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What experts said about Jahmai Mashack as the No. 59 overall pick in the NBA Draft

IMG_3593by: Grant Ramey06/28/25GrantRamey
Jahmai Mashack, Tennessee Basketball | Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
(Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images) Tennessee's Jahmai Mashack (15) celebrates on the court during a men’s college basketball game between Tennessee and Vanderbilt at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center, Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.

With the 59th and final pick in the NBA Draft Thursday night, the Memphis Grizzlies didn’t just draft Tennessee’s Jahmai Mashack. The Griz drafted what could be “one of the best perimeter defenders on the planet right now.”

That’s how The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie described Mashack in his NBA Draft Guide, after Mashack spent the last four seasons making his name on the defensive end for the defensive-minded Vols.

“Mashack was the best defensive player in college basketball this year,” Vecenie wrote, “and might be one of the best perimeter defenders on the planet right now. This is not an exaggeration.”

Mashack drafted by Houston Rockets, traded to Memphis Grizzlies

Mashack wasn’t projected to be an NBA Draft pick, but heard his name called with the No. 59 overall pick, selected by the Houston Rockets as part of a trade sending the pick to Memphis. 

“Mashack, who topped out at 6.0 PPG as a senior at Tennessee, would have fit the Grit n’ Grind Grizzlies with his active defense,” ESPN Kevin Pelton wrote while grading the NBA Draft for all 30 teams.

Mashack averaged 4.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists to go with the 6.0 points in 38 games as a senior at Tennessee last season.  

He averaged 4.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 137 games at Tennessee over the last four seasons. He left the Vols tied with Zakai Zeigler for the most wins (109) for a four-year player in men’s basketball program history. 

Mashack also appeared in the most NCAA Tournament wins (9) and tournament games (13) in program history and set the program record for total steals (18) and single-game steals (5) in NCAA Tournament games. 

‘I’m not sure there’s a player in the country that played harder than he did’

Last season he was named to the SEC’s All-Defensive Team and was the Field of 68’s National Defensive Player of the Year, while also winning the Torchbearer Award, the top honor for a student at the University of Tennessee. 

“Defense matters,” college basketball analyst John Fanta wrote. “Jahmai Mashack was an all-out grinder throughout his college journey for Tennessee. A fitting final pick of the NBA Draft.”

ESPN’s Jay Bilas didn’t wonder out loud if Mashack was the best perimeter defender on the planet, but he lauded the pick all the same for the intensity Mashack plays with.

“Jahmai Mashack is a really good defender,” Bilas said on ESPN’s NBA Draft set Thursday night. “And I’m not sure there’s a player in the country that played harder than he did. Any loose ball, he’s diving on the floor for it. Can guard on the ball or off.

“A total team guy. Really good in transition. Not a shooter, but man, he will do anything to win.”

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