Flash Forward: Syracuse G Judah Mintz
A preview of an intriguing future prospect based on his pre-college film
It’s time to look forward!
We’ve got almost 12 months until the 2023 NBA Draft, but getting a head start on the prospects coming into college helps us hit the ground running when the season starts in November. This Summer and into the Fall, we’ll be doing some deep dives on fascinating prospects who are either international targets next year or one-and-done contenders coming into the collegiate ranks. The goal with these breakdowns is simple: provide a measuring stick for where they are at the time they enter, frame their draft stock for what they may need to improve to rise up boards and help provide a window to peer through into how we go about the evaluation process.
The idea for a series like this is directly inspired by the results of the 2022 NBA Draft. Some guys — like Patrick Baldwin Jr., Peyton Watson, and Shaedon Sharpe — got drafted in the first round this year based partially on their high school and AAU film, reputations, and preseason buzz. The teams that drafted them felt comfortable enough with what they saw at those levels to overlook poor seasons (PBJ and Watson) or nonexistent ones (Sharpe). If NBA Draft scouting is so heavily reliant on pre-college film to provide context, we should be putting more effort during the off-season to master what each prospect put together ahead of their college career.
From a skill perspective, Syracuse incoming freshman Judah Mintz checks a lot of boxes. He’s a good shooter with growing comfort from deep. He stops on a dime in the mid-range and hits some really difficult shots. He’s an underrated passer, a terrific ball handler and a crafty, unorthodox finisher near the rim. With all of those areas of proficiency, he has great potential as a 6’4” guard. He competes on defense and can guard both backcourt spots.
In addition to those skill areas, Mintz has a pretty long, quick first step in his arsenal and lanky legs that allow him to get separation promptly. But he needs to get a little bit more consistent from 3-point range to really be a three-level scorer. How he balances his playmaking with his propensity for scoring in the mid-range will be worth tracking, as will how he plays next to another guard.
Mintz is heading to Syracuse this year, a unique defensive environment but the opportunity to go against high-major competition on a nightly basis to test how he scores on the offensive end. How will his game translate as a mid-range-heavy scorer at the point? Will he show growth and depth to his game as a shooter? Will higher levels of athleticism challenge his play style? There are plenty of questions, but a great deal of intrigue for a guard with a strong pedigree and overall impactful game.