NBA Draft 2012 Prospect Profile: Marquis Teague

Orlando Pinstriped Post turns its attention to the 2012 NBA Draft with a look at mid-tier draft prospects who might be available when the Orlando Magic select 19th overall. Previously in the series: Meyers Leonard, Terrence Jones, Arnett Moultrie, Moe Harkless, Doron Lamb, Tony Wroten, Jeffery Taylor, and Andrew Nicholson.

Marquis Teague is a 6' 2", 189 pound point guard who helped lead the Kentucky Wildcats as a freshman to the national championship. Teague led the Wildcats in minutes, averaging 32.6 minutes per game. In 40 games, he averaged 10.0 points per game on 41.2% shooting, including 32.5% on three-pointers, and 71.4% free throw shooting. He had an assist/turnover ratio of 4.8 assists to 2.7 turnovers.

Teague's play improved considerably in the NCAA Tourney. In the six tourney games, he averaged 13.3 points per game on 45.1% shooting, including 4 of 10 on three-pointers, and 76.9% free throw shooting. His assist/turnover ratio was 29 assists to 15 turnovers.

The Indiana native turned 19 years old in February, and is the younger brother of Atlanta Hawks' point guard Jeff Teague.

Teague's inconsistency on offense was a problem throughout the season, as his 12.3 points per 40 minutes and 49% True Shooting Percentage indicate. Despite that, Joe Treutlein of draftexpress.com is very high on Teague's physical attributes as Treutlein writes "he has good size and excellent athleticism for the point guard position." Treutlein goes on to say that Teague has relentless attacking instincts pushing the ball forward, shows a tight and controlled handle at high speeds with the ball, has an excellent nose at getting to the rim, has a pretty good feel overall in transition with good vision on the move for finding teammates for spot-up jumpers and dump-offs around the rim, along with a solid feel for the pick-and-roll game.

Defensively, Treutlein writes that Teague "shows outstanding tools with excellent lateral quickness, very good size and length, and flashes of strong aggressiveness getting up into his man."

Treutlein goes on to write that Teague's half-court game is much more of a question mark, as he struggles to run a more traditional slow-down offense, in addition to his difficulties with his jump shot.

With the Orlando Magic needing to draft and develop a point guard, they would do well in considering Teague because of his physical tools and ability to run the pick-and-roll offense along with his defensive potential. He may not fit the Magic though, because Orlando ranked second-to-last in pace in the NBA last season, while Teague's strengths would suit him better in a more up-tempo offense. The team that drafts him will also have to be patient waiting for him to improve on his shooting.