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NBA Mock Draft 2016: Impact of the NCAA Tournament

By Maxwell Ogden

Apr 1, 2016; Houston , TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard Buddy Hield (24) during practice day prior to the 2016 NCAA Men
Apr 1, 2016; Houston , TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard Buddy Hield (24) during practice day prior to the 2016 NCAA Men /
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Mar 25, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Indiana Hoosiers center Thomas Bryant (31) controls the ball against North Carolina Tar Heels guard Joel Berry II (2) during the first half in a semifinal game in the East regional of the NCAA Tournament at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 25, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Indiana Hoosiers center Thomas Bryant (31) controls the ball against North Carolina Tar Heels guard Joel Berry II (2) during the first half in a semifinal game in the East regional of the NCAA Tournament at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

18. Thomas Bryant, Indiana Hoosiers

Position: Center

Age: 18 (7/31/1997)

Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’10.5″, 241 pounds, 7’5.5″

Slash Line: .683/.333/.706

Season Averages: 22.6 MPG, 11.9 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 2.0 ORPG, 1.0 APG, 0.9 BPG

Key Strengths

  • Massive human being. Powerful frame with a near 7’6″ wingspan and a 9’4″ standing reach.
  • Great energy. Seems to love playing the game.
  • Potential as a post player. Has the body and length to overpower and finish over almost anyone.
  • Runs the floor well. Not a great athlete, but he’s mobile and fluid for a player his size.
  • Finishing ability. Uses the glass when in traffic.

Key Weaknesses

  • Very raw. Teams must know this is a long-term development process.
  • Average athlete. Projects to struggle against the pick-and-roll.
  • Defensive rebounding. Doesn’t yet know how to use his body to adequately box out.

Analysis

Thomas Bryant could end up being the biggest steal of the 2016 NBA Draft. Everyone seems to be aware of how good he could become, and while he may be raw right now, Bryant’s progressive expansion of his game is too significant to overlook and ignore.

If nothing else, his setting a school record as a freshman at the storied University of Indiana should be acknowledged.

Averaging nearly 12 points per game, and 21.0 points per 40 minutes, on 68.3 percent shooting is insane.

Statistics don’t mean much in the NBA Draft process, but some are worth acknowledging. For instance, Bryant converted three 3-point field goals in his final five non-NCAA Tournament games, and averaged 3.5 offensive rebounds per 40 minutes in 2015-16.

Bryant could be a healthy Andrew Bynum or he could be Daniel Orton. It’s all about which team lands him and how much effort they put into developing him.

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