Solomon Jones
C, South Florida · 2006 NBA Draft, 2nd round, pick #33 (ATL)
Why he was overlooked Patterns
Nothing in our pre-draft data flagged him as a steal: his age, school, testing and position profile looked like a typical pick in his range. The gap opened after the draft, on the field.
- Pre-draft rankings
ESPN's pre-draft board ranked him #45 (#5 at his position); he went #33, 12 spots earlier. So teams were actually higher on him than the media board was; everyone underrated him.
Since 2000, picks in this group beat their draft slot 33.8% of the time (272 players, 2000–2021 classes) vs. 50% for a typical pick.
- Age
21.9 years old on draft night (born 1984-07-16).
Since 2000, picks in this group beat their draft slot 47.6% of the time (286 players, 2000–2021 classes) vs. 50% for a typical pick.
- Path to the draft
Played college basketball at South Florida.
Since 2000, picks in this group beat their draft slot 53.2% of the time (1,015 players, 2000–2021 classes) vs. 50% for a typical pick.
- Position
C (ESPN draft listing).
Since 2000, picks in this group beat their draft slot 51.1% of the time (182 players, 2000–2021 classes) vs. 50% for a typical pick.
- Availability
Played 281 games over 8 NBA seasons (~43% of a full 82-game schedule each year).
Every line comes from data: Basketball-Reference career data; ESPN's draft profile; Wikidata birth dates. No scouting reports or quotes. Green = pointed toward a steal for him.
Career numbers
| Seasons | 8 |
| Games | 281 |
| Minutes / game | 11.0 |
| Points / game | 3.0 |
| Rebounds / game | 2.3 |
| Assists / game | 0.4 |
| Win Shares (career) | 5.0 |
| VORP | -1.6 |
| Box Plus/Minus | -4.0 |
The 2006 class: draft pick vs. redraft rank Full redraft
Each dot is a 2006 pick. Dashed line = typical redraft rank for each slot (2000–2021 classes). Above the line = beat his slot.
How players like him did
| Pre-draft rankings Taken 10+ picks before ESPN's rank | 33.8% n=272 | |
| Age 21 | 47.6% n=286 | |
| Path to the draft US college | 53.2% n=1,015 | |
| Position Center | 51.1% n=182 |
Share of 2000–2021 picks with the same trait who beat their draft slot. Line = 50%.
Measurables & pre-draft
| Height / weight | 6' 10", 224 lbs |
| Age on draft night | 21.9 |
| Born | Mount Dora, FL |
| ESPN pre-draft rank | #45 overall (#5 C) |
Picked around him 2006 redraft
| 30 | Joel Freeland | redraft #29 |
| 31 | James White | redraft #33 |
| 32 | Steve Novak | redraft #12 |
| 34 | Paul Davis | redraft #36 |
| 35 | P.J. Tucker | redraft #9 |
| 36 | Craig Smith | redraft #16 |
How verdicts and reasons are computed: methodology. Steal / bust = 15+ spots better / worse than the typical redraft rank for the slot.