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NBA Draft: Buddy Hield, Brice Johnson And The Most Improved

By Maxwell Ogden

Jan 2, 2016; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard Buddy Hield (24) reacts after a play against the Iowa State Cyclones during the second half at Lloyd Noble Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 2, 2016; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard Buddy Hield (24) reacts after a play against the Iowa State Cyclones during the second half at Lloyd Noble Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 4, 2016; Lawrence, KS, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard Buddy Hield (24) moves the ball against Kansas Jayhawks guard Frank Mason III (0) in the first half at Allen Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 4, 2016; Lawrence, KS, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard Buddy Hield (24) moves the ball against Kansas Jayhawks guard Frank Mason III (0) in the first half at Allen Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports /

Buddy Hield, Oklahoma Sooners

Position: Shooting Guard
Age: 22
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’4.5″, 215 pounds, 6’8.5″
Slash Line: .502/.500/.898
Season Averages: 33.5 MPG, 26.3 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.3 SPG, 3.6 3PM
Key Improvement: Maturity

After Ben Simmons and Denzel Valentine—and in a Kemba Walker type of way, ahead of them—Buddy Hield has been the best player in the country. He has the Oklahoma Sooners severely overachieving at 12-1, with the only loss coming in triple overtime at the No. 1 Kansas Jayhawks.

Hield had his coming out party during that game—46 points, eight rebounds and seven assists—but he was a first-round prospect before that outing.

Hield is a gifted scorer who made a name for himself in such a capacity during the 2014-15 season. The difference from one season to the next is a combination of physical and mental maturity.

Rather than settling for what the defense gives him, Hield is letting the game come to him and forcing the defense to adjust.

Hield is currently shooting 50.2 percent from the field, 50.0 percent from 3-point range, and 89.8 percent on 6.8 free throw attempts per game. That’s a massive improvement from his slash line of .412/.359/.823 on 3.7 free throw attempts per contest in 2014-15.

Beyond the numbers, Hield is a high character player who’s loved by his coaches and teammates, has an outstanding work ethic, and is constantly searching for ways to expand his game.

Next: Stepping Up