In basketball, it’s easy to focus on production. Players who dominate the ball, lead the league in scoring, or fill the box score often command the spotlight. But the more important question—especially for scouts and clubs—isn’t who’s dominating today, but whose game belongs at the next level. Jacob Groves might just be the answer.
Spacers at Size
Groves doesn’t dominate the ball or top the scoring charts—but he plays the kind of game that translates. At 205cm, he’s tall enough to defend size but mobile enough to guard wings. He spaces the floor, moves the ball quickly, and doesn’t need plays run for him. It’s a skill set that fits into any system.
That alone makes him valuable. But what separates him is his age—having only just turned 24, he still has years of growth ahead.
The chart below shows every SLB player taking more than two threes per game, plotted by height and shooting percentage. Most tall players operate near the rim—but Groves, along with 28-year-old Tanner Stuckman, stands out in the top-right quadrant: big, accurate, and high volume.
Stuckman, now thriving as a specialist floor-spacer in London, is a great example of a role player who knows exactly what he is. But Groves is four years younger, and already offers more. His shooting is elite for his size—but it’s his upside that makes him a real prospect.
Why It Scales
Groves isn’t doing anything complicated. But that’s the point. He’s hitting his threes at a 43% clip. His release is high, repeatable, and tough to bother. Smaller defenders can’t contest it. Bigger ones don’t want to stray that far from the paint.
He doesn’t force shots either. He’s an able cutter who adds value without needing touches. And when he does get the ball, he makes the right read. He keeps plays flowing—not by breaking down defences, but by moving the ball without hesitation. That kind of rhythm-passing elevates an offence.
Defensively, he’s not a stopper—but he doesn’t need to be. He can switch. He holds his ground. He doesn’t get hunted or played off the floor, a real strength in modern systems that demand flexibility and spacing.
The Bigger Picture
This isn’t about Groves being the most dominant player in the league. It’s about him playing a game that travels. His value isn’t tied to usage—it’s rooted in things every team needs at every level, floor spacing, defensive versatility, and the ability to blend into systems without disrupting rhythm.
He doesn’t jump off the screen. But he fits. And players who fit make teams better.
