8 points, 9 seconds
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The 8 Points, 9 Seconds 2018 NBA Mock Draft 1.0

By Jacob Lane

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 9: UCLA guard Aaron Holiday (3) raises his arms in triumph during the semifinal game of the mens Pac-12 Tournament between the UCLA Bruins and the Arizona Wildcats on March 9, 2018, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 9: UCLA guard Aaron Holiday (3) raises his arms in triumph during the semifinal game of the mens Pac-12 Tournament between the UCLA Bruins and the Arizona Wildcats on March 9, 2018, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Aaron Holiday #3 of the UCLA Bruins
DAYTON, OH – MARCH 13: Aaron Holiday #3 of the UCLA Bruins drives to the basket against Jaylen Adams #3 of the St. Bonaventure Bonnies in the first half of a First Four game in the 2018 NCAA Basketball Tournament at UD Arena on March 13, 2018 in Dayton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

No. 21: Indiana Pacers — Aaron Holiday, PG, UCLA

The Holiday family has already made its impact felt in the NBA. First, it was Jrue, then Justin, and next up is Aaron Holiday from UCLA.

Aaron Holiday has been absolutely sensational for a depleted and young UCLA team this season, and is a huge reason they are even in the NCAA tournament.

The junior point guard has had a career season averaging 20 points, and nearly 6 points per game, including an incredible 26 points per game over the last six games of the season, which locked up a bid to the NCAA Tournament for the Bruins.

Holiday is an extremely athletic, and skilled guard with a very good all-around game. He can score at a high level, has a great shooting touch, while also having the ability to pass the ball well. Holiday is at his best when tasked with driving/attacking the basket, and using his quickness and athleticism to beat his man off the dribble.

When Holiday is able to attack not only does it open up the ability to score inside, but it forces his man to back off of him just enough to open up the 3 point shot (Holiday has shot 43% from deep this season), as well as opening up passing lanes for him to get his teammates going.

Though Holiday has been more of a combo-guard at the college level for UCLA, I expect him to transition to playing the point at the next level. While he’s just 6’1, which is a bit small compared to other lead guards in the NBA, his quickness and length make up for that.

When it comes to the other end of the floor, Holiday does have the ability to guard and has a knack for coming up with deflections and steals. But due to size, he may struggle to guard bigger guards at the next level.

While at UCLA, Holiday has been a “score first” guard, but I can easily see him playing much like current Pacer, and former UCLA Bruin Darren Collison. Collison was a scoring guard in college, mostly due to the talent around him, but has become a pass-first guard in the NBA who attacks when given the chance.

Holiday would add a nice scoring punch to the Pacers lineup, and could become a very good point guard down the road.

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