NEW YORK — Jake LaRavia played for two years at Indiana State before transferring to Wake Forest, where he showcased why he belongs in the NBA.
LaRavia, who is actually 20 years old even though some listed him at 22, is a productive combo forward who recently measured at 6-foot-8 in shoes. His lane agility and his shuttle run times both ranked near the fastest among all participants in the 2022 NBA Draft Combine.
The 20-year-old forward was also an analytics darling. He does extremely well in several different stats-based draft models, like this one or this one. One reason why: Players with his blend of scoring efficiency, passing, and above-the-rim athleticism tend to do well in the pros. He also grades out as a high-impact defensive player.
Overall, LaRavia compares very well to other top prospects in this draft.
If you listen to Grant Williams talk about himself before the draft, you will see similarities to the way that LaRavia presents himself now. You’ll also understand why The Athletic’s John Hollinger and Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman both rank LaRavia as a top-20 prospect in this class. (I have him going No. 20 in my final mock draft.)
Before a recent workout, LaRavia met up with For The Win in Brooklyn. He discussed why his game will translate well to the pros, some of his collegiate highlights, and his goals once he turns pro.
This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.