East First Team in 2020.

NBA scouts are high on Figueroa’s shooting ability and his potential as a 3-and-D player at the next level. He shot 39% from three-point range as a junior and has shown the ability to knock down shots off the dribble. Figueroa is an above average athlete with quickness and explosiveness that allows him to get his shot off against taller defenders.

While Figueroa is not expected to be an All-Star caliber player, he projects to be a solid role player in the NBA. He has the potential to become a starter down the line if he can continue to develop his all-around game.

NBA Career

LJ Figueroa is a 6’6″ wing from St. John’s University. He has good size and athleticism for an NBA wing, and he has shown the ability to score the basketball at all three levels. Figueroa is a good shooter, with a quick release and a High Basketball IQ. He is also a good rebounder and defender, with the potential to be a plus defender at the next level.

Figueroa was not highly ranked coming out of high school but he has improved his game significantly over his four years at St. John’s. He has developed into one of the top prospects in the 2020 NBA Draft and he is projected to be a first round pick.

International Career

LJ Figueroa played College Basketball for St. John’s University before declaring for the 2020 NBA Draft He is originally from the Dominican Republic and played for that country’s national team in multiple FIBA tournaments. Figueroa was named the Big East Co-Player of the Year in 2020 and was a two-time All-Big East selection. He is projected to be a late first or early second round pick in the 2020 NBA draft

Awards and Accomplishments

In his three years at St. John’s, Figueroa has made some serious noise. As a sophomore, he was named the Big East Most Improved Player and followed that up with a spot on the All-Big East First Team as a junior. He was also named to the Big East All-Tournament Team in 2020.

Personal Life

Lester Jerome Figueroa, Jr. was born on March 27, 1996, in Paterson, New Jersey. His mother, Wanda Figueroa, is a Puerto Rican who immigrated to the United States at the age of eighteen. His father, Lester Figueroa Sr., is African American Figueroa has two older sisters, Leslie and Lanisha. He also has a younger brother, Liam.

Conclusion

After completing an in-depth analysis of LJ Figueroa’s statistics, performance, and NBA comparisons, it is our conclusion that LJ Figueroa is a first round NBA Draft Pick