2018 NBA Draft: Bruce Brown might be this year’s best point guard

After a strong freshman season, Miami’s Bruce Brown could emerge as the best sophomore in the 2018 NBA Draft class.

A lot of the hype surrounding the 2018 NBA Draft class has gone towards the freshman at the top. Marvin Bagley III and Michael Porter Jr. have been lauded as generational talents, while big men like Mo Bamba and DeAndre Ayton highlight what will be a frontcourt-heavy lottery.

In the midst of all that hype, however, some the older prospects have flown under the radar. There’s no better example of that than Bruce Brown at Miami.

While the counting stats aren’t overly impressive — 11.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game — he spent his freshman year soaring up draft boards. He showed promise at both guard spots while developing from a raw athlete into one of the country’s most dynamic two-way threats on the perimeter.

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With a year of experience under his belt and an even bigger role next season, we should see Brown’s productivity reach a more impressive peak on the national stage. He’ll be sharing the floor with another high-end guard prospect in Lonnie Walker, but will be leaned on heavily as the Canes’ primary creator and likely their most proficient scorer to kick off the season.

The appeal with Brown is based in his physical tools. He’s 6’5″ in shoes with a wingspan that eclipses 6’8″ and strength that should translate immediately to the NBA level. He’s already strong enough to guard 1-3 professionally, and could bring even more versatility down the line.

That physique is accompanied by one of the most entertaining nasty streaks in college basketball. He gets after things on both ends, which means snaking his way through passing lanes and owning isolation matchups on the defensive end. He can get caught overhelping and being a bit too aggressive at times, but the tools are all there. It’s easier to reel someone in than it is to spark something that isn’t there.

Being a strong defender and plus athlete already gives Brown a solid floor moving forward, which makes his offensive potential all the more appealing.

His hyper-athletic nature has led some to pull out the Russell Westbrook card, which is a comparison he seems to fully embrace on the floor. He attacks the lane without hesitancy and is more than willing to take on contact when doing so. From impressive dunks to some stealthy finishes, it’s not hard to find yourself impressed when watching Brown go at it:

Aside from his prolific displays of athleticism, Brown also boasts plenty of upside as a playmaker. He’s more traditionally labeled as a 2-guard, but makes quality reads in the pick-and-roll, as well as in transition. His ability to attack in transition with the same ferocity he shows driving the lane is rare, but having the awareness needed to make the right passes while doing is even more impressive.

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Getting the ball in Brown’s hands and allowing him to get out and push the pace is the recipe for success, both individually and with whichever team he’s on. He shot 34.7 percent from deep last season, and is plenty capable of spotting up and finding lanes as a slasher, but that’s not where his productivity is maximized. He’s at his best running the show and using his unique blend of power and skill to create for both himself and for others.

That’s how an NBA team is going to unlock the star potential he so clearly displayed in his first collegiate run.

Brown averaged a couple of turnovers per game last season, which does mean there’s still some room left to grow. His decison-making isn’t flawless, and there are times where he gets into tunnel vision a bit too much offensively. Those are the normal byproducts of taking on a featured role as a college freshman, though, and should be improved upon in the near future.

Those flaws don’t take away from the fact that he’s an elite prospect either. His defensive profile is as good as any guard in this year’s class, while his offense is in a better spot than names like Collin Sexton and Trevon Duval. Assuming he commits, Brown will be 22 when he makes his NBA debut next summer, which may scare off some lottery teams, but his talent is indicative of somebody who should find himself entrenched in that top-tier conversation.

If we move past the debates over his more traditional position and embrace his upside as a primary creator and elite multi-positional defender, there’s no reason why Brown shouldn’t enter the 2018 season with one label above all else: the No. 1 point guard in the 2018 NBA Draft class.