Jamal Murray NBA Draft scouting report: Revisiting what was said of Nuggets No. 7 pick in 2016

It's not easy to evaluate NBA Draft prospects — especially with the increasing number of one-and-done teenagers who have yet to fully develop.

The NBA has placed a premium on young, 18- or 19-year-old prospects whom they can try and help develop into future stars, but sometimes, those players just don't pan out.

So when you look back at old pre-draft scouting reports, some age better than others. For Nuggets star guard Jamal Murray, his pre-draft evaluation showed subtle hints of the prolific shot-maker he would become.

The Kitchener, Ontario native was ranked as a five-star recruit and the No. 10 prospect in the class of 2015. He excelled during his freshman season at Kentucky, warranting consideration as a top 10 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft.

But before he was selected, ESPN's lead draft analyst, Jonathan Givony, delivered an accurate scout of Denver's future floor general.

Take a look at the highlights of his scouting report on Murray below. You can find the full scouting report here.

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Jamal Murray 2016 NBA Draft scouting report

In his freshman season at Kentucky, Murray ranked as the No. 1 scorer in the country among prospects under 20 years old, averaging 20.0 points per game.

He displayed his tough shot-making prowess early on, giving scouts a preview of what was to come in his NBA career.

Givony on Murray's confidence as a shooter

"Murray's skill level and aggressiveness is what separates him from your average guard (particularly for a teenager), and that starts with his capacity as one of the most prolific shooter/scorers in the college ranks. ... His stroke is compact and repeatable, getting good elevation to create separation from the defense, to go along with an unlimited confidence in his ability to make shots from anywhere on the floor."

Givony on Murray's ability to make tough shots

"Murray was magnificent as a spot-up shooter for Kentucky, but was particularly impressive coming off screens, as no player in college basketball even came close to delivering the accuracy he did (42/75, 56%) running off picks this season.

"He does an incredible job of moving off the ball with exquisite timing, and then catching, setting his feet and getting his shot off in one quick and smooth motion, with tremendous balance and body control. He is capable of contorting his body and throwing the ball in the basket from the most awkward of angles, with phenomenal touch and feel."

Givony on hesitations around Murray as a prospect

"He has an average combination of height, length, frame and athleticism for a guard prospect, not being particularly impressive in terms of his quickness or vertical explosiveness either.

"A major question NBA teams will have is whether Murray can develop into a combo, or even a point guard as time moves on. He averaged more turnovers than assists this season, and the track record of players who did so in college is decidedly mixed in terms of making that transition, with Gilbert Arenas, Eric Bledsoe and possibly Isaiah Canaan the only ones we can find with a similar or worse ratio in college that found success."

Givony on Murray's all-around prospect profile

"Murray is somewhat of a controversial prospect, as his lack of athleticism is not what you typically find in a guard prospect projected to be picked in the top five to seven spots in the draft. His scoring instincts are off the charts, though, particularly for someone his age, which makes it difficult to rule out significant future improvement despite his struggles in many key areas this season.

"Murray's competitiveness and overall intangibles, wanting the big shots, having the utmost confidence in his abilities, and being able to find ways to put the ball in the basket at every level he played at, make him seem like the type of guy who will find a way to exceed the sum of his parts, even if there's no question he will need to be put in the right situation to do so."

Murray's unwavering confidence and relentless competitiveness have set him apart from other guards in the NBA — particularly in the playoffs. His athleticism came along just fine and he's become known for his ability to finish acrobatic layups with impressive touch around the rim. Even though he's a score-first player, Murray has made it clear he can operate an NBA offense as a point guard. His pre-draft scouting report was very accurate in describing the player he would become.

Jamal Murray college stats and accolades

Murray had a decorated lone season at Kentucky, with his 20.0 points per game ranking third in the SEC. He helped lead the Wildcats to a 27-9 record (13-5 SEC), winning the SEC regular season title and SEC Tournament championship.

Murray was named to the All-SEC First Team, SEC All-Freshman Team and All-SEC Tournament First Team. He was beat out by 2016 No. 1 overall pick Ben Simmons for SEC Freshman of the Year.

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Below, you can find Murray's averages for his lone season at Kentucky.