NBA Draft Rumors: Trail Blazers Linked to Prospect Jay Scrubb

The Portland Trail Blazers will enter the 2020 NBA Draft with a pick in the first (No. 16) and second (No. 46) rounds. Portland could package those picks in a potential trade, or simply use them to bring in new talent. According to Bryan Kalbrosky of USA Today Sports Media Group, the Blazers have had multiple interviews with guard prospect Jay Scrubb, including a one-on-one between Scrub and president of basketball operations Neil Olshey:

According to a person with knowledge of the situation who spoke to USA TODAY Sports Media Group on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter, Scrubb had his second interview with the organization earlier this week.

As one NBA scout told Rookie Wire: “He fits their profile. He’s this year’s Anfernee Simons.”

Kalbrosky outlined in his latest mock draft why Portland may be interested in Scrubb:

The Portland Trail Blazers finished with the worst bench scoring mark in the NBA last season. Arguably the biggest sleeper in this class is Jay Scrubb, a left-handed combo guard from John A. Logan College in Illinois who was the top player in the juco ranks last season.

Scrubb, a 6-foot-6 guard from Kentucky, played two seasons for John A. Logan College. He won National Junior College Athletic Association Player of the Year for the 2019-20 season after averaging 21.9 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 29 games played. He also shot 50.1% from the field and 33.3% from deep this past year.

Scrubb’s “nontraditional” background — being a JUCO player — is similar to that of Anfernee Simons, who passed on playing college basketball and instead spent a season with preparatory school IMG Academy before the Blazers selected him with the No. 24 pick in the 2018 draft.

Scrubb made the decision in April to remain in the draft rather than play for the University of Louisville, where he had signed to play for his junior season.

You can find a highlight video on Scrubb below: