A Scout’s Eyes: PJ Haggerty’s Ascent Continues | An in-Person Evaluation of Haggerty’s Resume Game Against Virginia and Projecting It Forward

Jam offers his in-person perspective on PJ Haggerty, one of the top players and scores in the country. Also, other prospect notes from a closely contested Memphis-UVA matchup

Before transferring to Memphis, P.J. Haggerty caught the eyes and curiosity of evaluators last season with an outstanding redshirt freshman season at Tulsa where he averaged 21.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.9 steals per game en route to being named the American Athletic Conference’s (AAC) Rookie of the Year and receiving Third Team All-AAC honors.

He hasn't missed a beat this season despite the inner conference transition. Haggerty is the front-runner for AAC Player-of-the-Year and is anchoring himself in the Top 60 mix after largely being on the outside of it during the preseason.

The 6’3” guard is leading the AAC in scoring at 22.5 PPG (second last season) and steals (2.1 SPG) while grabbing 5.8 RPG and dishing out 3.3 APG. When the opportunity came to get an in-person look at Haggerty against a UVA squad with notable short and long-term NBA prospects, this was a no-brainer must-scout—and Haggerty didn't disappoint.

Haggerty’s stat line in the road win over UVA: 27 points (8-15 FGA, 1-3 3PA, 10-11 FTA), five rebounds, five assists (four turnovers), and one steal.

It wasn't just the counting numbers that impressed me about Haggerty’s performance. His outing left me feeling more encouraged about his overall scoring versatility and NBA portability. Let's start with his money-maker, the scoring package.

Is Haggerty’s Scoring Toolbox More Versatile and Portable Than We Thought?

After a slow start for Haggerty and really both teams, the bucket-getting guard dropped 21 of his 27 points in the second half. Outside of a couple of bad shots, it never felt like he was forcing the issue. Everything mostly came within the flow of the game and in low-usage or off-ball role ways.

One of those ways was in transition. Haggerty is a transition terror thanks to a lethal combination of speed, pace, wiry strength, and tough shotmaking ability. Whether it was him pushing the ball as a play creator for himself and others or running the floor hard as a play finisher, Haggerty successfully hunted and capitalized on transition opportunities to score and get to the free-throw line. This was highlighted by a bump finish on Rohde, and an under control pull-up floater off the glass over the helping defender.

Despite his 191-pound listing, Haggerty is a skilled foul magnet who loves to seek out contact and understands how to craftily draw fouls as well. His 11 free throw attempts were in line with his ridiculous 9.6 attempts per game on the season and career 8.8 FTA per game clip. I walked away a bit more impressed with his frame than I did on film (fairly broad shoulders, good size to calves) and feel more confident that he can add the appropriate amount of mature muscle that allows him to find success playing his style.

Although Haggerty is at his best operating on the ball, he’s quietly a proficient cutter who understands timing and how to set them up. It’s a quality that has popped on film and in this game too. He beat Rohde twice on backdoor courts: one after catching Rohde ball-watching and the other with a well-sold fake handoff.

Like so many other prospects, shooting is Haggerty’s swing skill. So far this season, he’s made a significant three-point shooting jump. He’s up from last season’s 28.9% mark (2.5 3PA/G) to 40% (3.3 3PA/G). He couldn't connect on either of his catch-and-shoot attempts, including one that went in and out, but both were good looks that he fluidly and confidently took.

Within his improved three-point numbers, Haggerty is connecting on 41.7% of his 24 catch-and-shoot threes per Synergy. Even amidst the shooting struggles of last season, he drilled 38.8% of his catch-and-shoot threes (49 3PA). Both are very encouraging signs of him being a reliable off-ball shooting threat and floor spacer who can support a primary initiator.

Haggerty’s bread and butter is, of course, his electric on-ball scoring. He delivered the offensive plays of the game with a couple of NBA moves. First, an excellent pick-and-roll split into a layup. Late in the game with about two minutes left, Haggerty nailed his only three of the game to increase the Memphis lead to seven points with a step back three out of pick-and-roll. When you see Haggerty in his element as a shot creator and maker, it’s easy to get excited about his possibilities as an NBA scorer.

Playmaking Intrigue

A critical ancillary skill for Haggerty is his playmaking. Just as he’s done throughout his collegiate career, he flashed captivating moments as a live dribble playmaker and connective passer in this game.

Haggerty’s pinpoint live dribble off-hand weak side corner skip to Rogers was simply magnificent and leaves you drooling for more. He kept the offense flowing as a ball mover, attacked closeouts, and got downhill for drives and kick three-point opportunities. Whether it’s the more advanced reads or the simpler ones, Haggerty brings significant playmaking equity to unlock.

In order to unlock that playmaking equity and earn more NBA on-ball usage, his ball security and decision-making will need to grow further. Currently, he’s producing more turnovers (4.0) than assists per game (3.3). For his career, he owns an assist-to-turnover ratio of 3.3 to 2.7.

A Defensive Effort to Get Behind

Haggerty was engaged defensively throughout the game. He often looked to utilize his length and quickness to pressure the ball and be disruptive in gaps. His notable plays include a strip on a post dig and getting a stop on a pick-and-roll switch that ultimately would lead to Haggerty shooting technical free throws after being tripped up.

As an offense-first prospect, his continued defensive effort and event creation are exactly what’s needed from him. He isn’t equipped with elite physical tools, so leveraging the tools that he does possess alongside a high-level care factor gives him his best chance of producing enough defensive value to stay on the floor.

Outlook

NBA teams will be interested in Haggerty as a bench spark that brings scoring punch and playmaking upside. He’s showing that his scoring versatility and portability can be the foundation of his NBA value. He’ll raise his draft stock if he can relatively sustain his shooting leap and further his evolution as a floor general. Could he move from the Top 60 to some Top 30 discussion by the end of the season?

Other Memphis-Virginia Notes

Tyrese Hunter’s draft buzz isn't exactly at the heights of his post-freshman campaign at Iowa State. However, he’s arguably having the best season of his collegiate career. He’s a two-way point guard that should be on the growing list of prospects that receive interest in being invited to the prestigious pre-draft Portsmouth Invitational Tournament.

Bigs Moussa Cisse and Dain Dainja impacted the game on the glass and both ends of the floor with their imposing physical tools. Both should be on the Summer League and Ex.10 radars.

Freshman Jacob Cofie, UVA’s top NBA prospect, remains a really intriguing long-term wing to monitor because of his size, ball skills, and two-way potential. Due to foul trouble while battling Cisse and Dainja in an undersized big role, Cofie was limited to just 14 minutes. His glimpses of nifty footwork to navigate traffic and create space for scoring opportunities were a major takeaway for me. How he continues to leverage his footwork, ball and movement skills to win is something I will be tracking.

The quartet of TJ Power, Ishan Sharma, Blake Buchanan, and Anthony Robinson are all more long-term prospects on the UVA side. Power, the most acclaimed of the group, is still searching for his footing after transferring from Duke as a five-star stretch wing. At 6’5”, Sharma is a freshman with perimeter size and a shooter’s reputation. Buchanan and Robinson are both play finishing-shot blocking bigs with long and projectable frames.

Listed at 6’8” and 240 pounds, Elijah Saunders possesses a stout and mature frame. He led UVA with 15 points. He hit a couple of threes (corner catch-and-shoot, pick-and-pop) and is now up to 40% from deep (2.7 3PA/G). If his shooting success sustains, Saunders can add a valuable NBA skill to an NBA-ready frame.

Taine Murray was the most aggressive that I’ve seen him. Murray confidently looked for his own offense both on the catch and off the bounce as he matched a career-high of 14 points. UVA will need this type of mindset from him moving forward in order to help jump start the team’s offense.